This offseason is going to be an exciting one for the New Jersey Nets, but before we can move forward we must look back. Over the next couple of days, I am going to be looking at the Nets who will (most likely) be back, and review their year, from what they did well to what they didn’t. We are going to be starting with the Nets MVP, Brook Lopez.
The Positives
Transition Game
This is going to be a pretty lengthy list, but let’s start with something that doesn’t really get mentioned when you talk about Brook Lopez and his game. His mobility. Now Brook doesn’t have the lateral quickness of a Dwight Howard or a Andrew Bogut, but when it comes to running up and down the court, I’d take Brook out of any center in the league. He is so good at just putting his head down, running to the paint, finding the ballhandler, and finishing:
Now, rewatch that again, and look for Spencer Hawes, the man responsible for covering Brook. As Brook is busting it down the court, Hawes is one of the last men down.
From Al Iannazzone’s report, Rod on the coaching candidates: “I’m trying to ascertain who might have interest,” Thorn said. “We have some people we have interest in and then maybe some candidates you wouldn’t consider who might have an interest in it.”
Fred Kerber asks an executive their advice for Rod’s coaching search: “They have young players there; they’ve got a bunch of picks. Maybe they even trade a pick to get a coach,” the exec said. “But whoever they get is going to have to develop a lot of young guys and be the bridge until the move.”
Dave D’Alessandro includes Rod’s plans for Chris Douglas-Roberts, who has a team option: “As of right now that decision has not been made. Because we don’t know exactly what we’re going to do. For a lot of these options, a lot will depend on … who are we (signing), who we might be able to sign, how much money that we’ll need. A lot of things that need to be firmed up.”
Former Duke players don’t see Coach K. leaving the university’s coaching ranks.
