From the first day that players gathered at the PNY Center, Nets coaches and players were hinting that C.J. Watson was a big surprise. Now, expect to see him get a lot of minutes at PG or SG alongside Deron Williams, not behind him.
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith, Avery Johnson said he wants the Nets to be a top 10 team defensively, a big goal considering their defense last year and in preseason. He also said he'd like to have homecourt advantage in the playoffs.
Tyshawn Taylor played well against the Knicks in the Nets last preseason game, tallying 10 points and two assists in leading the Nets 17-5 comeback in regulation. In fact, the 22-year-old taken at #41 in the draft has impressive since summer league.
On some days during the Olympics, says MIke Fratello quoting Team USA coaches, Deron Williams was "the best player on the floor ... and clearly the best point guard on certain days." Fratello was speaking to Vince Cellini on the NBA TV Nets preview.
The Nets announced Tuesday morning that they have waived point guard Stephen Dennis, cutting their roster down to 17 players. The training camp invite scored just two points in 21 preseason minutes.
The Knicks will be without Amare Stoudemire Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum and November 1 at Barclays Center. That means Carmelo Anthony moves to PF. The Nets are thinking of moving Gerald Wallace over to compensate, benching Kris Humphries.
Howard Beck writes that Avery Johnson hinted that that the Nets starting line-up is not yet set and that Kris Humphries may be the odd man out. Humphries defense seems to have irked Avery Johnson. One possibility is that Gerald Wallace moves to PF.
After two disappointing losses, mostly the result of bad defense, Avery Johnson told reporters at Sunday's Open Practice that it was time the Nets develop a "hit-first mentality." Johnson said the Nets are not where he hoped they'd be at this point.
The Nets have 11 days, starting with open practice in Brooklyn at noon Sunday, to get ready for Opening Night, with only one preseason game to break things up. Last week, they had five games in seven days, not much time to learn from their mistakes.
The Nets finished last season 29th in defense. As John Schuhmann notes, "they only avoided finishing last in defensive efficiency because the 7-59 Bobcats couldn't stop a CYO team." Now, Avery Johnson thinks he can them into the top 10. Good Luck.
As every pundit, and the Nets basketball staff will tell you, defense will crucial to the Nets defense and that starts Saturday in Atlantic City vs. the 76ers, the Nets pre-season game. Johnson said he's most interested in points in the paint.
Andray Blatche had a choice last month, between the Heat and the Nets, between the world champs and the team with the NBA's worst record over the last three years. As it turns out, the decision matters. Blatche is playing well. Stefan Bondy reports.
John Holllinger likes a lot about the Nets ... IF Avery Johnson can get his players to defend and IF they remain healthy. He's not optimistic, but notes that if the Nets do play defense, they can be "very, very good" because they will score.
With the Nets schedule so tight, an injury now will keep a player out of several pre-season games. MarShon Brooks is suffering from tendinitis. With a prognosis of 7-10 days off, Brooks COULD miss all but the pre-season closer vs. the Knicks.
Avery Johnson has said he has a goal, but he's not talking. Some of his players are, however. In the last week, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Jerry Stackhouse have quietly said what their goal for the coming season is. More than 50 wins.
It may take long-time fans a while to get used to what is becoming an unavoidable reality: the Nets are cool, the darlings of stage, screen and online. Wednesday was time to digest the SI cover and take a look at "The Association" clip.
What does this schedule remind you of? Six games in 12 days, then a week off. Sounds like the lockout, but it's not. It's the Nets pre-season schedule, starting Saturday. Looking for someone to blame. Try the offices of MSG at 33rd and 7th.
Anonymity is not something that's been associated with Kris Humphries the past two years. But at least on the court, he hasn't been the story in training camp. There's a lot been written about Brook Lopez, Andray Blatche. And that's fine with him
Zach Lowe presents the latest pre-season pundity, breaking the NBA down into 11 categories. The Nets and two other division clubs, he has in the "Exciting Upside, Too Many Questions." Most of the questions, as expected, have to do with defense.
Mark Cuban has been chewing on some sour grapes lately, saying the Mavs are probably better off without Deron Williams. Monday, Deron Williams got his chance to tell writers that if Cuban had attended a meeting with him, he might be a Maverick.
Avery Johnson has always been quietly proud of his ability to get the most out of players others have given up on. He did it last year with Gerald Green. But that rehab job pales compared to helping Andray Blatche but so far Project Zero is working.
Avery Johnson is excited by what's he seen so far.. In an interview with Bruce Beck on WNBC New York, the coach said the Nets are proud to have built a team. He also praised several players, including Derwon Williams, CJ Watson and Andray Blatche.
Keith Bogans "can’t thank the Nets training staff enough" for the way they handled his rehab following his season-ending injuries last February. Now, he'll have the opportunity, with Avery Johnson calling on him as the leader of his bench.
They had to be out by early afternoon since the Harlem Globetrotters were coming in for a 5 p.m. performance (can't say "game") but the Nets were able to use their new locker room and more importantly practice for the first time at Barclays Center.
Avery Johnson is hoping to keep at least one member of "Brooklyn's Backcourt" on the floor at all times this season, saying, "We’re not going to play a true second team this year." The Nets often did the same thing with Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.
As word leaks out from the practices and before that the informal workouts, there's increasing optimism and the optimism is based on the Nets talent pool, a mix of youth and veterans that may be the deepest Nets team, 1 through 15, like ever.
