Nets Are Scorching

It’s been pretty tough being a Nets fan this season, and while I totally sympathize with why somebody wouldn’t want to watch this team play anymore, I still would like to and I can’t this week because not a single game is being televised until Saturday.

Personally speaking, I hate this.  I understand that sports are a business and there are higher “corporate” powers at all levels that are determining the television schedule, but I also think that if the Nets are legitimately serious about turning over a “new” leaf after this season in Newark and then Brooklyn, they need to stop accepting this kind of second-class citizen treatment.  It’s bad enough that the Nets have always been an afterthought on the Yankees Entertainment Sports Network (and as a Mets fan, it’s agonizing to have to hear about 27 world championships whenever I’m trying to watch a basketball game). But to be blacked out completely this week in order to make space for one of the 900 games the Yanks will play against the Red Sox this season is a slap in the face to the few Nets fans who want to see this season to completion.

So is the idea that I could just shell out $6 to watch the game on a one-day pass with NBA League Pass. I’m already dropping a ton of money each month in order to watch my favorite sports teams and to have the option to DVR those games when necessary. I should not have to shell out an additional $15-$20 at the end of the season to watch three more games.

I think what frustrates me even more is that I’m sure if the Nets were in some kind of a playoff hunt this April, some accommodations would have been made to get them on TV, somehow. I know individual games have been blacked out in the past, but I never remember a stretch of so many games consecutively since the Nets made the leap to YES. But given the team’s record this season, I’m sure the rationale was “who cares.” And I’m also assuming that somewhere along the way when this decision was made, someone with the Nets organization said, “eh, let’s not make waves.”

I know there’s something about biting the hand that feeds you, but rather than taking on fans wearing paper bags over their heads, I would have infinitely more respect for Nets CEO Brett Yormark if he publicly said something along the lines of: “you know what – I know we’re contractually bound to honor this agreement, but it stinks. It stinks that YES is bumping us like this and showing no flexibility in getting our games on the air in favor of around-the-clock coverage of the Yankees.”

Incoming owner Mikhail Prokhorov seems determined to make the Nets a winner once he takes over. In order to do that, it is imperative that he gives the green light to the front office to acquire the best players they can in free agency, to draft intelligently, and to select a head coach who will instill an organizational-wide philosophy that breeds winning.  But it’s also important that Prokhorov values the perception and branding of the Nets organization. The Knicks, in all of their losing and ineptitude, at least continue to puff their chest out, talking about the mystique of the Garden and promoting their brand with the same gusto as if they were fresh off a championship season.  The Nets need to mirror some of that pomp and circumstance, and they can go a long way in doing that, by taking a stand next season and not allowing such a lengthy blackout of games to happen again, regardless of the team’s record.

Keyon Dooling is still lobbying the organization to be back next season.

In a report from Fred Kerber, Devin Harris is pushing strong for Avery Johnson as the next head coach: “He knows how to win, simple as that,” Harris said. “He’s a great coach, a great motivator. Now whether we had problems there or not, we won games.”

Kentucky coach John Calipari denies interest in returning to the NBA.

Nets players are giddy about the prospects of Mikhail Prokhorov and his billions: “It’s definitely a huge opportunity for us,” said Brook Lopez, a Nets’ cornerstone. “We’ve been trying to cut costs a bit these last few years to save money with all the stuff going on. First and foremost, it’ll help bring players in, bring in players who want to be part of a winning equation.”

Mark already linked to this article for Nets on the Net, but I wanted to give my opinion’s on Dave D’s article regarding Mikhail Prokhorov and other executive’s opinions on him.  First off, I love that Prokhorov is already making noise in a good way (we have seen him make bad news in the past – remember the ladies in France).  Apparently other owners are happy as well, this coming from Mark Cuban via Dave D:

“They would love it,” the Mavericks owner replied in an e-mail. “It would show he is stupid money, and not a competitive threat.”

That gets to the point I really want to get at.  It seems to me that other executives are underestimating Prokhorov and the man rumored to be the Nets’ next GM, Andrey Vatutin.  Just take a look at this quote from an anonymous executive:

“With so much rumor and speculation going on with this guy, I have problems with the legitimacy of anything before he takes control of the team,” one executive said. “First they were going after Jerry Colangelo. Then they were hiring the Toronto GM (Mauricio Gherardini). They’ve already hired and fired three coaches, from what I’ve read. I don’t think they have anything remotely close to a strategy, but I know this much: If it’s not Rod Thorn who’s formulating it, they already have problems.”

Maybe the executive wasn’t aware of Prokhorov and Vatutin’s success with CSKA.  In fact, it was one of the best runs in European basketball history.  Granted, European hoops isn’t the same as the NBA, but these guys do understand the game of basketball and they do know what they are doing.  One executive sees the logic in offering a guy like Coach K this kind of money:

“The Nets are different,” the second executive said. “They can’t sell their history, or even loyalty, since they’re moving to Brooklyn in two years and might take 5 percent of their fans with them. So they need something to hang their hats on. I think they know they have to overspend somewhere — that’s just the way it will be — and the coach might be the place to do it.”

Totally agree with this.  If the Nets get themselves a coach like Coach K, Jeff Van Gundy, or Avery Johnson I can see most commercials featuring them instead of some of the players, at least until Brooklyn happens.  One thing is for sure though, he has already made more “positive news” than Bruce Ratner has, and he doesn’t even “officially” own the team yet.

Earlier in the day, before Duke won another NCAA Championship, Coach K tells the press that he has little interest in the Nets coaching position; “I haven’t been contacted,” Krzyzewski said as he rode the team bus to Duke’s shootaround in preparation for Monday night’s NCAA championship game against Butler in Indianapolis. “I wouldn’t have any interest in the job. You would be flattered if someone would offer you a job, but I would not be interested.”

Dave D’Alessandro explores if Mikhail Prokhorov is ticking off the other NBA owners by floating such a ridiculous offer to Coach K.

Hoopsworld is not high on the Nets, giving them an “F” for their season performance.

Even with the Nets getting handed their 66th loss yesterday, their is excitement among the fanbase.  The reason?  Al Iannazzone’s report that the Nets are ready to make Mike Krzyzewski a big offer to becme their next head coach.  From the article:

Krzyzewski has been reluctant to leave Duke. But if the Blue Devils beat Butler and Krzyzewski wins his fourth national championship, it could help the Nets’ chances. He would be able to leave on top and tackle new challenges.

Krzyzewski turned down a five-year, $40 million offer to coach Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2004. The Nets’ offer likely will be between $12 million and $15 million per season for Krzyzewski to be their coach and perhaps general manager, a source said.

If Prokhorov gets his way this off-season, Krzyzewski could be coaching his final game for Duke tonight when the Blue Devils face Butler for the NCAA championship.

Before we talk about the impact Coach K will have, let’s talk about whether or not he would accept the proposed offer, and what an offer it is.  The Lakers’ offer that Coach K turned down a few years ago was $8 million per, the rumored offer from Prokhorov is $4 to $7 million more than that.

Looking back at when the Lakers offered Coach K their coaching spot, he almost accepted it.  Eventually he turned it down, but since them some things have changed when it comes to Coach K and the college basketball landscape.  First, he has been coaching the Olympic team for some time now, and because of that he was able to be around NBA players (even crediting them with helping him become a better coach).  Also, since the Lakers made their offer, the NCAA has instituted their one and done rule.  Since Luol Deng, I don’t remember a one a done player that has played for Duke and this is because Coach K simply refuses to recruit them.  Before the one-and-done rule, these guys were going to the NBA straight out of college, now they are forced to play a year in college.  While Coach K doesn’t recruit them, other coaches don’t seem to have the same problem, and this has lead to a lack of success for the Duke program in terms championships (this year seems to be the exception).  You also have the NCAA expanding their tournament to 96 teams, and while most coaches are in love with it (more teams in the tournament means more coaches getting their and improving their resumes), it could make reaching the Final Four more difficult.  All of these factors, in addition to the crazy sum of money being offered, could sway Coach K to take the leap to the NBA.

Now if Coach K does take the job, will it work?  As a Nets fan, I am not really a fan of college coaches in the NBA (remember coach Cal?), but Coach K would be different.  As I mentioned earlier, Coach K has experience working with NBA players.  Because of this, he is not only familiar with how NBA players operate, but he has the respect of NBA players (this is something that most college coaches don’t have).  While I have never really been a fan of Coach K or Duke, I think this is the kind of move that will make the Nets much better.

Truth About It | BulletsForever

For some reason I was expecting the Nets to come out energized last night.  The Nets were coming off of a blowout against the New Orleans Hornets where no starter played more than 27 minutes (Brook), and the bench minutes were split evenly as well.  Obviously, that didn’t happen.  As lackluster as the Hornets looked two nights ago, the Nets were just as bad, maybe even worse.  They just looked slow the entire game as the offensive wasn’t crisp and the defensive rotations were slow (if they even happened at all).

There are teams that other teams just seem to struggle against.  We have witnessed it in our favor as the Nets just seem to have to Bobcats’ number.  On the flip side, the Washington Wizards just seem to have the Nets’ number.  Most of it is simply match-ups.  Overall, the Wizards’ talent level is equal with the Nets, but where the Wizards excel, the Nets struggle.  Andray Blatche is a great offensive talent, while Yi is one of the worst defensive PFs in the NBA.  Blatche has killed the Nets in the past three games, and tonight was no different.  Blatche was 1 rebound away from a triple-double, putting up 20 points, 13 assists, and 9 rebounds.  The Nets seemed determine to force someone else to beat them, and they doubled Blatche every chance they got in the first quarter.  However, unlike when they doubled Tim Duncan, the strategy wasn’t successful last night.  Part of it was the poor rotations due to the back to back, but another aspect is that Blatche can handle the ball farther out (than a guy like Duncan), and that forces the double to come from longer distances.  Because of that, Blatche is able to survey the court and make the correct pass.  He had 8 assists in the first quarter, but this was maybe the most frustrating:

Here, Blatche makes the catch so far out, that Brook Lopez is hesitant on whether to double or not.  That slight hesitation is what allows Blatche to find Shaun Livingston who was allowed to cut backdoor due to a defensive breakdown by Devin Harris.  Poor defensive rotations is what basically put the Nets out of their misery late in the fourth quarter:

Down 6, the Nets offense started to click, and they badly needed a stop.  Instead, the above happened.  It is funny how the Wizards broadcast cut to that angle right when the play started, as if they were expecting it.  Either way, you can just see the gap that Javale McGee has to drive through to finish with the dunk.

On the offensive end, Brook Lopez seemed to be the only Net who was really into any type of groove.  However, the Nets seemed to fall into that old pattern where they forget to get him the basketball.  The Wizards didn’t have anyone who was big enough to stop him, and when Brook was making the catch down low, he was either finishing or drawing the foul (22 points on 6-12 shooting with 10-11 from the line).  The Nets looked to be out of it early in the 2nd quarter, but after using Brook exclusively they were able to go on a 9-2 run and cut the Wizards lead to 7.  After those possessions late in the second, I thought the Nets finally “got it” and realized that they need to get the ball to Brook in close.  However, this was the first possession for the Nets:

Your eyes aren’t fooling you, Brook Lopez makes his post up at the three point line and ends up making a catch 35 feet away from the basket.  Part of it is on Brook for floating out that far out, but some of it is on the coaching staff for not running a play that puts Brook right on the block.

Some more thoughts after the jump:

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More to come later on this, but it looks like Mikhail Prokhorov is looking to make Coach K. a hell of an offer.

What a difference a year makes. Dave D’Alessandro on Terrence Williams: You can tell him something, and he’ll learn it in five minutes because he trusts coaches – especially Nets assistant Doug Overton – and he’s not a yes-sir type of rookie who then tries to do it his own way.

Meanwhile, TWill, thinks John Wall should make the leap to the NBA: “With him able to be the No.1 or No.2 pick, it’s hard to go away from that,” Williams said of Wall. “Let’s say he’s playing summer ball and he gets hurt and misses the entire year, then he’s got to come back the following year to prove himself and then he may be the 28th pick. The difference would be millions of dollars.”

Al Iannazzone says Kiki Vandeweghe blamed himself last night for the loss.

Matt Moore at Pro Basketball Talk gushes about a Nets starting five that features Amare Stoudemire.

Nets Daily looks at how to get Rudy Gay.

I didn’t think the Nets were going to show any signs of fatigue tonight, with the bench logging a good amount of minutes, however that wasn’t the case.  If the Nets performance last night defensively was the best we have seen, tonight could have been the worst as the Nets lost to the Wizards 109-99.

• I know a lot of you didn’t see that game, and that was probably a good thing.  The defensive rotations were off the entire night.  So much so, that Blatche (the man the Nets doubled) picked up 8 assists in the first quarter.  The Wizards were allowed to crack the 100 point mark for the first time in 20 games.
• Devin Harris put up a quiet 22, but he struggled on the offensive end.  The only player that looked like he was clicking was Brook Lopez who also put in 22 on 12 shots.
• There are some teams that just present match-up problems for other teams (think Nets vs. Bobcats).  With how the Wizards are currently constructed, they aren’t much better talent wise, but they just are a tough match-up for the Nets.  Especially Blatche who was running around the court like a chicken with his head cut off trying to get a triple double.
• Terrence Williams had another solid game but had a key turnover when he tried to throw a full court bounce pass down 5 late.  Rookie mistake that happens, just poor timing of it.