Nets on the Net: 2/3/10 Edition
Feb 3, 2010 Chris Quinn, Del Harris, Lawrence Frank, Nets on the Net, Vince Carter
In an interesting reunion of former Nets, Lawrence Frank is in Orlando to give the struggling Vince Carter some advice.
Given that he really didn’t talk to the YES crew after the game, here’s Del Harris’ statement on why he’s leaving the team.
Good old Dwyane Wade has taken to using the Nets as a barometer for how bad it can get, after talking to Rafer Alston and Chris Quinn: “When I was a little younger, I’d have been ready to explode,” Wade said of the Heat’s performance. “As I get older, I understand you take the good with the bad. In this league to come back and fight another day is always a blessing . . . of course there are times when you’re angry. Everyone has those times. But I look at Rafer some times and I think, ‘You know what? It can be worse.’ I talk to Quinny all the time. It’s worse other places.”
Hoops columnist Peter Vescey talks about the Nets proposed move to Newark and throws some cold water on the Amare Stoudamire trade rumors.
Nets on the Net: 12/14/09 Edition
Dec 14, 2009 Brooklyn, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Lawrence Frank, Nets on the Net
Chris Douglas-Roberts says he’ll play on Tuesday, despite the knee sprain.
The Chicago Sun Times calls rumors that Lawrence Frank will replace Vinny Del Negro in Chicago “pure folly.”
Some updates on Barclays Center financing from Bloomberg.
Also, some reports that put doubt on a hockey team ever being able to play at Barclays.
Nets on the Net 12/4/09 Edition
Dec 4, 2009 Barclays Arena, Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lawrence Frank, Losing Streak, Nets on the Net
Brooklyn basketball fans tell Bruce Ratner, thanks but no thanks.
Ex-Net Rory Sparrow, a member of the original 0-17 1988-89 Miami Heat, is feeling sorry for the Nets organization.
Kiki Vandeweghe wants to put the “fun” back in basketball.
USA Today looks at the tough task ahead for Kiki.
Another profile of European coach Ettore Messina, a potential long-term replacement for Lawrence Frank.
The naming rights deal for the Barclays Arena is reportedly worth half of what was originally expected.
The Daily News looks at the worst NBA teams of all-time.
The losing streak has actually improved TV ratings for the Nets.
The New York Times City Room blog looks at the history of futility in New York-area sports.
The Times is also seeking your opinions on how the Nets can market their future games at the Izod Center.
Looking back at the history of the Izod Center, and all of its previous iterations.
The AP takes a cue from Nets Are Scorching, and blames everything on Bruce Ratner.
Some comparisons with the 1988 Baltimore Orioles.
Jay Mariotti calls the Nets as currently constituted, “consumer fraud.” Meanwhile, CDR continues to question the heart of this team.
Should we pity the ticket scalpers working Nets games? Seriously, is there any angle of this losing streak the Times hasn’t covered?
Some audio of Lawrence Frank on WFAN yesterday.
One observer: don’t feel sorry for the Nets.
A Murder Mystery for the Nets
Dec 1, 2009 Devin Harris, Kiki Vandeweghe, Lawrence Frank
Fans of the game “Clue,” probably love a nice “whodunit.” In the case of the New Jersey Nets, there is a lingering mystery surrounding the question, “who killed Lawrence Frank?”
Frank’s dismissal was described by many as a “mercy killing,” but there must have been some malicious things going on behind closed doors that led to his ultimate demise. How else do you explain management bringing him back after last year and supporting Frank as his entire roster was decimated with injuries to start this season, only to turn around and fire him while the team was on the brink of matching the worst start to a season in NBA history? It’s no secret that most followers of the NBA think Frank got a raw deal in all this.
After reading a number of press reports that past 48 hours, I’ve been able to boil down the list of suspects to two. Both are high-profile individuals fully capable of killing a coach, and both have established motives. Let’s look at the evidence, shall we?
Nets on the Net: 12/1/09 Edition
Dec 1, 2009 Brooklyn, Courtney Lee, Devin Harris, Lawrence Frank, Losing Streak, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
Devin Harris says he’s moved on from his benching by Lawrence Frank last year against Boston, wishing the former head coach well.
The New York Times talks with Nets players about the losing streak. Chris Douglas-Roberts said he ran out of things to say about it six games ago.
Gary Sussman looks back at the “Little General.”
An AP report talks about how the Nets are stuck between a hopeless present and a hopeful future.
ESPN’s Chris Sheridan: the Nets are a mess.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel thinks the losing streak ends on Sunday against the Knicks.
Bleacher Report jokes that dismissed Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weiss has been named new head coach of the Nets.
The LA Times looks at Mikhail Prokhorov’s bid to own the Nets and the current state of foreign ownership in sports.
The Blowtorch makes fun of Courtney Lee.
Our Last Lawrence Frank Memory
Nov 30, 2009 Lawrence Frank
Regardless of his coaching decisions, Lawrence Frank was undoubtedly one of the nice guys in the NBA. He stayed true to form while cleaning out his office at the Nets PNY Practice Facility Monday, giving one last news conference with the press. Al Iannazzone has the report:
Yet Frank remains positive about the experience, about his future and about the future of the team.
“I’m being very sincere in that I feel very, very bad for this group of guys,” he said. “If they didn’t deserve it I wouldn’t say it. I have nothing to gain by it. This group deserves better. They’re going to break through. Guys are going to get back in rhythm and conditioning and other guys are going to get back. The brighter days obviously are ahead.”
“Many times when you’re terminated there’s a great deal of bitterness,” Frank said. “With me, there is no bitterness. I only root for this organization to be successful. I love the people here. It’s no different when a player gets traded. You don’t all of a sudden not like the player because you traded him. I love Rod. I love so many people around here. I have a great deal of affection for our players, staff, everyone. I root hard for our guys. There’s zero bitterness. I’m packing up my stuff. But I’ll be rooting hard for the Nets.”
I am legitimately touched by Frank’s words here. I’m sure I can speak for both Sebastian and I as NAS wishes Lawrence Frank the best of luck in the future. The consensus seems to be he will live to coach again, as well he should. It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out they way it could have after Frank burst out onto the scene in 2004 and led the Nets to 13 straight victories, but sports are funny in that way sometimes. Frank, without a doubt, has had a positive impact on the New Jersey Nets organization. For that, he can not, and will not be forgotten.
Writers/Bloggers React to Frank’s Firing
Nov 30, 2009 Lawrence Frank
To continue with the theme of posts today, NAS asked some beat writers and NBA bloggers about their thoughts on Lawrence Frank’s firing. For more internet reaction, check out this link dump from Ball Don’t Lie. Meanwhile, we’ll try to add to this post throughout the day, as we get more responses.
Lawrence Frank Revisited…Again
Nov 30, 2009 Front Office, Lawrence Frank
Mark already did a great job looking back at the Lawrence Frank era and looking at who could be next, but I figured I should throw something up on the subject. And by throw something up, I mean post my Lawrence Frank offseason post for the third time. I think it is pretty relevant, plus I know for a fact that we have more readers than we did when I posted it the first two times. Also, at the end, I put some of my observations from this year and compared them to years past. So if you already read this twice, you can just skip to the end.
Looking Back at the Lawrence Frank Era
Nov 30, 2009 Lawrence Frank
Few people knew who Lawrence Frank was when he took over as interim coach for the Nets after the organization fired Byron Scott in January 2004, but after a 13-0 start to his coaching career, and a history with the club that crossed over seven seasons, he certainly made his mark in New Jersey.
While Sebastian and I have definitely disagreed with some of Frank’s coaching decisions over the years, it’s never fun when a coach loses his job, especially a legitimate nice guy like Frank.
So, as we move into the next era of the New Jersey Nets, NAS is going to look back at Lawrence Frank’s five biggest wins, and his five worst losses. Read the rest of this entry »
Nets on the Net: 11/30/09 Edition
Nov 30, 2009 Lawrence Frank, Rafer Alston, Rod Thorn, Vince Carter
Obviously, there’s still lots of fallout over Lawrence Frank’s firing in the papers last night/this morning.
Over at the Star-Ledger, Dave D’Alessandro talks about potential interim replacements, while Rod Thorn said the organization could even look outside to fill the position.
Steve Politi thinks Rod Thorn is the last thing to believe in with the Nets.
Chris Sheridan over at TrueHoop talks about the “wacky” history of Nets firings.
Rafer Alston says blame the players.
The Record looks back at the fantastic journey of Lawrence Frank.
The always demonstrative Stan Van Gundy, has some interesting things to say about Frank’s firing.
Meanwhile, Vince Carter had “no comment” on the firing.
Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News says don’t expect to see much improvement in the Nets now that they fired Frank.
Hardwood Paroxysm podcasts about Lawrence Frank.
Bleacher Report speculates that the Frank firing could affect the team’s chances to land a free agent next summer.
Mark Heisler of the LA Times looks back at the Nets miseries.
Fanhouse also chimes in on the state of the Nets.