As someone who came to basketball in the early 1990s, Michael Jordan was undoubtedly the greatest professional athlete I ever saw and is the greatest basketball player to ever walk the Earth. With his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, I thought NAS could honor his airness by listing some of his greatest career accomplishments against the Nets.
While the Nets certainly won’t strike many as one of Jordan’s great foes during his career, he’s actually had a number of career highlights against them. Some of the personal bests achieved by Jordan against the Nets include most free throws in a game (26), most defensive rebounds (15), most steals (10), most steals in a quarter (6) and most free throws made without missing (15). Some of these highlights, and many others against the Nets, may rank among some of the best games of his career. Here’s the NAS list. Those who have focused their fandom on Jordan and the Bulls (and Wizards) may like to quibble and we welcome the input.
#5 March 16, 1996 – Owning the Glass
Jordan proved why he would do whatever it took for his team to win a game. With Dennis Rodman ejected for headbutting a referee earlier in the game, Jordan took over for the rebounding specialist, grabbing 15 defensive boards (a career high) and 16 total for the game. Jordan also added 37 points and 3 blocks, negating Chris Childs’ first-career triple-double in a 97-93 victory in New Jersey.The post-game focus was on Rodman, with now Nets president, then NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Rod Thorn, telling Rodman, “You do not hit an official, that’s for sure.” Jordan, on the other hand, ensured another victory for his team that was already without Scottie Pippen who was sitting out with an injury.
Yao Ming Mania has the transcript and video from a recent interview with Nets coach Lawrence Frank given to Sina.com in China. In the interview, Frank talks some more about Yi Jianlian and how he might be used offensively this year, specifically in the low post.
Rory from Slippery When Nets talks about his experience this summer getting invited to the Nets training facility as part of a sales pitch to renew his season tickets. During the experience, he was pitched the now infamous reversible jersey promotion, which he initially liked.
Nets CEO Brett Yormark talks with Fox Business about the team’s newest business initiative, selling ad space on their practice jerseys. He also believes the move to Brooklyn is a certainty for the 2011-12 season and he disputes a variety of published reports this summer that the team is for sale.
The off-season in any major sport is usually one filled with hope and optimism. We hear about players losing weight and coming to camp “in the best shape of their lives.” Teams acquire players that are going to be missing pieces to the puzzle. Teams that are being doubted by the pundits, talk about their potential and how they’re going to surprise people.
It’s no different right now over in Nets-land as an open practice in early September has brought out many key members of the team who are feeling confident. Brook Lopez thinks playoffs are a real possibility, Jarvis Hayes is taking over the leadership mantle from the departed Vince Carter and Yi Jianlian is exciting coach Lawrence Frank after putting on some bulk and playing well in the FIBA Asia Championship.
However, this is the Nets we’re talking about, and this isn’t the first time fans have been told to get excited by coaches, players, the press, or a combination of all three. In slightly sadistic fashion, I compiled a short list to remind Nets fans of past seasons where the optimism was high and the vibes were good, but the end results ended up bad or worse.
1994 – Derrick Coleman is a “Nice Person”
From the day he was drafted with the #1 pick in 1990, Derrick Coleman was known for having a world of talent, but also a major ego problem. After making his first all-star game (with teammate Kenny Anderson) in the 93-94 season, Coleman was looking for a new contract and was making waves with the front office. But at the start of the preseason in 1994, DC was going for an image makeover, telling the press that his disagreements with past coaches were being taken out of context and any criticisms he levied towards his teammates were being misinterpreted.“I’m a nice person,” he told the New York Times. Later in the season, he caused a stir when he referred to Karl Malone as an “Uncle Tom” and he also became the Sports Illustrated cover boy for “prima donna” NBA ballers when he handed then-coach Butch Beard a blank check for all the fines he expected to incur for not following the team’s new dress code. He was finally traded the next season for the great Shawn Bradley.
Slam Online looks at former Net Richard Jefferson’s off-season, and focuses a lot of the article around his time in New Jersey.
Hoopsworld looks at five teams with trade exceptions, including the $3.7 million exception help by the Nets until June 2010. And given how far under the cap the Nets are, Hoopsworld suggests the Nets might actually use their exception this season.
The Nets continue their creative marketing ways, becoming the first NBA team to sell a practice jersey sponsorship. The Sports Business Journal is reporting that the Nets practice uniforms will carry a PNY Technologies logo. The Parsippany, NJ, flash-drive manufacturer will also sponsor the Nets’ practice facility.
Sorry tonight’s edition of Nets on the Net is so late today, but here you go fellas:
CDR has decided to step away from his phone and twitter to blog. CDR talks about working out and mentoring T-Will about NBA systems, business plans and the economy, some favorite tv shows, why he likes twitter, and of course his cats.
Awesome video of the Nets working out. Like Mark and I said in the podcast, I really think this is awesome, and I am glad to see most of the team (and not just a few individuals) doing this. Only means good things for the Nets.
Gerald Narciso of Dime again shouts out the Nets. He takes a look at the top JV-teams, and the Nets come in at #6. It isn’t a diss. It is just a way for him to describe the young core:
By young core, I mean players who have not accomplished much yet in their young NBA careers and are still paying dues. I’m talking about players and teams that are not quite ready to contribute anything big this upcoming season, but will be right there in the mix two or three years down the line. All of these players are relatively young, have no more than three years in the league and have not been all-stars or major contributors in the playoffs.
Good stuff. One thing, that lay-up C.Lee missed wasn’t a gimme.
For the portion of the fan base that thought there were still ways to upgrade the Nets at the PF/C position for theupcoming season, take David Lee off your wish list. ESPN is reporting the Knicks are expected to finalize a one-year deal for Lee next week. Despite some speculation that the Knicks could unload Lee in a sign-and-trade, team sources say such a deal is unlikely.
Recently, NAS explored the Nets bringing Lee into the fold. While all signs indicated that it wouldn’t happen, I still think he would have been an interesting fit for the team, which outside of Brook Lopez, is very thin on inside scoring and rebounding. However, with Lee only getting a one-year deal, Lee could become an option for the Nets again (or for the first time) next year, especially if some of the elite free agents stay with their respective teams.
In the fourth episode of the podcast (2nd with Mark), Mark and I sit down to discuss the guys getting in the gym early, the effects of that, and some Brooklyn/Devils stuff. Definitely worth the listen, and you can listen/download it here or get it on iTunes.
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A quick note: Mark and I know the quality on this isn’t the best (Each one of us is only coming through one side of the speakers), but we are going to change up some things for the next one and we should be good. So don’t worry fellas!
Back from China, Devin Harris is the topic du jour for the beat writers at open practice today. Pick your favorite among the Star-Ledger, New York Post or Ben Couch. To summarize, Devin acknowledges the Nets are young, but have the talent to make the playoffs. He was bummed that they traded Vince Carter, but loves Courtney Lee. And he now fully understands how popular Yi Jianlian is in China, seeing his name on my products including ice cream with corn in it. Can’t be any worse than those mozzarepa things you get at NYC street fairs, right?
Gerald Narciso at Dime, calls the Nets “The NBA’s Best Kept Secret” because of their young core and the low expectations for the team from the rest of the NBA punditry.
Nets dancer Cecilia blogs about the start of the “Dunking Divas” tour in Korea and the Phillipines.
As someone who came to basketball in the early 1990s, Michael Jordan was undoubtedly the greatest professional athlete I ever saw and is the greatest basketball player to ever walk the Earth. With his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame this week, I thought NAS could honor his airness by listing some of his greatest career accomplishments against the Nets.
1994 – Derrick Coleman is a “Nice Person”