NBA Off Season Preview: New Jersey Nets
I waited on doing this preview until the last possible moment. I was sure that as soon as I posted the highly anticipated 2010-11 Nets preview(hey, the blog is HUGE in Jersey City and Hoboken) that the news of Carmelo being dealt East would explode on Twitter. Hasn’t happened. But maybe it will. But it probably won’t. These are the Nets after all & they are the red headed step child of the New York basketball scene. Pretty lofty title when across the Hudson sits the New York Knickerbockers. Now I know some will say that the Nets play in Jersey, so how can they be a part of the city’s hardwood scene? Trust me on this one. With the Knicks futility seemingly climaxing to epic proportions this Summer after striking out on getting a player capable of leading them to the postseason(don’t you dare say Stoudemire will do it. Don’t. You. Freakin’. Dare.) and the Nets claiming to be headed to Brooklyn, there are many fans under the age of 30 who are salivating at the chance to hit the reset button on their basketball allegiances. Think I am crazy? Come find me in 2014 & tell me I was wrong. Of course if Donnie Wallsh out maneuvers the Russian Mark Cuban and signs ‘Melo to play at the Mecca…well, just ignore that last paragraph.
Key Losses from ‘09-10: hahahahaha. You’re kidding me right? The Nets won only 12 games last year. I could roll out 500 words of, “The Nets sucked so bad…” jokes, but I’ll spare you. This is a Nets preview after all, I’m lucky if eight of you are still reading this…my fellow contributors being seven of you.
Key additions: Mikail Prokhorov(owner), Avery Johnson(coach), Derrick Favors, Troy Murphy, Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw, Jordon Farmar. Okay, can someone explain to me how the Nets didn’t end up with at least one of the top free agents available this Summer? The Nets had a fantastic summer on the free agent front if they were a 50 win team that needed to strengthen it’s bench. The 5 players I just listed would be great if they were backing up a starting five that is coming off a tough 1st rd. playoff fight. They are not. They won TWELVE! games in ‘09-‘10.
What to look for this season: That Carmelo Anthony trade I mentioned before? That’s numbers 1, 2, and 3 on New Jersey’s wish list. Aside from that, I am having a real hard time finding how the Nets get past the 30 win mark. Although, that would be a very good turnaround. Okay, so the Nets are playing you’re favorite team in December and you want to know what to watch for. I look at this roster and wonder if maybe they shouldn’t just swap coaches with the Knicks. Why not? Mike D. would have a roster that is led by a PG in Devin Harris who seems like he would thrive in an offense that would allow him to score 20 a night and rack up baskets for his teammates in a fast and furious fashion. Harris is coming off a season in which he injured his groin and missed 18 games. His numbers were down across the board from a ‘08-‘09 season that was impressive & now his former coach with the Mavs takes over. Something tells me that Devin wishes he could swap coaches. Anyway, there’s not much to like about this situation unless the light goes off in Devin’s head that lets him know he has the ability to be a very good NBA PG. Then you look around at the roster and think that if they only had a quality 7-footer to rely upon. What’s that? Well look at that! You’re right, they do have Brook Lopez. The big man out of Stanford put up an 18 and 8 while shooting 50% from the field. Okay, we’re are starting to cook with some gas here. A quality PG and center. Now if they just had a All-Star quality wing player…instead they have a pu-pu platter of Anthony Morrow(great 3-pt shot but brings nothing else to to the party), Travis Outlaw(really nice player if he’s your 7th or 8th man, but he starts for the Nets), & Terrence Williams(a fun player to watch, but as pretty as Morrow’s shot is, T-will’s is just as ugly). They do have Troy Murphy and Derrick Favors down low. Unfortunately Favors is a couple of years away from realizing his potential and Murphy would be great if he played 28 mins backing up your big men. Not a great recipe for success, is it? I don’t need to discuss Jordan Farmar do I? Just in case there are any Laker fans under the delusion that Farmar will be missed, watch what kind of player he really is, now that he’s away from Kobe & Phil. The answer is he’s not that good and he will probably end up starting 20+ games this year because Harris is injury prone. Really not good.
Predictions & Fun Facts
- The Nets will in fact make a major trade.
- That trade will be major in that they will supply a key piece to some other teams playoof run and will not be for Carmelo Anthony.
- Brook Lopez an All-Star for the East at Center? Sure, why not.
- Anthony Morro will be at All Star weekend too. Winning the 3 point contest. Take it to the bank.
- Site to catch up on Nets news: Nets Are Scorching.
- Nets on Twitter: TheRealTWill JoeBeast75 Travis25Outlaw
