Nets Are Scorching

While I understand a growing contingent of Nets fans would be willing to personally drive Devin Harris to the airport if he were to be traded in the near future, I can only plead to those fans to please think about what you’re possibly getting in return. Because when it comes to the recent Devo for Caron Butler rumors that are making their rounds, I really don’t think this is the kind of the deal Nets fans should be looking to make.

In 07-08 and 08-09, Butler averaged more than 20 points per game on about 46 percent shooting, including 35 percent on threes two seasons ago. In 07-08 he put up a fantastic 20.59 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and last season, he put up a respectable 18.84 on a depleted Wizards team.

The problem is, Butler’s 2009-10 numbers come nowhere close to what he put up the past two seasons. With a True Shooting percentage of 51.4 and a PER of 13.67, these are Butler’s worst numbers since 2003-04, his second season in the NBA. He is the epitome of a below average offensive player at the SF right now, averaging 16.9 points on 43 percent shooting, including 29 percent from three.

And while the Wizards play better D with Butler on the floor than off (defensive efficiency of 110.2 per 100 possession on the floor vs. 111.1 per 100 off) Butler has been called out by some as being a bit lazy on defense. ESPN’s John Hollinger said he easily lost focus once Washington’s season went in the tank last season. Basketball Prospectus said in its preseason preview that Butler “gives back some of that value at the defensive end.”

So we have a player posting near career-low numbers who’s inconsistent on defense. Sounds like he’ll fit right in around here, right?

While I’m not opposed of acquiring a player like Butler before the trade deadline, it can’t be at the expense of Devin Harris. While Harris has struggled mightily, he proved last year with Vince Carter that he can be productive with an offensive-minded running mate. Plus, who’s your point guard after this season? As we already know, John Wall is no guarantee.

I still think Devin Harris needs the benefit of the doubt here. I’m as unhappy with him as the next guy, but I only think you’re in a position to move him if you get the number one pick in June. Until then, Harris is an average player at a tough position to fill, who has shown the ability to raise his offensive game when he has other players around him who can take some of the scoring burden off his shoulders. While I can’t imagine they have a terrible amount of value, the Nets would be better served looking to package Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts or Yi Jianlian with some of their expiring contracts if they’re trying to acquire a “core” piece. I was semi-satisfied to read this morning that the Nets might back down from their Devin trade talk, but with the way this organization is being run, anything can happen it seems.

Advanced Box Score | Valley Of The Suns | Bright Side Of The Sun

In what seems to be the story of the Nets’ season, a team coming in struggling gets healthy at the Nets’ expense.  The Suns came into the game on a 4 game losing streak, blowing a number of different double-digit leads, but last night, the Suns ending up winning by a final score of 118-94.  It looked like the Nets were going to hang around for the long haul, especially after the Nets’ responded to a Suns run with a run of their own.  In fact the Nets had a lead late in the second quarter, and when is the last time we can say that (It’s all about the little victories at this point)?  The Nets were able to get as close as 6 in the third quarter, but the Nets hit their little cold streak and that gave the Suns enough opportunity to pull away.

So why were the Nets so successful in the first half?  Well, they prevented the Suns from running, and that is the key to their game.  The Nets did this by limiting running opportunities.  First, they hit their shots (they shot over 50% in the first half) and this forced the Suns to pull the ball out of the basket and inbound it instead of just grabbing the rebound and running.  Hitting shots also allowed for the Nets to get back on defense and keep the Suns in front of them.  It doesn’t sound like much, but when you make the Suns walk/jog it up court it makes them less effective offensively.  The Nets also limited their turnovers in the first half, and this cut down their running opportunities as well.  During the second half though, the Nets missed more shots and committed more turnovers.  This allowed for the Suns to get out and do what they do best.  Run.

Remember that whole zone defense issue?  Well prepare to hear about the zone again after this performance.  Brook Lopez was doing a lot of damage to the Suns’ man-to-man defense, and in the middle of the third quarter, the Suns decided to switch it up and throw a little zone at the Nets.  They struggled with it, so the Suns stuck with for a large portion of the rest of the game.  The Nets weren’t hitting shots from the outside, so the Suns were able to pack it in and crowd Brook Lopez.  It was like a vicious flashback, we haven’t seen Brook getting double/triple teamed like that since Yi’s return, and with Yi not really shooting it well from the outside, the Nets had nobody to shoot over the top of the zone.  The Nets stalled and the Suns pulled away.  Some quick hitting bullets after the jump:

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