Nets Are Scorching

ESPN’s Chris Broussard has some more information on last month’s proposed three-way trade between the Nets, Nuggets and Cavs that would have brought Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey. And boy is it a doozy:

Denver would have received Favors, Devin Harris and three first-round picks. Cleveland would have received Murphy and one or two first-round picks, and the Nets would have received Anthony, Al Harrington and the Cavaliers’ trade exception, the sources said.

Beyond the sticking point of Anthony accepting or refusing to sign the long-term extension with New Jersey, the deal fell apart because both Denver and Cleveland wanted the 2012 first-round pick the Nets got from Golden State in the Marcus Williams trade. That pick is protected through the first seven slots.

While Denver never asked for the Nets’ five first-round picks, New Jersey might have wound up sending those five picks to the Nuggets and the Cavs. Losing all those first-rounders makes the Nets squeamish, as does not getting back a point guard if they have to give up Harris.

And naturally the great “sticking point” is still unresolved. My next question is what happens if the Nets finally can get Denver to agree to do something and Mikhail Prokhorov and Avery Johnson’s “pitch” to ‘Melo goes over with him as well as it did with LeBron James? Then what?

The trade proposed here is awful for the Nets. Just awful. I don’t even think a starting line-up of Farmar-Morrow-Anthony-Harrington-Lopez is good enough to make the playoffs in this league, no less be a championship contender. And the team would have zero assets to bring in an additional player unless they think someone is still clamoring for the last four-and-a-half years of Travis Outlaw’s contract. I know I was admittedly cranky earlier this week about the state of this team, but I can’t imagine any Nets fan looking at the logistics of this trade saying afterwards, “well, you got to do what you got to do.” If they do, then my guess is they’re just blindly parroting the company line of the front office.

Wednesday night against the Bulls, the Nets found themselves in a familiar position. Late in a close game with an opportunity to take a lead, the Nets came out of a timeout with a plan. Execution of these said plans hasn’t always been to snuff and in this particular case things didn’t go exactly as they were scripted, however, the basketball gods were kind to New Jersey tonight and a fortunate bounce went their way to get the Nets a much needed win over a surefire Eastern Conference playoff team. Let’s take a closer look.

Coming out of the timeout, New Jersey had a lineup of Devin Harris, Sasha Vujacic, Brook Lopez, Travis Outlaw and Kris Humphries. Chicago does not make it hard for New Jersey to get the ball inbounds, and when they do Devin Harris gets the catch near the top of the key.

Avery Johnson uses a Brook Lopez ball screen to cause some misdirection.

Here you can Brook begin to set a ball screen, which would be something Chicago was prepared for. This feigned ball screen is enough to occupy Brook Lopez’s man Kurt Thomas (here, arrowed in yellow) as his eyes are certainly fixed on the ball handler, Harris.

Brook then slips the screen and begins cutting hard back around toward the hoop, as Vujacic, the in-bounder, is coming up to set a back screen on Kurt Thomas for Brook Lopez to catch a lob.

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(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

 

Box Score – By The Horns – Blog a Bull

FINALLY is all I can say. Before the game I wrote about how I wanted to see an exciting performance from this team and this certainly was one. The Nets performance in the third quarter was perhaps their best of the season, as they actually looked like a competent team on both ends of the floor. How about that ending too? I’ll talk more about Harris and the Nets end-game execution below, but let’s just all be happy that Sasha Vujacic was in the right place at the right time. No question the Bulls are the best team the Nets have beaten all season, and this 94-92 triumph is one that Nets fans should be proud of.

Last night marked first career start for the rook Derrick Favors and he again struggled with fouls. He had three in the first half and committed his fourth just 1:14 into the second. Nets fans need to keep reminding themselves how young he is and that he still needs to add a lot of maturity. The thing I love seeing from him, and we saw plenty of it from Kris Humphries at the power forward position tonight as well, is how he runs the floor. This guy could make a living beating opposing PF’s down the floor for dunks and until his post game develops more, that is what he should focus upon. 

The clear star for the Nets was Kris Humphries, who should come off the bench every night if he’s going to play like this. From the second he took the floor you could tell that he played with an extra bit of intensity, and I love to see that. No professional athlete should be happy with being taken out of the starting lineup and hopefully Hump’s fire spreads to the other guys. His dunk in the first half was the best I’ve seen from any Net all season and he followed it up with an alley-oop a few possessions later. The guy has been terrific all season, and last night’s 20 point, 11 rebound performance was probably his best.

However much of that changed in the 4th and it was largely because of C.J. Watson. The lightning-quick backup point guard gave Chicago great minutes off the bench and was relentless in terms of getting into the paint and either getting to the rim himself or getting others involved. The Nets 13-points lead at the end of the third quickly evaporated and they were once again in a tight game. 

Derrick Rose was quiet for much of the night but unfortunately he picked the last three minutes to finally put his stamp on the game. In the span of less than a minute, he converted an and-1, buried a three and then delivered a look-ahead assist to Ronnie Brewer. Suddenly what looked like a comfortable nine-point lead for the Nets was down to 1 after an 8-0 run spear-headed by Rose.

Earlier this week I wrote about the Nets in crunch time and how they did not have a go-to-guy. Well tonight Devin Harris tried to step up and become that guy. From the 5-minute mark on Harris forced the issue, got to the free throw line and tried to get others involved and help the team win this game. They gave him the ball on a clear-out with 30 seconds left and instead of trying to go to the hoop (which would have been ideal), he took a fadeaway jumper that didn’t hit a thing. And then we come to the final play of the game. It was clearly supposed to be a lob from Harris to Brook. While I like the play design, Devin has to realize that if it’s not there you just can’t throw it anyway. So some thanks goes to the basketball gods for letting Sasha be in the right place at the right time. If that ball gets knocked away, Rose probably picks it up, goes the length of the floor and the Bulls win. But the newest Net that everyone initially didn’t like but is quickly becoming a fan favorite (who would have ever thought THAT) was luckily in the lane. He picked up the ball, put it in and the rest was history. Nets win, the Nets win.

Speaking of Sasha, what a wild game from him. He started off shooting the ball well, then couldn’t hit a shot, then committed a ridiculous foul…and then he won the game with a put-back layup. As I just said above, I was not thrilled when the Nets brought Vujacic in, but anyone that hasn’t been impressed with his play just isn’t paying attention. He is shooting the ball well and doing what he’s supposed to do. Keep it up Sasha, you may have a new fan soon.

A few more thoughts on this one after the jump…

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Al Iannazzone caught up with Richard Jefferson as the Spurs were rolling through town this week and the former Net, who was traded in a salary dump for the great Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons, said he considered coming back to the Nets this past summer, but the stars never aligned and the organization obviously decided to go with Travis Outlaw instead:

“Having roots there, just respecting the organization and wanting to help bring them back to a level in which they had been accustomed to for most of the [last] decade, I explored that,” Jefferson said. “That was something they really weren’t interested in.”

Giving his age, I don’t think RJ would have ultimately been a wise investment over four years for this Nets team, despite how well he’s doing and how much Outlaw has struggled. With that said, I loved reading this because Jefferson always struck me as one of the players who actually took pride in being a Net. Kenyon Martin chased the money in Denver, and Jason Kidd always seemed to have a volatile relationship with the organization, but RJ appreciated the opportunity he was given and embraced the organization and its fans.

After three days off the Nets are back on the court tonight in Newark as they host the Chicago Bulls. It will be the second meeting between the two teams in the last week, but this time in New Jersey. The Nets are back on another extended losing streak and will try to break out of it before they head West next week. Their last effort in Minnesota (specifically the second half) was one of the team’s worst all season. They’ll need to play much better to even have a chance against the Bulls tonight.

Some things to keep an eye on against Chicago:

The Enigma that is Brook Lopez. There have been quite a few head-scratching performances from the Nets center this season but the New Years’ Day display against the Timberwolves was perhaps the most puzzling. He played 31 minutes, took just seven shots and only got to the line twice. Against the Bulls on New Year’s Eve, Lopez played decently and with Chicago’s lack of depth at the center position, I thought he could have had a much better game. I’ll be looking for a strong bounce-back performance from him tonight.

What Will the Bench Produce? The Nets have been very thin at the backup guard position since Anthony Morrow and Jordan Farmar have been out of the lineup. Therefore the bench production has been very inconsistent. Sasha Vujacic actually hasn’t played badly at all since joining the Nets and he was one of the few bright spots for the team against the T-Wolves, scoring a team-high 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting. I’d like to see him build on that strong performance with another one tonight.

Play an Exciting Game. I know this is probably too much to ask from this team but can they bring a big effort tonight against a good team? This whole “keep-the-game-kind-of-close-and-then-fade-in-the-second-half” routine is getting very old and it’s almost getting to the point where this team is becoming unwatchable. As Nets fans we watch the games because we root for the team and want to see them play well. But it is becoming increasingly frustrating to do so when they follow the same pathetic script each night. So against the Bulls, one of the better teams in the East, it would be encouraging to see them get up and down the floor, keep the game close and show some emotion.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out TrueHoop affiliate By The Horns.

Now that 2011 is upon us, I’ve taken the liberty of deciding what the resolutions of our favorite basketball team should be. Am I a few days late? Maybe. But better late than never, right? … Right?

Without further ado, in no particular order, your 2011 New Jersey Nets New Year’s Resolutions:

Brook Lopez: Much has been made about your rebounding woes this season, but in all honesty it’s the scoring inconsistency that has me worried. There are some games when you looks like the dominant force we all expected – destroying interior defenses with your dizzying array of post moves & counter-moves, and utilizing your ridiculous reach to loft a right hook above any defender. Then there are games where you struggle to get position, forces bad shots, and spends the entire game drifting around the perimeter. I know that mononucleosis can take a long time to recover from, so I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt up until this point. But shooting the way that you are, that excuse is beginning to wear thin. I know the Nets aren’t running enough sets for you inside, but you also have to post up there with more strength. Get inside and get your offense going within ten feet, every single game.

Point Guards: I’m lumping you two (well, three) together because you all suffer from the same issue. For the facilitators of the offense, there have just been too many times this season where it’s clear that none of you trust your teammates, instead looking out for yourself above all else. With the scoring talent of our bigs around the rim and our widely spaced offense when Anthony Morrow comes back, Farmar & Harris (and to an extent, Uzoh) have got to be the guys who look to pass first, and shoot second.

With Harris, this rule is a little less hard-lined because Harris’s biggest strength is his ability to slash and create scoring opportunities by getting to the rim. But let me paint you a picture. Go back to the recent Bulls-Nets game. With 9:45 remaining in the second quarter, Harris, dribbling at the top of the key, specifically called for a pick & roll with Derrick Favors. After receiving the pick, Harris dribbled lazily off to the left side, without even looking at Derrick (who rolled well and had his hand up looking for a pass), the basket (which is where you want to look if you’re going to score), or anything else that might have helped the Nets run something even resembling an offense. It was an absolutely disgusting few seconds from a guy who’s supposed to facilitate – and it wasn’t an isolated incident.

Sasha Vujacic: Sasha, you’ve been a bright spot in this team’s dark cloud this year. You’ve exceeded my low expectations. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, and don’t let the depressing stink of New Jersey seep into your brain.

Travis Outlaw: Guess what I’d ask from “Mr. Pump Fake”? Outside of shooting the damn ball in rhythm, I know that most folks consider your signing a massive disappointment – given your lackluster production, you’ve been a pretty easy scapegoat & lightning rod for all things bad about this year’s Nets. Truthfully, I still think you can be a very valuable weapon off the bench. At the very least, you have to remember the mentality that made you such an effective bench weapon in the first place. There have been comments from Avery that your conditioning’s not where it should be – and given your dubious history with conditioning I hope something clicks there soon as well.

Anthony Morrow: You made a career out of transition three-point shooting in Golden State, spotting up on the wings and just letting the ball fly out of his hands the moment you caught it. This year, you’re hesitating before shooting on too many occasions, which usually results in being forced to pass out or shoot a long contested two-pointer – the most inefficient shot in basketball. Having a guy who can make 2-4 threes a game on 45% shooting is highly valuable – and when you come back from injury, you’ve got to be that guy.

Carmelo Anthony: Just kidding.

Kris Humphries: You’ve been the surprising silver lining in the Nets rotation, shooting 53.6% from the field with a ridiculous 31.7% defensive rebound rate. (How ridiculous is it? It’s 3rd in the NBA, behind only Marcus Camby and Kevin Love, and ahead of names like Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, & Blake Griffin.) But for everything you bring on the glass, you don’t bring in system defense – the Nets are a full nine points worse defensively with you on the court. Given my subjective eye, you seem tentative playing help D, often refusing to leave your man to help out on slashers who have somehow broken through the Nets’ matador defense. You have certainly had your share of eye-popping blocks – LaMarcus Aldridge and Eric Maynor may never be the same – but defense is about every play, not just the highlights.

Damion James: Incomplete.

Derrick Favors: Assuming you’re not traded yet, Avery Johnson said it better than I ever could: you’ve got to dunk on three people a night. I get that you’re a mostly passive, laidback guy and that this team doesn’t exactly breed aggressive players. But you’re not going to be a great player – or even earn a starting spot – until you show a little fire on the court. Dunk in someone’s face. Pound your chest. Yell at Jordan Farmar when he doesn’t pass to you when you roll off the screen. Get the competitive juices flowing. You’re just too good to fit in this well with a team this bad.

Troy Murphy: Truth be told, I don’t blame you for being frustrated. Avery really bungled your situation, and given your back injury and completely volatile position in the rotation you still doesn’t really seem to be used to game-tempo situations yet. That being said, Avery’s not the one missing his shots; you are. A 32% field goal percentage, 17% three-point percentage and 53% free-throw percentage isn’t any coach’s fault, and it’s hard to justify giving you minutes if that’s your level of production.

Quinton Ross & Stephen Graham: I appreciate what you guys can bring to the table defensively, but don’t be upset when Damion James & Anthony Morrow come back and your minutes disappear. It just needs to be that way.

Johan Petro: Enjoy every dollar of your paycheck.

Avery Johnson: While my colleague Mark has had a little trouble with your, shall I say, Calipari-like stranglehold of this team, I think that’s exactly what the Nets have needed from their head coach. Your no-nonsense personality assures the players that YOU are running the show – and for a franchise coming off a 70-loss season, that force of personality makes a huge difference.

However, it would be foolish to deny that you’ve definitely had some issues dealing with his personnel. Although he’s gotten a little more playing time recently, Troy Murphy has essentially been blackballed from the rotation with little explanation and increasing frustration. Even when he’s getting position, Brook Lopez isn’t getting nearly enough touches in the post. The offense essentially seems to be “pick & roll, dribble around for 15 seconds without so much as glancing at the roll man, and launch the first shot you can get.” Given the amount of talent the Nets have in their coaching staff and on the floor, this kind of lackadaisical offense makes no sense.

Billy King: Hi Billy! Keep showing some cojones in the ‘Melo sweepstakes. Even though it was just an anonymous report, I appreciated the candor. The way Ujiri has treated this deal is nothing short of absurd. If they really want five first-rounders, laugh and hang up. Remember: the Nuggets have much more to lose in this than the Nets do.

I know that Carmelo’s going to bring the Nets – a team currently dead last in attendance and probably also dead last in jersey sales – a lot of money. The force of star power, combined with a market like Brooklyn in two years, is huge. Just make sure that what you win in the box office isn’t equated by what you might lose on the court. & remember, my e-mail is always open if you have any “anonymous” tips.

Finally, Mikhail Prokhorov & Jay-Z: Keep ballin’, my friends. Keep ballin’.

All season long, there has been a groundswell of disappointment in Brook Lopez’s performance, where he’s seemingly regressed both offensively and as a rebounder. Yesterday, during practice, while preaching patience with his team, Nets GM Billy King said that Lopez is still a desired commodity around the league and that perhaps he’s just not going to be a great rebounding center:

“I don’t think Brook is ever going to be a 10-rebound guy. Rik Smits, I think, at his best was a seven- rebound guy. Kareem Adbul Jabaar, as great a scorer as he was, he wasn’t a great rebounder. Some guys have a knack for it. Some guys don’t,” King said. “I think he could get better at it, I just don’t think it’s something where he’s going to be a 10-, 12-rebound guy a night. I just don’t think it’s in him.”

Well, I certainly would never lump Smits into the conversation as a “cornerstone” player, but I see King’s point. What’s most unnerving for me is that Lopez’s rebound rate – the percentage of available rebounds he gets to when he’s on the floor – has decreased every year he’s been in the league. It seems to me as Lopez’s attention turns more to offense, he neglects other parts of his game. There’s no reason that he can’t be a total package Center. Good for King for defending his players, but I still think Lopez is fair game for some criticism, especially about his rebounding.

I'm getting so desperate, I'll take ANY kind of change.

As the timeless Sam Cooke song goes, “A Change is Gonna Come.” That mantra might be true for those Nets fans who believe a trade of some semblance – for Carmelo Anthony or someone else – is imminent. I’d like to use some space on the blog today to implore the Nets ownership and front office that change HAS to come. And now. After the team experienced what may have been their worst loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of the putrid Minnesota Timberwolves, I think it’s safe to say that the current assembly of talent known as the 2010-11 New Jersey Nets is just not working. And if the team is serious about being an NBA title threat in five years, some chairs on the ship need to be rearranged or thrown overboard now, before those that remain become so overwhelmed with the stench of losing that they can’t recover (if last season didn’t already do that to some – I’m looking at you Brook Lopez).

Before you accuse me of overreacting, let me throw out there that yes, I realize that for the past month or so the team has been fighting the injury bug with Anthony Morrow, Damion James, Quinton Ross and now Jordan Farmar all going down. And yes, I realize that at 9-25, this team is improved from last season. But these are only mild positives compared with the laundry list of negatives which is now adding up. Because if you look at the numbers, the Nets are not only a lot less talented than most of the league, they also have a large assortment of underachievers – which is a bit of a surprise when you consider that one of Mikhail Prokhorov’s first major investments was to build a first class coaching staff centered around Avery Johnson and three assistants who spent time in the first captain’s chair at some point in their careers.

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