Nets Are Scorching

It wasn’t pretty, and it didn’t count, but there was Nets basketball for the first time since April. And even though it’s the first preseason game, and you can never read much, if anything, into the first preseason game, there were things to take away from this 115-107 loss to the New York Knicks up in Albany, that were both positive and negative signs for the upcoming regular season.

All summer long, the talk was about if Devin Harris was going to be able to carry the scoring load with Vince Carter now suiting up in Orlando. It was almost as if the prognosticators forgot that Brook Lopez proved he could be a dynamic offensive force in his rookie year last season. The Nets went to Brook early and often this afternoon. He ran the floor better than I’ve seen him do before, and by the end of the first half, he already had a pretty nice scoring line for himself with 19 points, including 9-11 from the free throw line. The way Lopez dominated the smaller Knicks frontcourt made you forget just how special Devin Harris is in his own right. But Harris reminded us on a few occasions. With about 6:10 left in the first quarter, Harris unlocked just a filthy spin move, breaking down the Knicks defense and laying the ball in for two points. It felt even more special because it happened as the Knicks play-by-play team on MSG was touting the new and improved New York defense. Yes, the Knicks had 7 blocks in today’s game, and the Nets look inept on the offensive end for long stretches, but they certainly didn’t resemble the Pat Riley/Jeff Van Gundy defensive bruisers of the 1990s, so let’s calm down MSG.

Another guy we heard a lot about this summer who made a good impression today was Yi Jianlian. The “muscle devil,” as he’s being referred to now after putting on some bulk in the offseason, chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds in 25+ minutes of play. But it was a few individual plays, which showcased some of his newly found aggression and confidence that caught my eye. With about 9:30 left in the second quarter, Yi gave a little head fake at the top of the key and then took it strong to the interior, getting the bucket and the foul. Did Yi ever make a play like that last season? Early in the third quarter at the 11:13 mark, Yi grabbed an offensive rebound off a Jarvis Hayes missed jumper and put the ball back in. It was a surprising play since I grew accustomed to watching Yi lingering on the perimeter during plays like that last season.

Read more…

The Daily News examines what brought Mikhail Prokhorov to the Nets.

Fred Kerber talks about how Devin Harris is really establishing himself as the vocal leader of this team. Somebody has to be right?

Yi is feeling confident.

CDR on Twitter: Thanks y’all.I still have things to prove.Just preseason.Don’t expect nothing less from me!I’m headed to West Point to talk to the soldiers.

In the preseason opener, the New York Knicks beat the Nets 115-107. Chris Douglas-Roberts, subbing for the injured Courtney Lee, led all Nets scorers with 21 points, getting to the free throw line 15 times, converting 11. Brook Lopez chipped in 19 points, all in the first half, including 9-11 from the free throw line. Devin Harris scored 14 with 4 assists. Bobby Simmons scored 16 off the bench, including shooting 5-6 from three-point land. Terrence Williams, in his debut for the Nets, overcame a rocky start, scoring 11 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.

The Knicks had three players with more than 20 points: Al Harrington (23), David Lee (20 points with 9 rebounds) and Wilson Chandler (21 points and 7 rebounds). After being down 2 points at the end of the first quarter, the Knicks never looked back, outscoring the Nets 89 to 79.

The Nets shot 30-68 from the field for 44.1 percent, 6-16 from three for 37.5 percent and 41-56 from the free throw line for 73.2 percent. The Knicks were 38-88 from the field for 43.2 percent, 13-31 from three for 41.9 percent and 26-35 from the charity stripe for 74.3 percent.

Watch Devin Harris completely abuse the Knicks defense with an awesome spin move in the first quarter:

• Who Cares Really? First and foremost, this is a preseason game and the finally score doesn’t really matter.  What matters though is how we get to the final score.  At the end of the game, there will be garbage time that effects the score, don’t let that effect your mindset.
• We Gellin? Unlike last year when there was little turnover, there is a ton of turnover this year, and the preseason games are where teams start to gel.  With the whole team coming to camp early this shouldn’t be a big problem, but it is something to look out for.
• Will CDR Step Up? CDR fans have been clamoring for more playing time and a starting spot saying that it shouldn’t be handed to Courtney Lee.  If CDR plays well here when C.Lee is sitting out, that just may happen.
• Terrence Williams Shot - I couldn’t go a post without talking about T-Will.  How is his shot looking, we know he has been working on it a ton.  I am not talking about shooting percentage, what I am looking for is to see if he shoots confidently, with proper form, and seeing if he takes off and lands in the same spot.
• The Muscle Devil - A lot has been made of Yi’s newfound muscle.  How is that going to translate on the court at the PF spot.  Will he be attacking the basket more?  Getting more defensive rebounds?  Watching him play today can be an indication of what he is trying to do this year.

Follow our random musings on Twitter throughout the game.

What’s going on everyone?  Back when I was at NJIT helping out the coaching staff, we did scouting reports to prepare the players for the games.  I think this is something fun we can do to prepare the fans for the game.  So here goes nothing:

1. Chris Duhon: 6’1″ | 185 lbs | 36.8 MPG | 11.1 PPG | 7.2 APG | 42.1 FG% | 39.1 3% | 85.6 FT%

Pure point guard, looking to set up his teammates at all times.  Can’t leave him open though, hits open shots.  Streaky shooter…if he starts hitting, watch out.

2. Nate Robinson: 5’9″ | 180 lbs | 29.9 MPG | 17.2 PPG | 4.1 APG | 43.7 FG% | 32.5 3%  | 84.1 FT

Crazy athletic.  Shoot first mentality and also a streaky shooter.  Taller guards must take advantage of him in the post.  Must look out for him on the fast break…either in terms of attacking the basket or spotting up on the wing.

3.  Al Harrington: 6’9″ | 250 lbs | 35.0 MPG | 20.7 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 44.6 FG% | 36.2 3% | 80.4 FT%

A guard in a big man’s body.  He can handle the ball, he is a good shooter, and he can run on the break.  I would like to see CDR covering him, as I think his lankiness will disrupt him a bit.

4.  Jordan Hill:  6’10″ | 235 lbs | Rookie:  No professional Stats

Jordan Hill is an offensive rebounding machine.  I would like to see the Nets zone rebound (box out areas rather than players) to deal with him and David Lee, because I think Hill will eat Yi alive.   Guards really need to help and pinch on him when boxing out.  Offensively he can he the 10 footer, but that seems to be the limit of his range.  On defense he is tough inside, but slow, Yi can take advantage of him on the outside.

5. David Lee:  6’9″ | 240 lbs | 34.9 MPG | 16.0 PPG | 11.7 RPG | 54.9 FG% | 0.00 3% | 75.5 FT%

Another offensive rebounding machine.  Brook should be able to handle him though.  Likes to live around the basket (which results in the ridiculously high FG%).  Must be physical with him and push him away from the basket.  On offense, we need to take advantage of his lack of size (for a center).  Brook should be able to muscle in on him and get some easy baskets.

F.  Wilson Chandler -

Not Out.  NBA.com lied to me.  He is a physical 2/3 hybrid who is a solid shooter but is more comfortable attacking the basket.  You can beat him offensively with quickness.

G/F.  Danilo Gallinari:  6’10″ | 225 lbs | 14.7 MPG | 6.1 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 44.8 FG | 44.4 3 | 96.3 FT

Hurt a lot of last year.  Has a feathery touch around the basket and is a fantastic shooter built in the Dirk mode.  Not tough or exceptionally quick though.  Can be pushed around when on offense and when on defense whoever he is guarding needs to go after him.  Hard.

G/F.  Larry Hughes:  6’5″ | 185 lbs | 27.5 MPG | 11.2 PPG | 2.6 RPG | 39.0 FG | 38.5 3 | 79.4 FT

Streaky shoot first guard.  Doesn’t attack the basket, and he shoots in bunches whether he made the last 10 or missed the last 10.  Terrific defender despite losing a step, great on and off the ball defending and gets a good number of steals.

F.  Jarred Jeffries:  6’10″ | 240 lbs | 23.0 MPG | 5.3 PPG | 4.4 RPG | 43.2 FG | 24.2 3 | 58.6 FT

Big guy who feasts from the wing and the baseline at around 15/20 feet.  Awful free throw shooter, and if he is attacking the lane, just foul him.  Poor 3 point shooter.

G.  Toney Douglas:  6’1″ | 200 lbs | Rookie:  No professional Stats

Hybrid guard who can play both guard spots.  Strong with the ball and can get into the lane.  Streaky shooter and a bunch scorer.  Willing to find his open teammates though.

F/C.  Darko Milicic:  7’0″ | 275 lbs | 17.2 MPG | 5.5 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 45.4 FG | 0.00 3 | 58.8 FT

Another poor foul shooter.  If he has a lane, might as well foul him.  More of a shooting big man than a banging inside big man, and he is effective on the break.

G.  Gabe Pruitt:  6’4″ | 170 lbs | 7.4 MPG | 2.0 PPG | 0.8 APG | 32.1 FG | 28.3 3 | 78.3 FT

Last name close to mine so awesome.  Other than that generic back-up PG.

G.  Sun Yue:  6’9″ | 205 lbs | 2.8 MPG | 0.6 PPG | 0.2 APG | 27.3 FG | 0.00 3 | 0.00 FT

TALL generic PG…from China…

F/C.  Chris Hunter:  6’11″ | 240 lbs |  Rookie:  No professional Stats

Coming from the NBDL

G.  Ron Howard:  6’5″ | 200 lbs | Rookie:  No professional Stats

Coming from the NBDL…not to be confused with Richie Cunningham

G.  Joe Crawford:  6’5″ | 210 lbs |  Rookie:  No professional Stats

Coming from the NBDL…not to be confused with official Joey Crawford

Warren Carter:   ?? | ?? | Rookie:  No professional Stats

Doesn’t have a NBA player page.  Not related to Vince Carter…I think…

Marcus Landry: 6’7″ | 230 lbs. | Rookie:  No professional Stats

Undrafted Rookie.  Brother plays in the NBA…Marcus plays exactly like him…except he wears Recspecs…

G.  Cuttino Mobley -

Out

C.  Eddy Curry -

Out, Fat

Offensive Tendencies:

This team likes to run, and will try to out score you rather than stop you.  A lot of ball-hog type players who shoot first…keep them from getting hot and we should be ok…

Defensive Tendencies:

They don’t have any good defenders besides Larry Hughes.  Undersized pretty much everywhere, so we need to take advantage of the size.

Keys To Victory:

Keep them from scoring over 100 points, if we can do that, they are so poor defensively we can outscore them.  We need to keep them off the offensive glass and prevent their streaky shooters from getting hot.  We also need to take advantage of their size and try to score inside.