Nets Are Scorching

A combination of injuries and inconsistency up and down the Nets roster has made coach Lawrence Frank noticeably coy about declaring his likely rotation for opening day, which is less than two weeks away.

The Star-Ledger’s Dave D’Alessandro recently asked Frank about his plans for the rotation, and Frank expelled a lot of verbiage, but little tangible information:

“First and foremost, we have to get everyone to understand exactly what we have to embody as a team and as individuals, what each man must contribute in order for us to have a chance to win, get everyone to recognize that there’s no substitute for a good work ethic and believing in each other, continue to prioritize defense and being unselfish at the other end, sharpening the saw that you had created in the prior 13 practices, and you want to establish the rotation that you’ll go into the season with,” the Nets coach said.

Long story short: “Let’s just say there are still jobs up for grabs,”Frank said.

A lot of this is understandable. Keyon Dooling hasn’t seen any game action this preseason as he recovers from hip surgery. Devin Harris and Courtney Lee have been in and out of the infirmary. Jarvis Hayes, who seemed headed towards a starting spot at the three, has been battling shin splints and a rising Chris Douglas-Roberts has probably been the team’s most consistent performer in October. Cagey veterans Eduardo Najera and Tony Battie are battling assorted aches and pains.

Provided everyone is in good health, the starting lineup for opening day is shaping up to be Harris, Lee, CDR, Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez. Of those five, only CDR is a real surprise to me. It’s very clear that Douglas-Roberts has worked hard this off-season and he’s certainly playing well enough to start on this roster, but I still think it’s a major mistake. It’s true the team needs to find as much offense as they can with Vince Carter no longer on the roster, but inserting CDR’s scoring punch into the starting lineup may be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. With CDR in the starting lineup, the bench is left with three guys who could potentially put the ball in the hoop: Hayes, Bobby Simmons, and, when healthy, Keyon Dooling. All three are primarily jump shooters who take more than 76 percent of their shots away from the basket, according to 82games. We know we can’t expect much offensive versatility from the frontcourt reserves. Sean Williams’ only real offensive talent is on inside shots and putback dunks. Ditto for Boone. Najera was a decent jump shooter in Denver but hasn’t been healthy enough to establish anything during his Nets tenure. Terrence Williams is still inexperienced and is a very streaky shooter. Rafer Alston, the back-up point, is another jump shooter – another inconsistent one at that.

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Mikhail Prokhorov is coming to New York this week to meet with NBA officials and Brooklyn’s Bright Beach section, also known as “Little Odessa” is abuzz.

NetIncome over at NetsDaily looks at all of the trade options on the table for Vince Carter earlier this year and determines the deal the Nets made, was probably the best for the team. NI also compares Courtney Lee and Devin Harris to determine if Lee can follow the path to stardom like Harris did after the Jason Kidd trade two years ago.

Lawrence Frank is still deciding his team’s rotation.

The Nets are still shaky on defense, Fred Kerber reports.

NESN looks at the Prokhorov affect.

CDR, whose neck is hurting, has forced his way into the starting rotation.

Despite rumors that the New York Islanders are looking to move to Brooklyn once the Barcalays Arena is constructed, Newsday reports there have been no formal conversations between Bruce Ratner and the hockey team’s ownership.

Atlantic Yards Report talks about another lawsuit in the works for the Brooklyn project that will be filed tomorrow.

Some video from DDDB’s fundraising walk on Saturday:

Dave D. reports that Yi is still the best option at power forward. Meanwhile, prospective owner Mikhail Prokhorov is sending emissaries to watch the team.

Speaking of Yi – on his own blog at Sina.com, the PF talks about feeling more comfortable this season. NetsDaily does the good work of providing the google translation.

NBA.com talks basketball in Mexico, including Eduardo Najera, only the second Mexican-born player in the NBA.

HoopsWorld talks about how the Nets will communicate on defense this season.

Ryan Anderson is really opening eyes in Orlando, being dubbed the “new Pat Garrity” and possibly the starting four on opening night.

For Lawrence Frank, game five of the preseason was about “experimentation” with the rotation due to the injuries that had left him without Devin Harris, Jarvis Hayes and Keyon Dooling. We saw things in last night’s game like Bobby Simmons at the four (yuck), Will Blalock getting time at the point (eh), and a Sean Williams sighting in the third quarter – who was surprisingly more productive and active on defense than he was in the preseason opener when he looked like he had about 20 other places he wanted to be instead of the basketball court.

But to me, the night belonged to two players who are likely going to be key parts of the Nets rotation without any experimentation – well maybe some tinkering with one of these players because of his versatility (which I notably assailed on this site only a few days ago). Yes, last night was another loss, and the Nets are now 0-5 in this preseason and have often looked about as bad of a basketball team as many preseason analysts have predicted them to be. But I left Madison Square Garden last night with a good feeling about Yi Jianlian (21 points, 7-14 from the field, and 11 rebounds) and Terrence Williams (21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists). Yi especially showed me things last night that I don’t think I ever saw from him last season. Aggressive basketball. Driving to the hoop and moving towards the ball on offensive sets. As a whole, smart field goal attempts. This is where the word “potential” is always attached to his name like his uniform number.

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The New York Knicks (2-2) defeated the Nets (0-5) 93-89 tonight in Madison Square Garden, keeping the Nets winless to start their preseason.

• The Knicks took off in the second and third quarters tonight, outscoring the Nets 52-30. The Nets were able to close strong in the 4th, cutting the Knicks lead to 4 before the end of the game.
• This was probably Yi Jianlian’s finest preseason game to date finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Most importantly, Yi didn’t pick up his first foul until the fourth quarter and he was active and aggressive around the rim throughout, even attempting a dunk on David Lee.
• Terrence Williams proved my criticism was premature earlier this week, putting together an all-around good game with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. He also sunk two 3s down the stretch, keeping the Nets within striking distance.
• Courtney Lee continued his strong preseason with 17 points.
• There was a Sean Williams sighting in the 3rd quarter. Williams chipped in with 2 points, but played some good defense while he was in there.
• The Bobby Simmons power forward experiment wasn’t a smashing success. He finished with 0 points on 0-8 shooting with a +/- of -12. On the positive side, he did have 3 steals.
• Lawrence Frank still likes running Iso plays, even when he doesn’t have the personnel available to do so.
• We miss Devin Harris.
• Brook Lopez is hilarious when he’s angry.
• Sebastian and Mark met each other and survived the experience.

Alright guys, this was successful enough that we are going to run it again.  Mark and I are going to both be at the game…together, so we are going to try and tweet from our phone…if we can figure it out.

http://www.twitter.com/NetsRScorching

Play nice guys…

The Star-Ledger recaps a Wall Street Journal story that talks about how Bruce Ratner’s abilities to sell bonds in time for a Dec. 31 groundbreaking of the Barclays Arena is a “toss-up.”

Lawrence Frank says Terrence Williams at PG is only during practice right now.  Didn’t look that way Tuesday night.

Expect tonight to be about some experimentation with the bench.

Sam Smith at Bulls.com lists Brook Lopez as a potential “Bust Out” this season and Yi Jianlian as a “Bust.”

Atlantic Yards Report is recapping a radio interview Newark Mayor Cory Booker gave on WBGO radio. Booker is as adamant as ever about getting the Nets in Newark.

No Land Grab wonders where was the New York Times coverage of the Atlantic Yards hearings on Wednesday.

Jarvis Hayes and Bobby Simmons question their role with the team, while Rod Thorn tells Dave D’Alessandro that he’s not in a position to make any trades as of right now.

Oddsmakers in Vegas give the Nets 66-1 odds of winning the Atlantic Division. So you’re saying there’s a chance …

True confessions on Twitter. Chris Douglas-Roberts tells a story on Twitter about a stalking incident and a delusional fan from last season.

Rory at Slippery When Nets talks about backcourt depth, and how quickly depth can disappear.

MTA Straphangers head Gene Russianhoff outlines his opposition of the MTA’s sale of the Atlantic Yards property to Bruce Ratner.

Preseason Game 5 vs. New York (1-2)

Projected Starting Lineup

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.  F.  Wilson Chandler – 6’8″ | 220 lbs. | 24.3 MPG | 13.3 PPG | 2.0 APG | 41.7 FG | 27.8 3 | 45.5 FT

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.

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.  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 very good 3 point shooter against the Nets.

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.

Projected Bench

G.  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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Very 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.