Ted Leonsis Approves This Message
May 20, 2010 DeMarcus Cousins, Draft, Draft Lottery, Evan Turner, John Wall, Just For Fun, Nets vs. Wizards, Positivity, Sillyness, Truehoop Network
I recently happened upon Washington Wizards owner, Ted Leonsis’ personal blog in a roundabout way after reading TrueHoop’s Wednesday Bullets. In any case, he blogged about luck, deserving the first pick, and thanked Irene Pollin for being at the NBA Lottery Draft amongst other things. From what I’ve read, Leonsis seems like a genuinely happy and regular kind of guy who happens to have a ton of money. In any case, I have to say, I now like the dude. One reason being is he actually approved the above comment when he really didn’t have to. Yes, his comments do require moderation. In any case, thanks for approving the comment, Ted… you’re good people. You can check out the blog entry itself here.
A Retrospective of Third Overall Lottery Draft Picks
May 20, 2010 2010 Draft, Blast From The Past, Draft, Draft Lottery, HOPE!, John Wall, Michael Jordan, Mikhail Prokhorov, Retrospective
I’m sure most New Jersey Nets fans are a bit disappointed by the other night’s NBA Draft Lottery. Actually, maybe more than a bit. It could even be seen in new Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, a man who has appeared every bit as super cool as 1990s Samuel L. Jackson. However, once the placard showed the Nets were picking third overall, Prokhorov looked a bit rigid and tight, the opposite of his usually loose and focused demeanor. In one fell swoop, “accepting every single role” 2000s Samuel L. Jackson appeared… still kind of cool, but definitely tainted.
Prokhorov, like most Nets fans wanted the first overall pick, which the Washington Wizards won, and the draft rights to Kentucky point guard, John Wall. Although, I personally wanted Evan Turner, the versatile swing man from Ohio State. Unless the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of the second overall pick, decide to go big and select someone like DeMarcus Cousins or Derrick Favors, I’m afraid the Nets won’t be able to draft Turner either. Read the rest of this entry »
Why Evan Turner Is The Number One Pick For The Nets
May 13, 2010 2010 Draft, 2010 Free Agents, 2010 Offseason, Brook Lopez, Carlos Boozer, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee, Devin Harris, Draft, Draft Lottery, Evan Turner, Free Agents, HOPE!, John Wall, Mikhail Prokhorov, Opinion, Rod Thorn, Terrence Williams
There is no questioning that John Wall is an excellent talent and NBA prospect. Ask anyone that watches basketball and they will tell you in no uncertain terms that he’s phenomenal, an athletic freak, and quite the dancer. My NAS colleague, Devin, praises Wall and makes excellent points about Wall’s game. However, if I were the New Jersey Nets, I’d select Evan Turner if the Nets’ luck is as good as a picture of a bikini-clad Jessica Alba and the team wins next week’s NBA Draft Lottery. Turner is as versatile as they come and many consider Wall and Turner, Pick 1A and 1B, but we’ll get down to Turner and his skill set a bit later. First, let’s peep the point guard that most people think is no longer in the Nets’ plans and seemingly expendable.
Oh, and for the record, the Nets have a 25% chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery and receiving the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft and I have a -25% chance of gaining any attention from the aforementioned Alba. Snowball meet hell.
Why John Wall is the #1 Pick
May 12, 2010 2010 Draft, 2010 Offseason, Devin Kharpertian, Draft, John Wall
So as my introductory piece, I’d like to do a re-post. Some of you have likely already seen this on the popular SBNation subsidiary NetsDaily – I originally posted it under my NetsDaily username Newark2Brooklyn. It elicited a fair amount of discussion once it was put on their front page. I wrote this before Thorn said he’d take Wall with the first pick, and it was partly a response to the Wall-Turner debate that was going on there. Some people agreed with my assessment completely, others were the exact opposite. I usually consider that a good sign.
Glad to be writing for NetsAreScorching, and rest assured, mostly everything else I write will be less than half this length.
Tags: 2010 Offseason, John Wall, NBA Draft, NJ Nets
Nets on the Net: 4/23/10 Edition
Apr 23, 2010 John Wall, Lawrence Frank, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Terrence Williams
So what if the Nets get stuck with the #4 draft pick this summer? Ben Couch looks at some of the best #4s in NBA history.
Mikhail Prokhorov could be approved as Nets owner just in time for the lottery. Will he bring the franchise luck?
Oh, Lawrence Frank. Don’t you know what live television is?
Over at this Rookie Chronicles blog, Terrence Williams discussed his first pro season. Here’s a fact that surprised me when asked about his favorite player: Besides CDR (Chris Douglas Roberts), Bobby Simmons has got to be my favorite guy on the team. He taught me everything as far as basketball at this level. He taught me the part about basketball that most don’t teach…Like how to pay attention to other greats. Instead of watching Kobe and guarding him and trying to stop him, he advised me to learn him. He told me to learn what he does good and try to mimic it.
Hoopsworld asks if John Wall is really the consensus No. 1 pick.
Nets on the Net: 4/5/10 Edition
Apr 5, 2010 Coaching, John Wall, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Terrence Williams
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.
Nets on the Net: 3/18/10 Edition
Mar 18, 2010 John Wall, Nets on the Net, Nets vs. 72-73 Sixers, Terrence Williams
Dave D’Alessandro gets a few minutes with Magic Johnson last night and talks John Wall among other things, but I was particularly struck by this statement by Magic regarding the Nets record: No. No. It’s not good for our league,and it’s not good for the Nets. And the worst part of it is they may not even get the first pick. So I’m hoping those lottery balls fall right for them, and they can improve their team and be a player in free agency. Because nobody wants to be on a team where people will say, ‘Hey, you won seven or eight games?’ every day. That’s not good for anyone to live with, especially all these young guys.”
Trenton Hassell, regardless of his play on the court, is the consummate professional. Here’s what he told Dave D. when asked about Terrence Williams getting the nod to start last night: “Terrence is the future, I’m not,” Hassell said before the Nets’ 108-97 loss to the Sixers at Wachovia Center. “In two years, he’s an All-Star, as long as he continues to work. Just bring the people in here to teach him the right things, and he’ll be an All-Star.”
Kiki Vandeweghe on the Nets approaching infamy: “All of us together brought ourselves here,” he said. “Everyone asks about it, especially now as it’s getting down toward the end. Nobody wants to lose any games; we’re all competitors. But what possibly can you do except play well?”
Al Iannazzone talks with current Sixers GM and former Nets GM Ed Stefanski, who’s on his own hot seat in Philly right now.
Sixers Center Samuel Dalembert on the prospects of a 9-73 team: “I couldn’t comprehend it,” he said of the Sixers’ NBA record of futility, set in 1972-73. “In an 82-game season, how can you let that happen? But when I got to the NBA, I realized it’s like a snowball. If you don’t get it together, before you know it the ball is rolling and rolling.”
Over at the 700 Level Philadelphia sports blog, a fan who witnessed the 72-73 season discusses his experience watching that team. Keep this article in mind NAS readers when we come bothering you 25-30 years from now.
In a look at former Nets, Jason Kidd discusses his work with former Nets coach Bob Thate and credits him for his vastly improved outside shooting.
Hey, remember Derrick Coleman? He filed for bankruptcy. Well whoop-de-damned doo.
Bleacher Report honors the “not-quite-legendary” players in New York sports and discusses Buck Williams.
Nets on the Net: 2/1/2010
Feb 1, 2010 Chris Douglas-Roberts, John Wall, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Even while the Nets sit at 4-42, this column by Matt Moore at NBA Fanhouse has the potential make you smile: The New Jersey Nets are a near-mathematical lock for the No. 1 spot in the lottery. That only leaves them with a 25 percent chance of landing Wall, but that’s still a better chance than any other team in the league will have. So let’s say the Nets do in fact land Wall, which makes Devin Harris superfluous. The Nets will then have one of the best players to come out of college in the last five years (some consider him the best), oodles and oodles of cap space, a starting-caliber point guard to trade, and cap room beyond belief. The Nets will likely be in New Jersey until 2012, when they will move to the new Barclays center in Brooklyn, making it instantly one of the most marketable teams in the league. You’re seeing this, because you saw it when you read the headline.
This has been a tough few weeks for Chris Doulgas-Roberts and a roller coaster of a season. And while NAS has jumped on him lately with some criticism, I think you can still safely say the kid loves this game and the recent abuse is killing him. Don’t believe me? Read what he wrote on Twitter after yesterday’s in game in which he curiously played only 14 minutes: @ the lowest point in my career right now.I’m so confused.I put so much into this game.I just…don’t know.It’s hard to stay so tough.
The Nets got a visit from a motivational speaker yesterday. No word on whether or not he lives in a van down by the river.
NetsDaily dissects some recent press clippings about Mikhail Prokhorov.
Nets on the Net: 1/24/10 Edition
Jan 24, 2010 John Wall, Kris Humphries, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Dave D. is reporting that Mikhail Prokhorov is “days away” from becoming Nets owner. Now, will it actually make a difference?
In a report that should shock no one, John Wall is entering the NBA draft this summer. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report has their mock draft up.
The Salt Lake Tribune looks at their first lottery pick, Kris Humphries.
More talk from AK-47 suggesting he and Mikhail Prokhorov are a match made in Russian heaven.
Nets on the Net: 1/22/10 Edition
Jan 22, 2010 Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Devin Harris, John Wall, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn
A fantastic and thorough look by Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm at the potential conundrum the Nets have on their hands if they trade Devin Harris, but fail to get PG prospect John Wall in the draft.
Speaking of trading Devin, Rod Thorn tries to put an end to these rumors: “It’s very, very unlikely that we’d trade Devin. I never say never, but it’s very unlikely that he’s going to be traded,” Nets president Rod Thorn said as he watched the start of practice at a health club in the city’s financial district.
Julian Garcia talks to Indianapolis native Courtney Lee about the Colts resting their starters down the stretch. I would like to add Go Jets (sorry Sebastian).
The San Francisco Chronicle profiles Brook Lopez, calling him one of the few bright spots on the Nets.
On the heels of his somewhat favorable comments about coming to the Nets this summer, the Bright Side of the Sun Phoenix Suns blog talks exclusively to Amare Stoudamire regarding his thoughts on getting trading and free agency.
Rory of Slippery When Nets fame, talks the halfway point of the season and Bon Jovi.
For those who want to keep reading up on John Wall, the Charlotte Observer looks at how the Raleigh, NC, native chose the University of Kentuckey over local powerhouse schools Duke and North Carolina.