Nets Are Scorching

Devin Harris broke the news on Twitter a few minutes ago that he will be coming off the bench Saturday against the Knicks.  The decision makes sense if you think about it, if you bring him off the bench, you got him going against second unit guards for the Knicks, and that should allow him to get adjusted to the speed of the game easier.  It also means that he will probably have his minutes watched, since he isn’t starting, so don’t expect too much from him in terms of playing time.  I (and probably every single Nets fan) am just glad that he is finally back and at 100%.  With Devin back, the Nets could be getting their first win soon.

Interesting anecdote about Chris Douglas-Roberts from last night’s game courtesy of Bucksketball, TrueHoop’s Milwaukee Bucks site, which I think speaks a lot about CDR’s character and intensity about basketball:

The second half was so bad, I thought CDR was going to snap.  He appeared to have gotten in a bit of a shouting match with assistant coach Doug Overton about what was going on on the court.  I couldn’t hear Overton, but my colleague Alex from BrewHoop suggested it had something to do with a stretch where CDR got blocked, turned it over, got it back and missed a lay-up.  CDR shouted at his bench, “we’re losing, what am I supposed to do?!”

I felt for CDR.  He was working hard, he was trying to make plays and he was saddled with some teammates who’ve been injured and/or unable to get the job done to get this team a win.  The whole team had that, “here we go again” look as soon as things started going South in the third quarter.  CDR seemed like he didn’t want to let it happen again.

I can understand the sympathy. While I’m sure no one on the Nets appreciates the 0-12 start, CDR seems to be taking it the hardest. CDR’s total disgust for losing has led to some really eye-opening post-game quotes this season. Remember, it was CDR who challenged his teammates after a humiliating blowout loss to Washington to foul harder and to “protect each other.” Then, when CDR posted his first career double-double against the Pacers earlier this week, the Memphis alumn responded to reporters with this nugget:

It’s nothing if we don’t win,” Douglas-Roberts said. “My numbers don’t matter if we’re losing, because you’re labeled a ‘loser.’ It doesn’t matter what you’re doing on a losing team – nobody cares. I know I don’t.

He’s been described by some around the team as having a fighter’s mentality who’s almost obsessed about proving his doubters wrong.  It’s only fitting considering he was projected as a first round draft pick by many in 2008 and ended up inexplicably slipping to the Nets in the second round. After not playing much until the latter stages of the season in his rookie year, he was pegged by most pundits, and yes, Nets Are Scorching as well, as the ideal sixth man headed into training camp this season. CDR was really the only one, mostly via his Twitter page, who saw himself as a starter, and he proved those “outsiders” wrong by having a phenomenal preseason and truly earning his starting spot.

As the season wears on, and the Nets keep losing, I’m becoming increasingly fascinated with CDR.  While I’m sure some of his postgame comments have to be rubbing a few people the wrong way, his intensity and absolute passion for basketball are unmatched on this team. I’m not going to accuse anyone currently on the roster of milking their injuries, but I think it was fitting that of all of the Nets who hit the injured list two weeks ago, CDR, who had been diagnosed with H1N1 (swine flu), was the first one back, even though he looked like a walking corpse throughout most of his that game in Orlando.

Obviously, CDR’s game has some holes – he struggles to shoot from the outside and he misses some defensive assingments from time to time. But after the first 12 games of the season, I can safely say Chris Douglas-Roberts is a guy this organization needs to build  around going forward. It’s difficult finding athletes with this level of intensity and desire to win. He’s been a pleasant surprise this season – and the fact that I just labeled him a “surprise,” probably means he’s going to want to prove me wrong next. Which is fine by me.

AP Photo/Morry Gash

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I had a dream last night.

The Nets were playing solid, all-around basketball. They were shooting the ball efficiently. They were defending the perimeter. They were rebounding the ball.They were dominating the Milwaukee Bucks to the tune of an 11-point lead. The Nets, in no way, shape, or form resembled a team that had just opened their season on an 11-game losing streak.

Terrence Williams was in my dream. He was taking the ball strong to the hoop, and refusing to settle for long jumpers. He had even converted 8 of 9 shots at one point. He was such a pleasure to watch, compared to Rafer Alston, who couldn’t hit his open jumpers and liked to to turn the ball over with his dumb passes.

Sean Williams was also in my dream. He was disrupting shots and rebounding the ball as Brook Lopez sat on the bench, looking like he just played more than 40 minutes in a game the night before. Yes, in my dream, Sean Williams was a better option than Brook Lopez.

Even Bobby Simmons was in my dream. And he’s never in my dreams unless they’re nightmares. He provided some offensive punch off the bench, including a couple of threes. Wow, I can’t believe I just dreamt about Bobby Simmons.

And of course Chris Doulgas-Roberts was there. He’s one of the few recurring guys in my dreams. He just always seems to bring his A-game there (unless he has the swine flu), scoring points in bunches. He even set another career high in points in my dream.

In non-dreamland, the Nets played their best quarter of the season last night, receiving contributions from some unexpected sources. Unfortunately, the Nets put it all together in the second quarter, before faltering in the third, and then completely falling apart in the fourth during their  loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee last night.

It was one of those nights where I just lost total patience with Lawrence Frank. Down 7 in the first quarter, Frank went with a rotation of Terrence Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Trenton Hassell, Bobby Simmons and Sean Williams, which certainly looked ugly on paper, but it actually produced. The deficit turned into an 11-point Nets lead, as everything seemed to be clicking for them. Terrence Williams was taking the ball aggressively towards the rim, rather than taking three-pointers. Chris Douglas-Roberts was doing his usual thing, and Sean Williams was a rush of energy on the defensive end, and a creator on the offensive end, setting a majority of the picks that got TWill and CDR their shots. I couldn’t even find fault with Bobby Simmons playing the four during this stretch, because it worked. It worked because Rafer Alston was off to another terrible shooting night (1-10) and Brook Lopez looked totally gassed after playing a bulk of the game the night before in New Jersey. He wasn’t doing much offensively, and he was getting totally dominated by Andrew Bogut, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. By the end of the stretch, the unit had put together a +/- of +10.

So to open the second half, rather than ride the hot hand, as untraditional as it may have looked on paper, Frank went back to his starting five. The team responded with just an awful stretch, getting outscored 28-12 in the quarter, and shooting 17 percent in the process. By the time Frank started to reinsert guys like Sean Williams and TWill, all momentum had been lost, and ultimately, so was the game.

In an attempt to be positive, I have to give Chris Douglas-Roberts his due here. In addition to posting another double-double and another career high in points, the guy has just been a total warrior out there, and seems to be taking over as a true leader of this club, in just his second season. The guy has had a lot of doubters, as evidenced by his slip into the second round in the 2008 draft, but I hope this is a guy the Nets plan to keep as part of their core going forward, because his grit and determination (and let’s not forget talent), will look great, once he’s complimented by better all-around players. It amazes me that less than a week ago, he was sick in bed with the H1N1 virus.

So now, Saturday looms very large for the Nets. A showdown with the Knicks, who pulled off a dramatic victory for themselves at home against the Pacers last night. Devin Harris should be back, and maybe Courtney Lee too, which helps. But without a win on Saturday, the Nets are staring at a winless November. And this loss season, all of a sudden could take on new levels of horror.

To relive more of the horror, read more after the jump.
Read more…

Al Iannazzone says it’s not fair to blame Lawrence Frank for the 0-12 start.

Expect Devin Harris for Saturday.

The Daily News has another report about the state allegedly “low-balling” Brooklyn residents for their property, needed to build the Atlantic Yards development.

Fanhouse talks with Scott Hastings, a member of the 1988-89 Miami Heat who opened the season 0-17, the worst start in NBA history. Hastings says he’s pulling for the Nets to get a win soon.

The New York Times profiles Bret Yormark, the man of a thousand ticket-selling gimmicks it seems.

Rod Thorn, staying calm.

Rafer Alston tells HoopsWorld that he’s happy with his season thus far, though he could be doing better on the defensive end.

Brook Lopez wants more touches in the post. So why is he shooting 20-footers?