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Some Awesome Terrence Williams Photos

Aug 10, 2009 Nets In The Media, Pictures, Terrence Williams

This is just one of the awesome photos (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) that was taken of Terrence Williams as NBA rookies headed over to MSG training facility for the 2009 rookie portrait shoot yesterday.  Click on over to Yahoo to check out the full gallery.

Thoughts On Some Ratner Bashing

Aug 3, 2009 2009 Offseason, 2010 Offseason, Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Nets In The Media, Opinion, Steve Politi

Reader CoolNet pointed me to a Steve Politi article titled “Ratner knows damage, not damage control ” it is basically Politi just bashing Ratner, and I have some thoughts on it I wanted to talk about.  Now before I get to the article I do want to say that I don’t really want to see the Nets leaving NJ, but I understand why it would happen.  That being said, if I was responsible for making this decision, I would like to see the Nets move to Brooklyn.  Now on to looking at Politi’s article (I am quoting passages from his article and then giving my opinion on it.  For the full article click here):

Bruce Ratner inherited a championship team and gutted it. He stumbled into a growing fan base and alienated it.

That is the first sentence of the article, so you already know where this is headed.

In the meantime, he is treating the Nets like a Basketball Gordon Gekko, slashing salaries and laying off employees. Ratner never cared about owning a Basketball team, and now it has become clear that he cares little about destroying one, either, so long as he finds a way to complete his real estate deal.

Funny, but looking back, it was Alonzo Mourning who recognized his intentions from the very beginning, and the former Nets center was vilified and run out of town for it.

Remember what Mourning said after meeting Ratner? “I asked him, ‘Other than your investment for financial purposes, what’s the reason you bought this team?’ And you can ask anybody in there: He said, ‘To move it to Brooklyn.’ I didn’t hear ‘to win a championship.’ I didn’t hear that come out of his mouth.”

In my opinion people seem to get the positions Owner and GM a little confused.  There aren’t too many owners (I can only think of Mark Cuban off the top of my head) who are really involved in the basketball side of things.  Sure they sign off on decisions and can make their opinion known, but owners own basketball teams to make money.  Most owners are businessmen, and as much as it hurts basketball fans to think of it like this, but to them basketball teams are just a way for them to make more money.  That’s why they hire basketball people. Now once they interfere with those decisions, then that is when you have a problem.  I will expand on this a bit later…

Oh and why is Zo asking the owner questions.  Before I continue I got to say I LOVE Zo.  I love his passion, how much he puts into the game, his heart, everything, but seriously?  One, what does it matter to you that the owner wants to win or not?  Two, why are you bringing this out to the media?  Three, as a Net, he kinda quit on the team.  Now I do give him the benefit of the doubt with this.  You don’t really know what was going on behind the scenes, and there were rumors of some pretty bad stuff  being said about Zo by teammates, but still.

To think, the Nets were a few victories away from that championship when Ratner bought them, and six years later, the idea is laughable now. Look at what they have become.

The star-free roster. The bottom-barrel payroll passed off as cap space when it is really just the remains of a fire sale. The team is even removing the “New Jersey” from the road uniforms, as if it could possibly insult fans more. But hey, plenty of season tickets are available.

A lot of Nets fans, including myself at one point, became disillusioned by the back-to-back NBA Finals runs.  Let’s look back at what was going on in the NBA.  The East was just plain awful so let’s take it easy on the whole “championship-contending team” thing.  Oh and why is what we become so laughable.  When I look at this roster, I see a team with ton of youth that is going through the rebuilding process quicker than most.  The future is bright!

Maybe I am drinking the Kool-Aid, but I stick by my guns when I say this, I really do not believe this is a salary dump.  I have said this a number of times, but when you rebuild, you are usually taking aging superstars with big contracts and replace them with younger unproven talent that is cheaper.  That is how it works.  Eventually this team will add some FAs (in 2010), and the Nets’ salary will be back at normal.  And what makes anyone think that Ratner has been involved with any of these decisions.  People will say “You know Ratner is pressuring Rod and Kiki into this.”  We have (in my opinion) two of the best and well-respected front office men in the league, and if they were being forced into making decisions, they would probably leave and get a job somewhere else. I think this “fire sale” is all them.

I must say I do think removing New Jersey from all jerseys is a bit much though.  With the Brooklyn deal still not 100% yet, why take unnecessary digs at Nets fans.

Look, everyone knows that sports fans haven’t always embraced the Nets during their four decades here, but they are still part of this community. No one wants to see them become a joke again. Now the news breaks that assistant coach Roy Rogers might take a job at Rutgers to avoid a pay cut? That is the definition of bush league

First let me say that the way Ratner is handling the coaches is a problem.  This is what happens when the owner gets to making basketball-related decisions.  As a businessman it makes sense to cut salaries, but as a basketball-related decision it does not.  Losing Brian Hill will hurt, and if Roy Rogers leaves that will hurt too.

The bottom line is that if Nets fans actually went to games, we would have never been in this situation.  I know that the Meadowlands is a pain to get to, but it gets done for the Giants and the Jets.  Whever I think I about this, I remember something that happened to me.  Back in 2002, me and my dad decided to go to Game 5 of the Eastern Confrence Semifinals.  We didn’t have tickets, but we thought we would be able to scalp purchase some from a third party on the way to the arena.  We didn’t have to.  We were surprised to see that there were still great seats still available.  We get inside the arena, and it was half empty.  It wasn’t just because we were early either, it remained about half empty for the entire game.

The Nets are in Basketball purgatory, and the most frustrating part for Basketball fans here? The way out is just a few miles away. It has never made more sense than now to move the Nets to the Prudential Center. If Ratner really needs relief from his mounting debt, he should look down Route 21.

Newark mayor Cory Booker heard the news about Ratner seeking investors and expressed his disappointment that keeping the team where it belongs still does not register on the Nets radar.

“I’ve done a lot of work to put the foundations down for a group of people who want to keep it in New Jersey,” Booker said yesterday. “It really has to do with the sellers now and where their heart is.”

It would be great to keep the Nets in NJ, and if it does happen Newark is the logical choice.  However, moving to Newark would lead to problems as well.  First, I don’t really think that David Stern would be happy seeing one of his NBA franchises playing in a stadium that was built for hockey mostly and for college basketball teams such as Seton Hall and NJIT, nevermind that it’s smaller capacity would still work with the amount of fans that have been showing up for Nets’ games.

Let’s say that Stern is ok with it, who says that the Devils (who own the Prudential Center) would be.  From what I heard, they are against the idea of leasing out the arena to the Nets (though I am sure this is just posturing from them to get more money).

All things being considered, this article just seems like a bash job to me.  Politi makes no real attempt to show the good that is going on with the Nets.  He is just interested in shoving his opinion down the readers throats.  Now, I hope people don’t get confused with my opinion with Ratner.  I don’t think he is the best owner (not even close) and he has done a ton of things that I think will hurt the Nets, however he isn’t the worst owner in the league and he does get bashed a lot (some warranted and some not).

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Since I am in a defend the Nets kind of mood right now, I did want to mention an article I read over at ProBasketballNews.  The article evaluates the offseasons of teams in the Atlantic Division.  Despite complementing the Nets’ moves this offseason Chris Bernucca says this:

Biggest setback: The team’s financial woes and the ongoing saga of the Atlantic Yards project led owner Bruce Ratner to put the team – or at least a portion of it – up for sale. That can’t be good for luring free agents.

Biggest risk: With all the uncertainty swirling around the franchise, will any free agent really want to sign with the Nets?

I do think Free Agents will be willing to come here.  One, we have tons of money to throw around at them, and two, we have a great young core that when looking at them, free agents could consider themselves the “missing piece” and want to sign there.

Plus, we will know whether or not Brooklyn will happen by late December, so there won’t be any real confusion/uncertainty about where they will be playing in the future.

More Praise For Brook And Devin

Jul 27, 2009 Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Nets In The Media

SI.com’s NBA writer Chris Mannix has just posted his write-up from USA’s Las Vegas minicamp, and like John Schuhmann, his piece included praise for both Devin Harris and Brook Lopez:

Devin Harris: Harris was the most vocal player in camp and showed flashes of the skills that made him an elite defender in Dallas. Harris is ultra quick on offense but the lack of range on his jump shot may inevitably hurt him.

Brook Lopez: The most offensively-skilled center in Vegas, Lopez was impressive in the scrimmage, scoring 18 points on an economical 7-8 shooting. Lopez didn’t get a lot of touches in practices; but if he takes another step forward next season (Lawrence Frank said he plans to make Lopez a big part of the offense in ‘09-10), he could emerge as a dark horse candidate.

Devin Harris playing defense?  I know most Nets fans will be surprised to see that, but if Devin can get back to playing defense like he did in Dallas, he will become a complete player.  Also, I have been reading everywhere that Devin was very vocal during this minicamp.  It looks like the Nets found their new leader, and that Devin has already embraced the role.  Oh and reading that Brook will be featured more in the offense (it makes sense, there are going to be a lot more shots avalible to other players now VC is gone) makes me smile.

It is real good to see some Nets get praise in the media.  Mannix still has both Nets listed in his “The possibilities” category, and I agree with Mannix when he says that this upcoming season will be key for both players when it comes to making the US Team.  If they both play well, it is quite possible that the Nets will have two members on the National Team.

2 Nets Make John Schuhmann’s Top Ten List

Jul 27, 2009 Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Nets In The Media

Yesterday, John Schuhmann took a look at the top 10 players that helped their stock during USA’s mini-camp over in Las Vegas.  Devin made number 5, and Brook came in at number 9:

5. Devin Harris, PG, New Jersey
Showcase stats: DNP

Harris turned his left ankle on Friday and was held out of the Showcase for precautionary reasons, but it’s relatively minor. Before the injury, he was right there with Rose in the first two days of practice and it wouldn’t be a total shock if he beat out the Rookie of the Year for the third point guard spot next year. One of the real veterans among the group, he showed leadership all week.

9. Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey
Showcase stats: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, 7-8 fg, 1-1 3pt, 3-4 ft

Until Saturday, none of the four centers in camp had really distinguished themselves. Greg Oden defended the rim well, but two steps behind offensively. JaVale McGee and Anthony Randolph showed flashes, but got pushed around by the bigger guys. And Lopez just never got a rhythm going. But he did in the Showcase, benefitting from the penetration of his teammates, rolling to the basket well and finishing strong (he had two and-ones). When he didn’t play well earlier, it was often because he was hesitant with the ball.

It is good to see Devin being competitive with some of the top point guards in the league.  I really think he has a shot to make the team next year as the third point, and if he does he could turn some heads.

As for Brook, it should have been expected that he would be hesitant early on.  I mean he is a young guy playing on a real big stage.  From what I read, he had a great game and the fact that he was playing well off of penetration is a good sign for Nets fans.  This is because we are going to be using the dribble-drive offense, so Brook will have plenty of chances coming off of dribble penetration.  It was good to see him go 3-4 from the line as well.

All in all, it was great to see the Nets players represent in Las Vegas.  I know the national media likes to bash the Nets any chance they get, so it was good to see them get some props.

More Brooklyn-Minded Investers On The Way?

Jul 24, 2009 Brooklyn, Bruce Ratner, Links, Nets In The Media

Dave D’Alessandro reported yesterday that Bruce Ratner, who is in all kinds of financial trouble, is looking people to invest in the Nets.  According to Dave:

Bruce Ratner’s gift for salesmanship is matched only by his determination, as over the past five years he has sold his vision of pro basketball in Brooklyn to countless politicians, sponsors, community groups, and even some economists.

Now the Nets’ owner is trying to sell off the most tangible asset he has — the team, or at least a sizable portion of it.

So far, nobody’s buying.

If you are planning on investing, there is only one catch, you must be behind the Brooklyn move.  Two potential investors have been mentioned by name.  They are Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, former NYMEX chairman Vinny Viola, and Terry Semel – the former Yahoo! CEO.

NetsDaily, who always does a great job following and explaining any news related to the Brooklyn moves, have profiles on the first two men.

Mikhail Prokhorov

AROUND THE INTER-NETS:Nets In NBA Hell, But For One Year Only

Jul 23, 2009 2009 Offseason, 2009-2010 Regular Season, 2010 Offseason, Links, Nets In The Media

Basketball Fiend is a solid NBA blog, and I read it daily.  So when I saw this post today, I knew that I had to link to it at some point.  I also find it funny that it came during the same day my post came out.  Here is a little info on Basketball Fiend’s Basketball Hell:

The concept of NBA Hell is something that I came up with last season, watching teams like the Knicks and the Sonics (now Thunder) slowly and painfully torture their fans like the intro to Wu Tang’s Method Man.

NBA Hell is basically the professional basketball version of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, a guided tour through the nine circles of hell, each circle a little bit worse than the one before it.

The article was popular last year and I enjoyed writing it, so I figured why not bring it back?

Since this is the second edition, I tried to refine the concept as best I could, using more statistics (such as winning percentage, blowout losses – which I define as losses by more than 15 points, scoring margin, and average attendance) as well as other, more subjective factors (like ownership and the ability to win in the future) to pare the league down to the nine most unbearable teams in the league.

On to some of the stuff he said about the Nets.  Again the full thing is here:

The way I see it, 2009-10 is going to be a torturous season for the Nets.

After trading away its best offensive player (Vince Carter), failing to address a need at power forward, and adding Rafer Alston, one of the least-coachable players in the league, the Nets are going to have a hard time competing in 2009-10. It’s difficult to imagine them winning more than 25 games next year.

After that, things will look up.

The Nets may have traded away an offensive centerpiece in Carter, but the trade also freed up $30-35 million in cap room for the 2010 offseason.

and

All four of those guys are talented players with definitive skills. Harris and Lopez run a wicked high pick-and-roll, Lee is a talented outside shooter who can play solid D, and Williams is a defensive-minded athlete with the kind of physical skills coaches dream of.

I completely agree with this whole section, but I think if everything comes together correctly, the Nets can take 30-35 games this year.  In my opinion it all depends on Terrence Williams and CDR.  If they can contribute positively, I think we can avoid the flames of hell.

What It Will Take To Land Carlos Boozer?

Jul 20, 2009 2009 Offseason, Carlos Boozer, Nets In The Media, Rumors, Trade Ideas, Trades

Carlos Boozer was a big name thrown around by Nets fans towards the beginning of free-agency.  Many people were talking about acquiring Boozer through a sign and trade or through free-agency, but then Boozer picked up his player option, and then Rod Thorn said we were going to sit back and wait, and then all the talk quieted down.

It seems like the talk is starting up again though.  Tim Buckley of the Dessert News mentioned New Jersey as a potential trade partner for the Jazz:

Chicago, Miami, New York, Detroit and now New Jersey have been most prominently mentioned as possible destinations for Boozer ever since he decided late last month to opt in for the final season and last $12.65 million on his current six-year, $68-million contract with the Jazz.

In my opinion, there is no way we are going to fleece the front office of the Jazz.  Here is what we are going to have to give up in a deal for Boozer:

An Expiring Contract:

If the Jazz are going to give up an expiring contract in Boozer, they should expect one or more in return.  The Jazz have some decisions to make in upcoming years about who to re-sign (Okur and Ronnie Price are free agents next year and Kirilenko’s is up in 2), and they need the expiring contracts to be able to do this.

Draft Picks:

The Jazz have a history of making strong draft picks (Paul Millsap and Deron Williams come to mind), so if they are going to unload Carlos Boozer, they should expect to get some draft picks in return.

A Young Player:

Expiring contracts and draft picks won’t be enough to land Carlos Boozer, they are probably going to require a young player in a deal as well.  Preferably someone at a position they aren’t that deep in, as well as one that can help them in the future.  Chris Douglas-Roberts is the player that pops into my mind.

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I have no problem in giving up the draft picks and the expiring contracts (mainly because we are getting a expiring back in return, and it won’t hurt our future), and if we can get a deal done with just these two aspects I will be jumping for joy.  It just isn’t going to happen though.  Utah is a solid, smart, and well-run franchise, and they won’t be fleeced.  In my opinion, the only way this deal gets done is if we add CDR.  I don’t want to see that happen.  I think CDR is going to be a special player, and I don’t want to see him get dealt for a rental player (Let’s face it, he probably won’t be willing to re-sign with the Nets in one year, especially if we are saving our money for two of the big three).

I am not the biggest Boozer fan (he is injured too much and he isn’t a good locker room guy – not good with a bunch of young players) and I don’t want to see this trade made, but if it does happen, I guess it could work out well for the Nets (I know I am contradicting myself now).  If Boozer stays heathly and has a solid year, the Nets may decide to re-sign him.  If we do, NJ (or Brooklyn) would be more attractive to one of the big three.  That being said, the price tag (if this is in fact the price tag) is still a little too high in my mind.

Reaction To Dave D’Alessandro’s Interview @ HoopsAddict.com

Jul 15, 2009 2009 Offseason, Analysis, Dave D'Alessandro, Links, Nets In The Media

Hoopsaddict.com is a great basketball blog, and it is a site that I make sure I read everyday.  So when I got an e-mail from the site telling me about an interview that they did with Dave D’Alessandro (Who was kind enough to answer a few questions for me), I hurried over to read it.  Dave talks Nets, NBA, what it is like to be a beat writer, and the state of newspapers so you definitely want to check it out.  I am pulling a few quotes from the interview that I wanted to comment on:

HA: What’s your thoughts on the direction the Nets are taking? Everyone heard the whispers of Carter being moved, and now he is finally no longer with the team. Did you think it was a smart trade for the team? Thoughts on the selection of Terrence Williams?
DD: It may not be a smart trade for the Nets, but it probably was the only move they had. It was obvious back in December that Vince’s departure was inevitable, and you had to get expiring contracts and a promising young talent in the deal. So with the aims being pretty narrow, mission accomplished. I don’t know much about Terrence’s game yet, but I like the kid personally, and I hope fans give him a chance to grow into his job. But I can already hear the moans when he goes 6-for-29 his first three games.

I know I am in the minority with this one, but I think that the Vince Carter trade was a smart one for the Nets and not just a salary dump.  Sure getting rid of Vince’s salary was an effect of the deal, but we got huge value with this deal, more than we would get in any trade we make next season before the trade deadline.  Now a lot of Nets fans are a little worried about Courtney Lee’s reactions to being traded, but can we blame him really?  He went from going to the finals to being on a team that will challenge for the number 1 pick.  That had to hit him hard, especially when he was such a big factor in the team’s playoff run.  Another critisim of the trade that I have been hearing is that if we really wanted Lee, why didn’t we just draft him?  Well, with Vince Carter in the mix, we didn’t need a player like Lee.  The trade of Carter opens the floor up for Lee’s style of play.  I know it sucks giving up Ryan Anderson, but I think it was worth it.

Also, I know that I for one won’t be moaning or groaning if Terrence starts the year going 6-29.  Why?  Well, he is young and this team isn’t going anywhere.  We just need him to develop and gain experience, he shooting will come around, and while it does, Terrence Williams will be able to contribute in other ways.

HA: On the topic of the Cavs, what’s your stance on 2010? Do the Nets have a shot at one of the big three (Wade, LeBron and Bosh)?
DD: Not likely. Guys at that level want to win now and win often, and all things being equal ($$$$), they’ll go where they can win.

Despite Dave’s opinions, I think the Nets have a big-time shot at one of the big three (if not two – or one of these guys and a guy like Dirk).  For one, we have the money…tons of money.  Two, I can’t think of a team that has a better younger core that will be in position to get one of these guys.  The Knicks?  No.  The Grizz?  No.  The Thunder?  Maybe.  But I don’t think (Key word here is think) they have the cap space.  Those are the young teams positioning themselves for one of the big three off of the top of my head.

Now with all this being said, I don’t want everyone to think I am bashing Dave.  He is the best Nets’ beat writer around, and I usually find myself agreeing with what he says.  We just have two differing opinions in this case, and I feel like I should state mine.  What do you guys think?  Leave your opinions in the comments!

Devin Harris Wants A PG In The Draft/Was On First Take This Morning

Jun 8, 2009 2009 Draft, 2009 Offseason, Devin Harris, Nets In The Media, Rumors

Julian Garcia caught up with Devin Harris yesterday, and he made it clear that he hopes the Nets take another PG in the draft.  Quoting the article:

Still, Harris believes drafting a point guard would make sense because he and Dooling are often on the court at the same time. In fact, Harris said, going with a lineup like that more next season, with Carter playing small forward, has been “talked about” by players and coachLawrence Frankand team presidentRod Thorn. Frank went with Harris and Dooling in the backcourt and Carter at small forward toward the end of the season and the Nets thrived. The Nets also used Carter at point guard frequently, but they would rather stay away from that as much as possible since he’s such a scoring threat.

It is interesting, but I disagree with Devin.  Sure, a 3rd PG is important for the Nets (especially because we use Dooling at the SG as well as at the PG) but the team has much more important needs.  They need a starting PF, and if one of the “big three” in my mind are available (Jordan Hill, DeJuan Blair, or James Johnson) we should draft one of them.

Now if they are all off the board (I don’t see that happening) and Earl Clark is gone, then we should look at the PGs available.

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Devin Harris was also on First Take this morning, and it was an interesting interview.  He talked about how the team asks him his opinion about who he is interested in, during the draft.  He also chatted about his buzzer beater, if he wants LeBron on the Nets  (“Sure, but I think he is staying in Cleveland”), and how it feels not to be in the playoffs (“It hurts, I’d rather be playing instead of watching”).  He then closed out the interview with a great impression of Avery Johnson.

It is good to see a Nets’ player getting out there and doing a whole bunch of different stuff for the media.  It is starting to look like Devin Harris is going to be the face of the Nets for years to come.

Looking At Yi And Bobby

May 8, 2009 Bobby Simmons, Links, Nets In The Media, Yi

Ben Couch, the great blogger/reporter for NJNets.com put out two great articles out, one about Yi and one about Bobby Simmons.  In each, there are some interesting quotes.

Couch’s Yi article talks about how Yi was about to break out before the injury:

In the middle of January, Nets forward Yi Jianlian shot his way into a hot streak, launching 38 shots in three games despite connecting on only 13 of them, finally breaking through on January 5 with and 8-of-14 shooting performance, part of a 22-point, 13-rebound, three-assist, two-block final line against the Sacramento Kings.

And he followed it up two days later, dropping 20 points (7-13 FGs), six boards, three assists, two steals and a block on the Memphis Grizzlies. The outburst marked the first time in Yi’s two-year career that he had scored 20-or-more points in consecutive games.

Two days after that, Yi was at it again: 25 minutes into the Nets’ matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, the big had tallied 16 points, four rebounds and two assists while shooting 3-of-4 from three-point range and 6-of-12 overall. But late in the third quarter, Yi swiped at a ball on defense and broke the pinkie finger on his (right) shooting hand.

Couch then goes on to talk about what the offseason looks like for Yi.  I encourage you to go on and read it.

In the Bobby Simmons article, Ben Couch talks about how Simmons developed into a terrific three point shooter (5th best percentage in the NBA).   Included is this quote:

“I never thought of that (being possible), I never knew my role was exactly going to be ‘shoot three-pointers.’ As far as looking at it now, you want to be the best at what you do, and if it was making shots for our team and our ballclub to win games, that’s what I wanted to do.”

That last part of the quote excites me.  He is still comitted to helping the Nets win, even though his playing time has been inconsistant.  Many people (including myself) have considered the biggest thing Simmons does for the Nets is that he is an expiring contract.  I am looking forward to seeing Bobby prove me wrong.