NetsDaily - Game 11 - Brooklyn Nets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 PMThe most comprehensive source for news about the Brooklyn Nets.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50989/nd-fav.png2013-11-23T11:15:09-05:00http://www.netsdaily.com/rss/stream/48976272013-11-23T11:15:09-05:002013-11-23T11:15:09-05:00Assets for short ... or long-term ... rebuild
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<figcaption>Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's bad, really bad. But is it bad enough to start thinking about a rebuild? Not yet. However, it is bad enough to review what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets</a> have if they wanted to either make big changes this season? Sure. We'd like to avoid the "R-word."</p>
<p>So, as <span>Kevin Garnett</span> said after the loss in Minnesota, "This is what it is. We created this monster and we have to deal with it. You have the business of basketball come into play, I’m sure. And management’s probably going to do what it’s got to do, and that’s out of our hands."</p>
<p>Short-term, they have some minor pieces they can move but it's hard to see them being able to get value for some of their big pieces or be willing to dump their younger players like <span>Brook Lopez</span> or Mason Plumlee or the rights to Bojan Bogdanovic for short-term relief. Andray Blatche can't be traded without his permission and that's unlikely since he would lose his Bird Rights if dealt.</p>
<p>At the moment, they have no first round picks to trade. They owe three of their first rounders to Boston and can't trade their two others in 2015 and 2017 because of the <a target="_blank" href="http://basketball.about.com/od/collegebasketballglossary/g/ted-stepien-rule.htm">Stepien rule</a>. Even if they could, both have protections: they must be swapped with Atlanta (2015) and Boston (2017) if the Nets have the higher pick.</p>
<p>Long-term, the Nets don't have a lot of flexibility but things could change. <span>Paul Pierce</span> is a free agent in June, and assuming the Nets don't extend him, that's $15.3 million off the cap. <span class="sbn-auto-link">Garnett</span> could retire, freeing up another $12 million. The Nets could make a couple of other deals to get under the luxury tax and make some moves in the off-season. Could they trade <span>Deron Williams</span> or <span>Joe Johnson</span> and get value back? Would they?</p>
<p>Let's hope it doesn't come to that. .</p>
<p id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Cap Space:</b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph3" class="pgh-paragraph">They have none and are unlikely to have any for another two years, at least. They went from $40+ million under the cap to $11.6 million over the luxury tax threshold in a matter of days back in July 2012. The payroll jumped to $83 million when <span>Andray Blatche's</span> contract became guaranteed in January. Luxury taxes for last season totaled $12.9 million, <a href="http://data.shamsports.com/media/TAX2013Bfinal.jpg" target="_blank">the first time they had paid a dime in seven years.</a></p>
<p id="paragraph4" class="pgh-paragraph">That turned out to be nothing.</p>
<p id="paragraph5" class="pgh-paragraph">The went all in this summer, trading for <span class="sbn-auto-link">Paul Pierce</span>, <span class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Garnett</span> and <span>Jason Terry</span>, signing or re-signing Andray Blatche, <span>Shaun Livingston</span>, <span>Alan Anderson</span> and <span>Andrei Kirilenko</span> and drafting <span>Mason Plumlee</span>. The payroll now hovers around $102 million and the luxury tax is likely to be $87 million ... or more than they paid out in salaries last season!</p>
<p id="paragraph6" class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets owe their current roster a grand total of $278.5 million in fully guaranteed deals over the next five years.including the 2013-14 season (down from $340.3 million last year). That's the second highest total in the NBA (surprise!), according to ShamSports. <a href="http://data.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/clippers.jsp" target="_blank">The Clippers owe $307 million</a>. Yes! Even if you add the $8 million the Nets still owe <span>Travis Outlaw</span>, they can't catch Clippers.</p>
<p id="paragraph7" class="pgh-paragraph">One financial advantage from the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a> trade: the Nets dumped <span>Gerald Wallace's</span> contract, with its $10 million salary in 2015-16. By doing so, that <i>should</i> help them avoid the dreaded repeater tax for that season.</p>
<p id="paragraph8" class="pgh-paragraph">The big problem being so capped out for so long goes beyond the luxury taxes, which Russian ownership seems to see as the cost of doing business, an investment. The Nets won't be able to accept any players sign-and-trade deals until the summer of 2015-16, unless something extraordinary happens, like Garnett retires. Nor will they have the full MLE or the BAE. They will have the mini-MLE, which should start at around $3.3 million. (The Nets can sign and trade their own free agents if they have Bird rights, as they did with Keith Bogans in the Celtics trade. In that case, they used the big number to make the deal work.)</p>
<p id="paragraph9" class="pgh-paragraph">Not a lot of flexibility there. Moreover, neither Garnett and Blatche can <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/9/5084144/marc-stein-kevin-garnett-andray-blatche-have-no-trade-clauses">be traded without their approval</a>.</p>
<p id="paragraph11" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Expiring contracts: </b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph12" class="pgh-paragraph">Last summer, the big expiring contract was <span>Kris Humphries</span>, who is being paid $12 million in 2013-14 by Boston. They also got value out of <span>Keith Bogans</span> who because he had been with the team two straight years was eligible for Early Bird rights. They signed him for $5.2 million and traded him to Boston to make the deal work.</p>
<p id="paragraph13" class="pgh-paragraph">This year, they have multiple expiring deals. Start with Pierce, who will make $15.3 million this year. Don't be surprised to see the Nets offer him a multi-year deal at the end of this season ... at less money ... if he improves. His agent is Jeff Schwartz. Because he is at the end of a multi-year deal, the Nets have his full Bird rights. That means they can re-sign him outside the salary cap. Will they?</p>
<p id="paragraph14" class="pgh-paragraph"><span>Tyshawn Taylor</span> and <span>Tornike Shengelia</span> have two-year guaranteed deals that expire as well. Shaun Livingston is also an expiring contract with no options, team or player. If the Nets want to keep him, they will either have to give him the mini-MLE or he will have to accept a vets minimum deal plus 20 percent. His agent is Jeff Schwartz. The Nets have three players who are on two-year deals with player options in the second year: Andrei Kirilenko, Andray Blatche and Alan Anderson. Kirilenko is being paid under the mini-MLE, the other two are vets minimum deals.</p>
<p id="paragraph15" class="pgh-paragraph">Blatche, as always, is unique. He still has two years to go on his amnesty payments from Washington, this season and next. Between his Nets salary and amnesty payments, he is guaranteed $18.5 million over two years. Because he's in his second season with the Nets, he will have his Early Bird rights next summer. That makes him eligible for a four-year $25 million contract outside the salary cap. If he plays well again, continues to mature and is healthy, he could be in for a big payday. He'll only be 28. By holding his Early Bird rights, the Nets can pay him a competitive salary. And yes, if he opts out and signs with the Nets (or any other team), he still gets money from the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> in 2014-15.</p>
<p id="paragraph16" class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets also turn Taylor or Shengelia into larger contracts for trade purposes as they did with Bogans. Or they could offer them qualifying offers of $1.1 million for 2014-15.</p>
<p id="paragraph18" class="pgh-paragraph">The rest of the roster is on a variety of other deals. Here are the details as laid out by <a href="http://data.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/nets.jsp" target="_blank">ShamSports</a>. <span class="sbn-auto-link">Deron Williams</span> has four years and $81.6 million left on his contract with an early termination option in the last year; <span class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Johnson</span>, three years and $69.5 million left; <span class="sbn-auto-link">Brook Lopez</span>, three years and $47.2 million left, with a player option in the last year; Kevin Garnett, two years and $24.4 million left; Jason Terry, two years and $11.5 million left; <span>Mirza Teletovic</span>, two years and $6.6 million left; <span>Reggie Evans</span>, two years and $3.5 million left. Mason Plumlee is on a rookie contract which could pay him $6.4 million over four if the Nets exercise his third and fourth year options. Williams and Lopez have 15% trade kickers that would be paid by receiving teams.</p>
<p id="paragraph19" class="pgh-paragraph">A footnote: Last year, D-Will and JJ ranked #1 and #2 in guaranteed money owed. This year, they are #5 and #8. <span>Chris Paul</span> is #1, followed by <span>Blake Griffin</span>, <span>John Wall</span>, Dwight Howard, Williams, <span>James Harden</span>, <span>Derrick Rose</span> and Johnson.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Special situations:</b></i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">What if Garnett decides to retire after this year with $12.3 million still on the books? Increasingly, that looks likely. He almost retired last year and with things going as bad as they are, it wouldn't be a surprise. Does the last year of his contract simply go away? Once he puts in his retirement papers, he stops getting paid. Money comes off the cap.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">What if Teletovic wants to go back to Europe? Euroleague teams must submit final playoff rosters the last week of February, around time of NBA trade deadline. It would involve a buyout. The Nets and whatever European team wanted to sign him would have to work out a deal. Note this, however: Teletovic gave up a small fortune to join the Nets, initially paying $2.1 million to Caja Laboral of Spain to get out of his contract, then agreeing to take a $6 million pay cut over three years when the Nets realized giving him the full MLE in 2012 would hard cap them. He settled for the mini-MLE to help the team. He's not going to walk away from more money. His agent is Jeff Schwartz, who originally brought him to the Nets' attention. Be better to trade him.</p>
<p id="paragraph20" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Draft rights:</b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph21" class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets still hold the rights to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Bojan-Bogdanovic-1104/">Bojan Bogdanovic</a>, selected in the 2011 draft, and <span>Ilkan Karaman</span>, selected in the 2012 draft. Both play for Fenerbahce of Istanbul.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph22">Bogdanovic, a 6'8" Croatian swingman, could arrive in the NBA for 2014-15, when he will be 25. As reported ad nauseum, he couldn't get out of his $2 million buyout with Fenerbahce this summer, scuttling the Nets plans to bring him over. Next summer, he will be a free agent. He has no buyout. He has told Croatian websites that he still wants to join the Nets and league sources have told NetsDaily they look forward to getting his signature on an NBA contract.</p>
<p id="paragraph23" class="pgh-paragraph">As a second round pick --#31 in 2011-- Bogdanovic can negotiate a contract outside the rookie minimums. Under the proposed deal he and the Nets had agreed to in early July, Bogdanovic reportedly would have been paid $3.2 million in 2013-13 and $10 million over three years. Since he will have no buyout this summer, will the Nets try to get him for a smaller package? Or did the Nets commit to the $9.9 million whenever he signs? We don't know. Agents do have a tendency to hold teams to handshake deals.</p>
<p id="paragraph24" class="pgh-paragraph">A bigger question is whether the Nets will be outbid by a European club ... and how he sees what happened to Teletovic, who is after all from the same town in Bosnia. (League sources don't see that as a much of an issue. Players see themselves as different, that is, better, than other players.)</p>
<p id="paragraph25" class="pgh-paragraph">Karaman, a 6'10" Turkish power forward, has an uncertain arrival date. He's 23. The Nets have not publicly talked about his buyout situation but he is quite a way from being an NBA quality player and in fact, he's barely on their radar. Moreover, he is still recovering from double knee surgery he had over the summer. His agent is Jeff Schwartz.</p>
<p id="paragraph26" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b><a target="_blank" href="http://snynets.com/future-picks/">Draft picks:</a> </b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph27" class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets have their own first round picks in 2015, 2017 and 2019 and none from other teams.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">They traded their first round picks --unprotected-- in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to the Celtics. The 2015 and 2017 picks must be swapped if they are higher than the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> (2015) and Celtics (2017) picks.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">They have only three second round picks through 2019. Here are the details on the second round picks:</p>
<p id="paragraph28" class="pgh-paragraph">--On Draft Night in 2011, the Nets sent their second round pick in 2014 and their 2010 first round pick (Jujaun Johnson) to Boston for MarShon Brooks.</p>
<p id="paragraph29" class="pgh-paragraph">--In the 2011 <span>Mehmet Okur</span> trade, the Nets sent their second round pick in 2015 to Utah for <span class="sbn-auto-link">Okur</span>.</p>
<p id="paragraph30" class="pgh-paragraph">--In 2012 Reggie Evans trade, the Nets agreed to swap second round picks in 2016 with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a> in return for Evans. If the Clippers pick is between #31 and #55, L.A. can swap it with the Nets pick if the Nets pick is higher. The Nets can still trade the pick if the other team is willing to assume the risk.</p>
<p id="paragraph31" class="pgh-paragraph">--In the 2012 Joe Johnson trade, the Nets sent their second round in 2017 pick to Atlanta. It wasn't included in the original deal but the league required it because of a CBA technicality.</p>
<p id="paragraph32" class="pgh-paragraph">--In 2018, the Nets have their own second round pick.</p>
<p id="paragraph33" class="pgh-paragraph">--In 2019, the Nets have their own second round pick.</p>
<p id="paragraph34" class="pgh-paragraph">Prior to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.netsdaily.com/2011/nba/players/21655/deron-williams">Deron Williams</a>' trade, the Nets hadn't traded any of their own first round picks going back to 1999, preferring to keep their picks and trade those acquired from other teams. Under Billy King, they traded their own first rounders in 2011 and 2012 to acquire Williams and Gerald Wallace, then traded their own first rounders in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to acquire Pierce and Garnett.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">As Devin Kharpertian noted, the Nets picks traded away since 2010 have yielded: <span>Derrick Favors</span>, <span>Enes Kanter</span>, <span>Damian Lillard</span>, <span>Darius Morris</span>, <span>Gorgui Dieng</span> and Shane Larkin. In return, they have received Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson</p>
<p id="paragraph35" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Trade Exceptions:</b></i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph36">The Nets have no trade exceptions. The Boston deal was arranged so the Celtics came away with a $10 million TE.</p>
<p id="paragraph37" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Mid-level and Low-level exceptions:</b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph38" class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets had a mini-MLE last year and used it to pay Teletovic. This year, they used it to pay Kirilenko. The Nets don't have access to the Bi-Annual Exception, which starts at $2.6 million because of the size of their payroll. Assuming they can't get under the luxury tax, they won't have one next summer either.</p>
<p id="paragraph39" class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Cash Considerations:</b></i></p>
<p id="paragraph40" class="pgh-paragraph">Although the Nets have the richest owner in the NBA, new restrictions on cash considerations limit how much Mikhail Prokhorov can spend in deals. Under the new CBA teams are limited to sending --or receiving-- $3.2 million in cash during the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. Since the Nets hadn't paid out any cash since June 27,2011, they were able to buy second round picks in the 2012 draft, paying Portland $2 million for the rights to the #41 pick, Tyshawn Taylor, and paying Philadelphia $750,000 for the rights to the #57 pick, Toko Shengelia.</p>
<p id="paragraph41" class="pgh-paragraph">They did not spend any of their $3.1 million limit in 2012-13. As of July 1, they have a new $3.2 million limit. The limit goes up $100,000 each year of the CBA. Such cash considerations can be used to sweeten a trade or purchase a player's draft rights but the Nets would prefer to hold on to the money and use it on Draft Night.</p>
<p id="paragraph42" class="pgh-paragraph">Since he bought the team, Prokhorov has spent about $11.75 million in cash: $3 million in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/admin/nba/players/24239/yi-jianlian">Yi Jianlian</a> salary dump; $3 million to facilitate the Deron Williams trade; $1.5 million to buy the rights to <span>Bojan Bogdanovic</span> and the $2.75 million to buy the rights to Taylor and Shengelia. During that period, no owner paid out more. James Dolan of the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a> is second.</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph"><i><b>Springfield Armor:</b></i></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph">The Nets not control the NBA rights to anyone currently on the Armor roster, just their D-League rights. However, if they made a lopsided trade, they could use the player on the Armor to replenish their roster. The best prospects are bigs <span>Dennis Horner</span> and <span>Willie Reed</span> and swingman <span>Adonis Thomas</span>.</p>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/23/5136428/trade-assets-for-short-or-long-term-rebuildNet Income2013-11-23T10:38:03-05:002013-11-23T10:38:03-05:00Trying to find a solution in personnel or stats
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<figcaption>Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Steve Aschburner and John Schuhmann of NBA.com's Hang Time blog have offered their opinions on the Nets plight.</p>
<p>Aschburner writes of how it would be so much easier for the Nets if they played somewhere else, "where they could dig out, one quarter at a time.</p>
<p>"But in that town? With this roster and payroll? With hopes so high and games coming as quickly as they are now?</p>
<p>"Whoa. Just whoa."</p>
<p>So Aschburner who covered the Timberwolves in Kevin Garnett's glory days, offers this quote from KG as one way of viewing the way out, start thinking about moves..</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"This is what it is. We created this monster and we have to deal with it. You have the business of basketball come into play, I’m sure. And management’s probably going to do what it’s got to do, and that’s out of our hands."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Before the Minnesota game, Schuhmann, a Jersey guy, offered his take on what's wrong. It starts after halftime ends.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The Nets have had the lead at the half of <a href="http://www.nba.com/nets/schedule" target="_blank">five of their 11 games</a>, been tied in one, and been within four points of four of the other five. Yes, given their talent, they should have had leads against teams like the Cavs, Magic, Kings and Bobcats. But the average halftime score of their games is Nets 50, Opponent 49. That’s workable.</p>
<p>The biggest issue is that the Nets have been the worst second-half team in the league thus far, getting outscored by almost 11 points per 100 possessions over the third and fourth quarters. And the problems have come on both ends of the floor."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It goes downhill from there, particularly on KG's stats.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/11/23/getting-worse-for-brooklyn-before-maybe-it-gets-better/" target="_blank">Getting Worse For Brooklyn Before (Maybe) It Gets Better</a> - Steve Aschburner - NBA.com</li>
<li>
<a href="http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/11/22/nets-issues-start-in-the-second-half/" target="_blank">Nets’ Issues Start In the Second Half</a> - John Schuhmann - NBA.com<br>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/23/5136682/trying-to-find-a-solution-in-personnel-or-statsNet Income2013-11-22T22:22:42-05:002013-11-22T22:22:42-05:00Nets Blown Out in Minnesota, 111-81
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cM3Bsz8NY_cXhAHYeEE1RIwo034=/0x35:4000x2702/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23768817/20131122_jla_bs1_157.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once again, the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nets</a> were short-handed, missing <span>Deron Williams</span>, <span>Brook Lopez</span>, <span>Andrei Kirilenko</span> and <span>Jason Terry</span>, as they lined up against the offensively-gifted <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Timberwolves</a>. Entering the night at 3-8, this was a game the Nets needed.</p>
<p>In the end, though, it was a game that they probably would like to forget even happened. The Nets get out to a 2-0 lead, and that was that. They trailed the rest of the way, losing by 30 points, 111-81.</p>
<p>Nets got an early gift from the Timberwolves, as <span>Ricky Rubio</span> picked up his second foul less than three minutes into the game. This cause the 'Wolves to bring <span>J.J. Barea</span> in, who was giving up about seven inches to Shaun Livingston. The only problem is, aside from the size advantage at the point, there was nothing else working in the Nets' favor.</p>
<p>They were out-rebounded by four on the offensive glass, turned the ball over nine times, shot 21.1 percent form the floor and scored just 14 points in the first quarter. They found themselves down 30-14 after one, to a team that had no intentions of not running them off the floor. <span>Kevin Love</span> scored nine points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the first quarter. All nine of his points were second-change points.</p>
<p>White flag raised after just one quarter.</p>
<p>At halftime the Nets found themselves down by 20, 57-37, having shot 36.6 percent from the floor. They had five assists in the first half, to go with 13 turnovers. <span>Paul Pierce</span> was 2-of-9 from the floor, and <span>Reggie Evans</span> and <span>Andray Blatche</span> had four turnovers apiece. There was little effort from the Nets over the first 24 minutes.</p>
<p>Enter the third quarter, where Brooklyn has struggled mightily throughout the young season. <span>Jason Kidd</span> started Blatche at center in place of Evans, hoping to get an offensive spark. It didn't help much. Four minutes into the third, the Nets found themselves down by 27 points. The Timberwolves were out-hustling, out-playing, and whatever the third one is that they use on that show <i>Survivor</i>. (Out-lasting?).</p>
<p>Minnesota went on a 19-2 run after <span>Kevin Garnett</span> picked up a technical foul, took a 32-point lead and, well, you know how this story ends.</p>
<p>The fourth quarter was...12 minutes long.</p>
<p>Not sure how to write anything positive about this performance. The Nets shot 39.7 percent from the floor, they turned the ball over 20 times, and still managed to lose by 30 points, even as the Timberwolves cleared out the end of the bench for the entire fourth quarter.</p>
<p>Brooklyn is now 3-9 on the season, and next up is the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a>, at home, on Sunday afternoon. It has to get better, right?</p>
<p><b>For more on the Timberwolves, see: <a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/">Canis Hoopus</a></b></p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20131122/BKNMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=slt%23nbaGIboxscore" target="_blank">Nets at Timberwolves - November 22, 2013 - Box Score </a>- NBA.com</li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5134680/game-thread-brooklyn-nets-at-minnesota-timberwolves-8-00-pm" target="_blank">Game Thread: Brooklyn Nets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 PM</a> - NetsDaily</span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5135454/2nd-half-game-thread-nets-at-timberwolves" target="_blank">2nd Half Game Thread: Nets at Timberwolves </a>- NetsDaily</span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/love-wolves-beat-kg-1st-032504603--nba.html" target="_blank">Love, Wolves beat KG for 1st time, 111-81 </a>- Jon Krawcynski - AP</span></li>
<li>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.canishoopus.com/2013/11/22/5135804/wolves-blowout-nets-111-81">Wolves Blowout Nets 111-81 </a>- Canis Hoopus</li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2013/11/22/0021300182-bkn-min-play1.nba" target="_blank">Hoop and Harm (Video) </a>- NBA.com</span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2013/11/22/0021300182-bkn-min-play2.nba" target="_blank">Beatin' the Buzzer (Video) </a>- NBA.com</span></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2013/11/22/0021300182-bkn-min-play3.nba" target="_blank">Block Party (Video)</a> - NBA.com</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/video/games/timberwolves/2013/11/22/0021300182-bkn-min-play4.nba">Knockin' It Down (Video) </a>- NBA.com</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31236085"> Kidd discusses loss to Timberwolves (Video)</a> - YES Network</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31236113">Pierce discusses Nets loss to T'Wolves (Video)</a> - YES Network</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31236123">Garnett talks about Nets' rough loss (Video)</a> - YES Network</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://web.yesnetwork.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=31234561">Kevin Garnett on his mentor when he entered the NBA (Video)</a> - YES Network</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/13802/rapid-reaction-timberwolves-111-nets-81">Rapid Reaction: Timberwolves 111, Nets 81 </a>- Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/13806/nets-hit-another-rock-bottom-in-minnesota">Brooklyn Nets hit another rock bottom in Minnesota</a> - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/reeling-nets-suffer-one-of-their-most-embarrassing-defeats-of-the-season-1.6484370">Reeling Nets suffer one of their most embarrassing defeats of the season</a> - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York<br>
</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/kevin-garnett-is-working-to-fit-in-lift-his-game-1.6484125?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Kevin Garnett is working to fit in, lift his game</a> - Rod Boone - Newsday</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/23/sports/basketball/garnett-has-impact-but-not-the-right-kind-in-a-rout.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0">Garnett Has Impact, but Not the Right Kind, in a Rout</a> - Pat Borzi - New York Times</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://nypost.com/2013/11/22/timberwolves-humiliate-nets/">Net even close as Timberwolves humiliate Brooklyn</a> - Tim Bontemps - New York Post<br>
</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://thebrooklyngame.com/embarrassment-timberwolves-111-nets-81-game-grades">Embarrassment: Timberwolves 111, Nets 81 (GAME GRADES) </a>- Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://thebrooklyngame.com/brooklyn-nets-minnesota-timberwolves-embarrasment-of-riches/">Embarrassment of riches simply an embarrassment</a> - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://snynets.com/nets/final-score-timberwolves-111-nets-81/">Final Score: Timberwolves 111 Nets 81</a> - Brian Erni - SNY Nets</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.examiner.com/article/nets-woeful-loss-to-timberwolves">Nets woeful in loss to Timberwolves</a> - Greg Hrinya - Examiner.com</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.netstakeover.com/2013/11/nets-get-embarrassed-by-wolves-lose-111.html" target="_blank">Nets get embarrassed by Wolves; lose 111-81 </a>- Ed Boulanger - Nets Take Over</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://fromrussiawithdunk.com/2013/11/22/nets-running-excuses-loss-timberwolves/">Nets Running Out of Excuses After Loss to Timberwolves </a>- Jonah Mars - From Russia With Dunk</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/233119491.html">Recap: Wolves beat Nets</a> - Kent Youngblood - Minneapolis Star-Tribune</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/233115891.html">Love, Wolves get the better of Brooklyn</a> - Jerry Zgoda - Minneapolis Star-Tribune</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/233106921.html">Wolves rout KG, Nets at Target Center</a> - Kent Youngblood - Minneapolis Star-Tribune</li>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/233113771.html">Garnett not interested in discussing future</a> - Kent Youngblood - Minneapolis Star-Tribune<br>
</li>
</ul>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5135264/everything-went-from-bad-to-worse-nets-fall-to-the-timberwolves-111-81Tom Lorenzo2013-11-22T21:10:21-05:002013-11-22T21:10:21-05:002nd Half Game Thread: Nets vs. Timberwolves
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<figcaption>Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's a lot to a little, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> trail the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> at halftime, 57-37.</p>
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<ul>
<li><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5134680/game-thread-brooklyn-nets-at-minnesota-timberwolves-8-00-pm">Game Thread: Brooklyn Nets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00 PM </a>- NetsDaily</span></li>
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https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5135454/2nd-half-game-thread-nets-at-timberwolvesTom Lorenzo2013-11-22T19:30:02-05:002013-11-22T19:30:02-05:00Game Thread: Nets at Timberwolves, 8:00 PM
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<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><strong>TV:</strong> YES<br><strong>Radio:</strong> WFAN</p>
<p>Catch up on the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Timberwolves</a> at <a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/">Canis Hoopus</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Reminder:</strong> Please familiarize yourself with the <a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/community-guidelines"><strong>NetsDaily Community Guidelines</strong></a>.</p>
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<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" align="center" border="1"><tbody> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">Game 12</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center> <a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/579107/mia_current.gif" target="_blank"></a><br id="1383333377115"><center><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1534589/bkn_2nd.gif"></center> </center></td> <th width="20" align="center">@</th> <td width="240"><center> <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/515438/min_current.gif"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/515438/min_current_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Min_current_medium"></a> <br id="1385154502966"> </center></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center>3-8<br>1-6 on the road</center></td> <th width="20" align="center"></th> <td width="240"><center>7-6<br>5-1 at home</center></td> </tr> <tr><td bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><strong>Nov. 22, 2013</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>Target Center</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>8 p.m. ET</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>TV: YES. Radio: WFAN</strong></td></tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><strong>Probable Starters</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Shaun Livingston</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>Ricky Rubio</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Joe Johnson</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Kevin Martin</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Paul Pierce</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Corey Brewer</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Kevin Garnett</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Kevin Love</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><span>Reggie Evans</span></td> <th width="20" align="center">C</th> <td width="240"><span>Nikola Pekovic</span></td> </tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><strong><a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/" target="_blank">2013-14 Advanced Stats</a></strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">92.9 (22)</td> <th width="20" align="center">Pace</th> <td width="240">99.2 (2)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">102.0 (21)</td> <th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th> <td width="240">107.0 (7)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">107.5 (25)</td> <th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th> <td width="240">100.6 (5)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5134680/game-thread-brooklyn-nets-at-minnesota-timberwolves-8-00-pmTom Lorenzo2013-11-22T18:24:54-05:002013-11-22T18:24:54-05:00Coach Carlisle to the rescue of Coach Kidd
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><span>Rick Carlisle</span> has a unique perspective on Coach Jason Kidd. In 2002, he was an assistant In Indiana under new coach Larry Bird when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> started slowly ... and he was the head coach in Dallas when Kidd was the point guard of a championship team.</p>
<p>Mark Stein uses Carlisle to make an argument that Kidd will be just fine as a head coach. He goes even further than Adrian Wojanowski did this morning.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Maybe I’m not the world’s most objective Kidd observer, given my longstanding admiration for the pass-first winner/leader he was as a player, but even the more detached can surely see how November must still feel like the preseason for this group, especially given how much training camp time <span>Deron Williams</span> missed."</p>
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<p>In Carlisle, Stein has a great witness for the defense. He points out, "Most people forget that, with [Larry] Bird, we got off to a 2-5 start and had many of the same challenges with an older team and a challenging early schedule."</p>
<p>But where Carlisle really vouches for Kidd is in his experience as a head coach working with Kidd.</p>
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<p>"Hell, I've said this many times, but I learned more about NBA coaching working with Kidd during his four years in Dallas than any other period in my career."</p>
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<li> <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/386/legend-shows-its-too-soon-to-judge-kidd" target="_blank">Legend shows it's too soon to judge Kidd</a> - Marc Stein - ESPN</li>
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<a href="http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/print-view/jason-kidd-the-playmaker-gives-up-the-ball-20131016" target="_blank">Jason Kidd: The Playmaker gives up the ball</a> - Paul Solotaroff - Men's Journal<br>
</li>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5134958/coach-rick-carlisle-to-the-rescue-of-coach-jason-kiddNet Income2013-11-22T12:08:59-05:002013-11-22T12:08:59-05:00Williams, Lopez, Kirilenko, Terry out tonight
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets</a> continue to battle the injury bug in Minnesota as they get ready to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a> later tonight. <span>Deron Williams</span> will not play tonight after re-injuring his left ankle in Charlotte Wednesday night. <span>Brook Lopez</span> and <span>Andrei Kirilenko</span> will not return to the lineup either, Lopez battling an ankle ailment of his own, while Kirilenko is still recovering from his back spasms. <span>Jason Terry</span> joins the team's lengthy injury report with a bruised left knee.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Williams, Lopez, Kirilenko and Terry are out for tonight's game.</p>
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/statuses/403926335908614145">November 22, 2013</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Lopez will miss his fourth straight game, while Williams will miss his third in four games. Kirilenko will miss his eighth straight game. There is no timetable for any of their returns.</p>
<p>Brooklyn will likely roll out the same starting lineup from Wednesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Bobcats</a>, with <span>Shaun Livingston</span> and <span>Reggie Evans</span> starting for Williams and Lopez, respectively.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/brooklyn-nets/post/_/id/13792/w2w4-nets-at-t-wolves" target="_blank">W2W4: Nets at Timberwolves</a> - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York<br>
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</ul>
https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5133720/nets-injury-update-timberwolvesReed Wallach2013-11-22T11:18:34-05:002013-11-22T11:18:34-05:00E-mailing with the enemy: Minnesota Timberwolves
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<figcaption>Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Dennis Velasco e-mails with Eric Goldman from <a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/" target="new">Canis Hoopus</a> about tonight's Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets match-up. They both agree that the T-Wolves will get a jump early. Will the Nets be able to come back? This game could be emblematic of their season thus far.</p> <p><b>Dennis Velasco:</b> Hey Eric... thanks for agreeing to do this! I think that everyone that loves basketball would agree that the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> are one of the more exciting teams to follow in the L. <span>Ricky Rubio</span>, of course, is probably the main reason with his slick ways - 8.8 dimes per game, 2.9 steals and making triples 42.9 percent of the time - all of which are currently career-highs. Of course, he's also hitting career-worsts - 7.9 points and 33.7 percent shooting from the deck. I like think of Rubio as beautiful chaos, which is a very Marvel Comics villain perspective, but I think you know what I mean. How do you see Rubio doing this season, his third in the NBA?</p>
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<span> </span>Others players to dig are <span>Kevin Love</span>, whose only roadblock to success seems to be health, a double-double beast with the ability to step out to the three-point line, which is where offseason acquisition <span>Kevin Martin</span> is excelling, hitting 47.0 percent while putting up 5.5 attempts per contest. He's back with Rick Adelman and has to be just as ecstatic, if not moreso, as T-Wolves fans. He's been great for the team! The other new guy is <span>Corey Brewer</span> and he has a knack to fit in anywhere. Tell us how much of an impression they're making, as well as three to five other things that <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nets</a> fans should know.</div>
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<b>Eric Goldman:</b> Hey Dennis. This should be fun. Starting with Rubio... it's amazing to have a player like him to watch every night. His ability to find guys and get the ball to them at the right moment is pretty rare. He's brilliant in the pick and roll, finding the roll man in space, and in transition as well. That said, the team is actually running less PnR this year as they incorporate a lot of <span>Rick Adelman's</span> corner schemes, so you will see a lot of playmaking from the high post by Kevin Love as well.
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<a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/2013/11/22/5133470/brooklyn-nets-q-and-a">
<h2>NetsDaily Q&A</h2>
<img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23738205/20131120_ajl_as1_142.0_standard_709.0.jpg"></a> <span>Dennis Velasco of NetsDaily answers questions about tonight's Nets-Timberwolves game.</span>
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<div>Rubio is also tremendous at the defensive end; he doesn't get steals by gambling, he just reads plays faster then everyone else. His basketball IQ is off the charts. Finishing has been a real problem for him, though. He hasn't learned how to finish around the rim yet, like other great point guards do. His stand-still three has been good, but his off-the-dribble jumper is poor. Overall, he's great, but there are weaknesses.</div>
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<div>Kevin Love is just a flat out superstar. He does it all--rebound, score inside and out (watch for his newly developed jump hook in the post), and he's added passing to his game this year. It's a joy to watch. Kevin Martin is off to a great start, back to his three-pointer/free throw combination that has made him such an efficient scorer in the league. He's been terrific, all the more because it's been probably a decade since we've had a worthy shooting guard on the Wolves. It's been a while.</div>
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<div>Other stuff: Corey Brewer is getting out and running, which is what he does well. He isn't as effective when the game slows down and he has to make jumpers. That isn't his game.</div>
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<span>Nikola Pekovic</span> got off to a bit of a slow start this year, but the last few games he's been destroying people. When he gets position, that's it. You aren't moving him. And he has excellent hands and good touch around the basket. But mostly, he's just about the strongest guy in the NBA.</div>
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<div>The bench has struggled so far for the Wolves. <span>Derrick Williams</span> is pretty much out of the rotation, and Adelman has been going with <span>J.J. Barea</span> (who fluctuates between fantastic and terrible game to game), <span>Dante Cunningham</span>, who is workman-like, and Robbie Hummel, who has supplanted Williams because he doesn't make mistakes.</div>
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<div>Things were looking great until the last two games - close losses at the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> and at home to the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a>. Five of the Wolves six losses have been by a combined 15 points.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>For more on the Timberwolves, see: <a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Canis Hoopus</a></i></b></div>
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<b>DV: </b>The Timberwolves definitely have some top-level talent on the team and as I said, they're an exciting team to watch. Definitely looking forward to watching this game. But, I may not. The T-Wolves should be able to run on the Nets and the Nets have stunk against teams like that. Which brings me to the question - what will Minnesota have to do to win this game, other than the up-tempo game I intimated. And, tell me how it plays out and a final score.</div>
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<b>EG:</b> The Wolves will need to do work on the offensive glass. It's an area they are strong in, and they need to take advantage of Love and Pekovic on the boards. That, combined with their running game should be enough to get them through. The Wolves have been great in first quarters this year; I haven't checked, but I bet they have the best first quarter differential in the NBA. My guess is they reprise that against the Nets, and get out quickly. The Nets will get back into the game in the second quarter, but ultimately the Wolves ease away for the win. This is one the Wolves need badly after losing at home against the Clippers, and they will be locked in I think. I'll go 106-99 final score.
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P.S.--<span>Kevin Garnett</span> gets a huge round of applause when he's introduced.</div>
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<b>DV:</b> There's just so much uncertainty with this Nets team right now - will <span>Brook Lopez</span> play tonight? <span>Deron Williams</span> has to be sitting and not rush back on the court again, right? How serious is Andrei Kirilenko's back injury? And these are only health questions. Forget about any that has to do with actual gameplay. Unfortunately, I have to agree with you, Eric. The Wolves get an early jump and keep it. I'll go with 113-94 in favor of Minny. Now, let me go hide under a rock now and start crying.</div>
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<i>Are you as pessimistic? Or the complete opposite and think the Nets will come together and put up the W? Leave score predictions below!</i><br>
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https://www.netsdaily.com/2013/11/22/5131406/brooklyn-nets-minnesota-timberwolves-preview-2013-canis-hoopusDennis Velasco