Nets on the Net: 2/15/10 Edition
Feb 15, 2010 Jay-Z, Kiki Vandeweghe, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn
Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Rod Thorn will likely not fire Kiki Vandeweghe for the alleged under the table deal he made with Del Harris to become head coach of the Nets. Meanwhile, Tom Barrise, is headed to coach Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Rod Thorn is on his way to Vancouver to meet with Mikhail Prokhorov, while those back in New Jersey are working on getting the Nets to Newark next season.
Jerry Colangelo told the Daily News he is interested in a return to the NBA under certain conditions: “I would have to have full autonomy,” Colangelo told the Daily News. “I’m not looking to become a general manager. But if the right job came along I’d be willing to talk to anyone. Life is all about opportunities.”
Jay-Z and LeBron James threw an after party during All-Star weekend which Rod Thorn attended.
Looking at the business side of basketball, the New York Times reports that it’s unlikely that LeBron James would help the stock of MSG, a recent spinoff of Cablevision owners of the Knicks, trading on the NASDAQ.
Nets on the Net 2/11/10 Edition
Feb 11, 2010 Brook Lopez, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Coaching, Kiki Vandeweghe, Kris Humphries, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
First a programming note. I understand I missed “Hump Day” yesterday. My brain is still a little scrambled from basically moving from one end of New York City to the other. Hopefully, next week I’ll remember it’s Wednesday and you’ll be able to start in Hump’s dreamy eyes again.
Over at ESPN’s Daily Dime, our boy Sebastian writes about Brook Lopez’s selection to the 2010-2012 Men’s National Basketball Team.
With the arena all but empty last night, Al Iannazzone captures some color from the fans: There were chants of “CD-R,” who didn’t play until garbage time, and one fan screamed, “Kiki, fire yourself.” In this setting, Vandeweghe had to have heard it. You could hear everything the fans were saying.
Meanwhile, on the agenda this weekend in Dallas, Rod Thorn will meet with Mikhail Prokhorov over dinner to discuss how those two can turn the Nets around.
So the shameless endless marketing of the Nets continues as the newest promotion is courtesy of Zappo’s: enter to win to be coach of the Nets for the day alongside Kiki Vandeweghe. Of course, the contest doesn’t explain what happens if Kiki gets canned in the next couple of weeks. Maybe if you win, they’ll just let you be the coach without a proper assistant.
For those of you with ESPN Insider, David Thorpe does his usual rookie/sophomore rankings but combines them this week in advance of All-Star Weekend. Thorpe determines that Brook Lopez is the No. 1 rookie/soph in the NBA currently.
Rick Pitino is apparently lobbying the Nets for their head coaching job. Rod Thorn is denying it.
Tom Robinson of the Virginian-Pilot writes about the Nets being on pace for all-time futility and includes the line of the day in his column: I’m not a Nets hater. Trying to think, but I can’t remember a time when I was more than vaguely aware there was a Nets.
Come to think of it, what’s the Virgnian-Pilot and how do they have a columnist dedicated to the general NBA in this world of shrinking print media?
The Circus in the Swamp
Feb 10, 2010 Del Harris, Kiki Vandeweghe, Opinion, Rod Thorn
As if watching the Nets chase all-time infamy wasn’t bad enough for fans, those working in the front office appear to be emulating the comically inept and embarrassing play on the hardwood – to the point that the resignation of an interim assistant coach has seemingly exposed the complete and utter chaos that has swallowed this organization.
The recent and unexpected resignation of Del Harris as assistant coach has produced somewhat conflicting stories regarding the circumstances behind his departure. The Star-Ledger’s Dave D’Alessandro reported earlier this week that Harris’s agent asked team President Rod Thorn about Del becoming the next head coach, returning Kiki Vandeweghe to the GM spot, an idea which Thorn rejected. A Peter Vescey report from Tuesday, says that Kiki, Harris and Harris’ agent allegedly concocted a plan behind unbeknownst to Thorn where Harris was promised the head coaching spot later this season, moving Kiki back to GM, where he could hypothetically prove his worth before the house cleaning that is certain to commence when Mikhail Prokhorov takes over as owner.
This morning, Al Iannazzone reported that Thorn is now investigating the details from the Vescey report. If a side deal was made behind Thorn’s back, Kki could get the axe.
All of these stories contain elements that are both plausible and outrageous. Regardless of who’s got the story right here, what ties all of these accounts together is the reported lack of cohesion in the front office.
Nets on the Net: 2/10/10 Edition
Feb 10, 2010 Chris Douglas-Roberts, Del Harris, Kiki Vandeweghe, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Al Iannazzone rehashes more about the Del Harris resignation situation (read NAS’s take on it later today).
Chris Douglas-Roberts was asked about his DNP-CD last night and he confirmed he was in fact ready to play if needed: “It is what it is,” he said.
Will Leitch, formerly of Deadspin fame, now of New York magazine, lets the Knicks know that it’s okay: they could be the Nets.
Paul Jones of Sportsnet Canada wonders if Bryan Colangelo of the Raptors might jump ship to the Nets once Mikhail Prokhorov takes over.
Former Net Ed O’Bannon is making progress in his lawsuit against the NCAA.
Revisiting Kiki’s Style Of Play
Feb 5, 2010 Advanced Statistics, Kiki Vandeweghe
In early December, exactly 8 games into Kiki’s tenure as head coach, we looked at his team’s playing style. A style that was completely different to what Lawrence Frank was doing. If you don’t feel like going back through the post, here is the spreadsheet:
Nets on the Net: 1/27/10 Edition
Jan 27, 2010 Chris Douglas-Roberts, Devin Harris, Keyon Dooling, Kiki Vandeweghe, LeBron James, Nets on the Net, Trade Rumors
Filip Bondy, of the Daily News, on the Nets and losing: Nobody but Casey Stengel ever derived much amusement from losing. So no matter how easy it is to poke fun at the Nets this season, or to remind them they are well on the way to becoming the most certifiably horrible team in NBA history, it’s tough to laugh directly into those long faces.
Dave Perkins of the Toronto Star tries to give Nets fans a boost: So, yes, the bar has been set high in this regard. Can the Nets really threaten it? Well, they lost their first 18 games – after 16 of which Lawrence Frank was gassed as coach – and set a record there. Still, it seems 7-31 the rest of the way is a long shot. Plus, record attempts usually fall apart. The 1993 Dallas Mavericks were 9-71 and threatening, but won their last two games. The 1998 Denver Nuggets also ended 11-71.
The Bright Side of the Sun blog runs through potential Amare Stoudamire to the Nets scenarios.
LeBron James has single-handedly produced more wins than the Nets (and the Timberwolves and the Pacers).
Chris Douglas-Roberts has been glued to the gym, trying to turn his fading season around: “Just the whole situation, the record, my game fell off and I just let that weigh on me in a negative way instead of doing what I usually do and turn it into a positive. So that’s the whole reason I’m getting back with Jerry and the whole reason I’m clocking in hours like I was in the summer.”
Keyon Dooling reacts to the lost weekend out west: “This was the worst road trip of my life,” the nine-year veteran said. “We got blown out every game. We weren’t competitive. We’re just not a very good team right now.”
Devin Harris is still suffering from his wrist injury and will probably not play against the Clippers tonight: “It’s on me at this point,” Harris said Tuesday at practice about determining when he will be back. “When it’s healthy enough to play you’ll definitely see me in a game.”
Al Iannazzone thinks the Nets have some “winnable games” this week.
Kiki Vandeweghe tells the Star-Ledger that a team can still recruit free agents with a bad won-loss record: “Having been through this before, having been down the recruiting process, having had a lot of cap space, having had a really bad rebuilding season, I was never asked once by an agent or a free agent about our record the year before,” Vandeweghe said. “You’re judged by not necessarily on your record, if you fast forward to July, you’re judged on the assets you have in place and what the free agents are going to come join. Having been through this, we had a 17-win season, we recruited all the best free agents available in that year and never asked once about the record.”
Nets on the Net: 1/20/10 Edition
Jan 20, 2010 Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Izod Center, Kiki Vandeweghe, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Tonight in Phoenix, there’s going to be a double dipping of Lopez’s.
Devin Harris talks to Dave D. about the team’s lack of intensity: “I love being in battle with these guys,” Harris said from the US Airways Center practice gym, where the Nets prepared for Wednesday’s game against the Suns. “But there are certain marks in a game – and every team goes through it – where there may be a three-minute mark, where you don’t play well and your teammates do.
Kiki Vandeweghe agrees in Fred Kerber’s version: “I think it’s very clear we don’t play hard,” said Vandeweghe.
Not counting Nets basketball games, the Izod Center is actually a pretty successful arena.
Mikhail Prokhorov: prospective owner of the Nets, electric car pioneer.
Nets on the Net: 1/19/10 Edition
Jan 19, 2010 Kiki Vandeweghe, Kris Humphries, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn, Terrence Williams
Tom Barrise, who was Nets head coach for a hot minute after Lawrence Frank was fired, is now a special assistant to Rod Thorn.
Nate Robinson is lobbying for Terrence Williams to be in the dunk contest this All-Star Weekend.
The Baseline explores if teams can “reverse tank” – play veterans to try and pad win totals in order to attract free agents this summer.
The Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA, profiles the former UCLA star, and Nets coach, Kiki Vandeweghe.
You Fantasy Basketball folks out there should pay attention to Kirs Humphries.
More hearings on the Atlantic Yards Development.
Nets on the Net: 1/8/10 Edition
Jan 8, 2010 Brook Lopez, Kiki Vandeweghe, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn, Terrence Williams
Tonight matches up two coaches in Kiki Vandeweghe and New Orleans’ Jeff Bower, who were just GMs before the season began. Plus here’s a money quote from a scout, as reported by Al Iannazzone: As the Nets were blown out by 22 and 30 points in consecutive games against Milwaukee and Atlanta, the little life they showed came in the form of frustration and bad body language. One NBA scout said the Nets are “playing like 15 guys in the last year of their contracts.”
The Nets have banned gambling on the team plane which is an indicator that Gilbert Arenas’ indefinite suspension, was not only about guns.
Dave D’Alessandro talks to Rod Thorn about what might happen with the head coach position once the summer comes: “We’re still going to have a large number of young guys next year no matter what happens in free agency,” Thorn said the other day. “So undoubtedly the next coach has to be good at working with young people, because he’s going to have to bring out the best in those people. Somebody who’s a good X-and-O guy also.”
Bruce Ratner may have some legal trouble.
Apparently Fred Kerber and Terrence Williams have kissed and made-up as Kerber talks to TWill about his recent lack of playing time: “I’m learning from Trenton and KD and these guys [say], ‘Worry about what you can control. Don’t give anybody a reason to take your money or humiliate you,’ ” said Williams, the rookie selected No. 11 from Louisville.
Brook Lopez is featured in a NBA.com video about Centers:
Nets on the Net: 1/4/10 Edition
Jan 4, 2010 Brooklyn, Kiki Vandeweghe, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Yi
In a great read from Dave D’lessandro, he talks about the Nets and their lack of an offensive identity: It’s one thing to have balanced shot distribution, which the Nets have had of late. Since this pairing of coach and point guard (15 games), a Nets player has taken 20-plus shots only six times, and four times, he has justified it by being the team’s top scorer that night. But it is hard to know from game to game what the Nets are trying to accomplish – especially in the last six fourth quarters, when they have averaged 21 points on .373 shooting. And with yet another offensive player (Jarvis Hayes) coming out of the trainer’s room Tuesday to play against Milwaukee, it could get more confusing yet.
Kiki Vandeweghe says his team is still learning the little things: “You have to execute the little things that you drill on every day,” Vandeweghe said. “I’m talking about executing your plays, executing your defensive strategies and realizing that down the stretch you’ve got to [increase] focus.
Prospective Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is hosting Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his French Alps chalet, as a thank you for clearing his name in the French prostitution scandal.
Net Income over at NetsDaily debates whether or not we’re seeing the real Yi right now, or has his performance since his return from injury been an aberration: So now everyone waits to see if he’s the old Yi, the “eternal tease” as one fantasy expert called him, or the new one, the guy Nets broadcaster Tim Capstraw gushed was looking “looking like a potential all-star” in recent games. He’s played well in stretches before, but not at this level. So, it’s worth discussing: what would an aggressive, confident, productive Yi mean for the Nets?
The Atlantic Yards Report looks at the past year of progress for the project, but warns, “the arena’s not a lock.”