Nets Are Scorching

Don’t fret loyal readers – there will be a “Thoughts on the Game” column in the morning, but I was so struck by some postgame comments from Chris Douglas-Roberts, I felt inclined to share and react a bit, after watching the Raptors absolutely drub the Nets 118-95.

After calling their performance “pitiful,” I thought CDR made some very thoughtful and telling comments in front of the cameras:

“There’s no one to point the finger at, it’s us … We’re playing and it’s not like we don’t know how to play. We know how to play … As a team we all  need to just look in the mirror and evaluate ourselves. Don’t point the finger – pointing the finger can contagious. That can be poison for a locker room.”

Now, I’m not going to take wild guesses as to who CDR was possibly accusing of poisonous behavior in the locker room (cough – Rafer Alston – cough), but the outspoken Douglas-Roberts has a point.

While I’m certainly not some old curmudgeon here who can recall the glory days of Dr. J., I’ve been a Nets fan for nearly two decades and as I’ve recapped here in the past, I’ve witnessed some pretty  bad seasons, and some pretty bad individual performances. Given the fact that coming into tonight’s game, the Raptors were struggling nearly as badly as the Nets have been, I would rank tonight’s first half as some of the worst basketball I’ve ever seen played by this franchise. For a 2-24 team to come out of the gates as flat and disinterested as the Nets did tonight is just inexplicable. I tend to think we, as fans, are too quick to jump on athlete’s for not showing enough effort, because it’s not always clear, to the naked eye, how hard a player is trying out there. But I can definitively say the Nets showed no effort early-on tonight.

CDR is right – the pointing of fingers must end now. The Nets have already scapegoated one head coach, and if this level of poor play continues, I’m sure Kiki will follow Lawrence Frank to the bread line by the end of the season. Still, it’s the players who are the ones who are failing. I can accept failure if the team gives 100 percent effort, and is entertaining and showing signs of growing together through the adversity. I am completely turned off by failure that’s a result of players phoning in games, and teams failing to form any kind of bond or chemistry with each other. It’s nice that Devin Harris took everyone out to eat earlier this week, but there is still rampant dysfunction throughout this entire roster. It’s so rampant, I’m starting to doubt if this team really has what it takes to learn how to win with each other.

While it’s nice to dream of Russian billionaires, free agent bonanzas, and Kentucky point guards, there is still a season to play now, and the Nets owe it to their fans, their coaches and themselves to at least show up and compete. Otherwise, the season will remain nothing short of pitiful.

Don’t be fooled by the final score, folks. This was actually a lot worse than it looks. The Nets were down by as many as 40, and were completely embarrassed by the Raptors in Toronto tonight, falling 118-95.

• This game was over early tonight. Brook Lopez was sitting two minutes in with two quick fouls, and the Raptors were leading 39-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Nets did very little right, allowing the Raptors to shoot 59 percent (including 6-9 from three), and turning the ball over 23 times. The Raptors also had 60 – count them, 60 – points in the paint. The Nets did happen to outscore Toronto on fast break points 31-30.
• Brook Lopez’s streak of double-doubles came to an end as he scored 14 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes. Devin Harris struggled again, scoring 8 points on 4-12 shooting.
• The Nets only attempted 1 free throw in the first half. They were 20-22 overall.
• In his return from a knee injury, Chris Douglas-Roberts was working out there, scoring 16 points on 7-12 shooting, but his teammates didn’t match his intensity early.
• The Raptors had seven players in double figures. Chris Bosh looked like he could have scored 50 on the Nets if he wanted to, but mercifully scored 16 points in 26 minutes on 7-11 shooting. Rookie DeMar DeRozan had 16 points on 6-8 shooting. Amir Johnson led all scorers with 18 points off the bench.
• Nice night off the bench for Sean Williams who had 10 points and 5 rebounds in 16 minutes. He also only committed one personal foul.

Ah Chris Bosh.  Take notice guys, this is what a real PF looks like.  Is that a bit of a cheap shot on Josh Boone?  Sure, but man Chris Bosh is good, and he is the guy I am really pulling for in Free Agency next year.  As for this year, the Raptors are not good on defense.  Looking at defensive efficiency, the Raptors are the worst in the NBA, giving up 113 points per 100 possession.  No other team in the NBA gives up more than 110.  For a reference, the Nets defense with Kiki coaching the Nets has been 111.  The Raptors have been worse than the Nets defensively. It is a little odd to see, but when you look at their guys, it makes more sense.  Andrea Bargnani is a great offensive talent, but I think he is a little soft on the defensive end.  Same with Hedo Turkoglu.  Onto the matchups!

Devin Harris vs. Jarrett Jack

Jose Calderon is out tonight, leaving Jarrett Jack to be the starter.  Jack has been wildly inconsistent, but when he is good, he has been very good.  From watching the Raptors, I think their biggest flaw defensively is that they allow for too much dribble penetration, look for a big game for Devin.

Advantage:  Devin Harris

Courtney Lee vs. DeMar DeRozen

It is funny, I was against selecting DeMar DeRozen because he was too raw.  Turns out Terrence Williams is just as raw, but DeRozen has worked his way into the Raptors’ starting lineup.  He is still inconstant, but the flashes are there.  Courtney is attacking the ball better and still playing good defense, but the outside shots still aren’t falling.  It is so frustrating, because his stroke looks so smooth, but they just don’t go down.

Advantage:  Push

CDR vs. Hedo Turkoglu

Don’t know if CDR will be starting, but he is back tonight, and he will be playing with a knee brace.  Offensively, you can expect the same CDR, and I see him putting up some big numbers, but on the defensive end he will struggle with the larger Turkoglu, who is solid with his back to the basket.

Advantage:  Hedo Turkoglu

Josh Boone vs. Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh would compliment Brook Lopez so well it isn’t even funny.  If the Nets don’t take a PF, I really think they should throw a max contract at this guy.  He is going to make Josh Boone look silly…

Advantage:  Josh Boone

Brook Lopez vs. Andrea Bargnani

I don’t know if some of you guys remember, but when Mark did our season preview on the Raptors, he gave the edge to Brook Lopez, and many Raptors’ fans weren’t happy.  I haven’t been watching Bargnani closely, but Brook has been having a hell of year.  If Brook does well, he is going to make Mark look like a very smart man…

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

Quick Note:

Daily Dime + Me = You should go check it out…

It has been 8 games since Kiki took over, and I think that there has been enough games to start comparing him to what Lawrence Frank has done.  Below is the game by game data for each coach.  I have included Offensive Efficiency, Defensive Efficiency, and Pace.  After the jump, we are going to examine these numbers further.

Read more…

It’s been two weeks since Kiki Vandeweghe has taken over as head coach of the Nets, and while he’s had to deal with assorted injuries to Chris Douglas-Roberts, Tony Battie and Keyon Dooling (not to mention Yi Jianlian and Jarvis Hayes, who haven’t played since the very beginning of the season), there are a few early trends worth noting in how Kiki likes to pair players together:

Read more…

Newark Mayor Cory Booker on the chances of the Nets playing at the Prudential Center: “From the perspective of the Prudential Center, we are in a very strong position,” Booker said. “I’m very confident. I actually believe the Nets will be playing here very soon.”

Mikhail Prokhorov passed step one of his background check and now awaits approvals by the NBA’s owners so he can take a controlling stake in the Nets. Here’s NBA Commissioner David Stern: “There were multiple investigations of him by interested parties and there was nothing that was disclosed that would cause us not to move forward with his application.”

Speaking of which, it sounds like Prokhorov might stick with Rod Thorn, according to Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News: But Prokhorov might be inclined to stay with Thorn, who built the Nets into a championship contender with his signature trade for Jason Kidd. Thorn also has the strong support of league executives, starting with his former boss, commissioner David Stern.

An opinion piece from the Star-Ledger about Newark and the Prudential Center.

Yi Jianlian is still expecting to return next week.

Kiki Vandeweghe is learning on the job: “Right now, we’re in a real tough spot, and the way you get out of it is, just like you get out of when a team has made a huge run on you and you’re trying to come back: it’s one basket, it’s one small step. So, again, develop the winning habits, and over time, those will translate into wins.’’

The always charming Jaclyn Sabol sat down with Chris Douglas-Roberts recently in a getting to know you session. We’ve embedded part one, but you can check parts two and three by clicking the links: