Nets Are Scorching

1) First things first: Marshon Brooks dropped 48 points in a Pro-Am game in Manhattan. (See some more video here.) Fluke, or sign of things to come?

• Justin DeFeo: Sign of things to come. This game was no fluke. Of the few questions about Brooks’ game, scoring has never been one of them. He scored almost 25 points per game last year in the BIG EAST. I am not shocked at all that he scored 48 in a pick-up game.
• Devin Kharpertian: Sign. The guy was a scorer at Providence and he was a scorer at Baruch. He’ll be a scorer in the NBA, too. Now, I’m not saying it’s a guarantee, as one game against mostly inferior competition does not a star make, but this game is yet another piece added to the “man, Marshon can create his own shot at will” puzzle. That’s something that’ll serve him well at the next level, as long as he plays under control.
• Dennis Velasco: To a degree, it’s a sign of things to come because he’s not going to drop 48 on the regular or anything like that. Although that would be pretty dope if he did. Dreams aside, Brooks did actually tear up a pro player as Jamario Moon was defending the whole night. Granted Moon isn’t the best defender, but if Brooks can slice up a pro, it’s very telling in his ability to succeed at the next level. He created his own shot, finished on breaks and according to reports, played with a swagger about him. I think he’s made for BK.

2) The NBA released its “schedule” yesterday. What’s one Nets game you’re circling on your calendar?
Read more…

What would you do?

Whenever free agency starts, Billy King is going to have some decisions to make. We’re not sure what direction he’s going to go, but we have some ideas on what we’d do in his shoes.

1) You’re Billy King. What’s your first priority this offseason?

• Justin DeFeo: Priority one is ensuring I’m taking the necessary steps towards re-signing D-Will. That means making moves in free agency with our eyes on doing one of two things: 1) improving the roster, and 2) adding assets while still maintaining financial flexibility should a big fish (see: Dwight Howard) becomes available.
• Dennis Velasco: Keep Deron Williams happy. Granted King can’t contact D-Will because of the stupid lockout, but once the non-contact rule is lifted, King should immediately give D-Will a call and ask him what he wants King to do. Simple. It’s all about keeping a smile on D-Will’s face and despite everything pointing to him being happy with the organization, you can’t take anything for granted. And, it probably wouldn’t hurt to ask about signing an extension, but D-Will may wait to see what offseason moves go down. I wouldn’t blame him.
• Devin Kharpertian: You heard those two: Do whatever Deron Williams wishes. Yes, he’s slated to play in Turkey now, but once free agency is on, he’ll be back with New Jersey. It may not be worth risking the fine today, but make sure you are clear on his interests. If he wants David West, sign David West. If he wants Josh Smith, let’s make a deal. Hell, if he wants anybody, make it happen.

2) Okay, now what’s your second priority this offseason?

• Justin DeFeo: If the first priority is hitting a home run like acquiring Dwight Howard, then the second priority is looking to hit singles. Let’s see if there are any bargains in free agency that can add much-needed talent and depth to the roster.
• Dennis Velasco: Don’t overpay for any free agents or potential trade targets unless said player is Dwight Howard. The Nets are currently in a very good place in regards to the salary cap, but who knows what happens with the new CBA at this point. Regardless, if the Nets can’t trade for Howard now, they’ll need to be careful what they do before the season starts and at the very least, having money available when the 2012 free agency period hits with the obvious object of affection being Howard.
• Devin Kharpertian: Find a big man who will play help defense. The Nets were terrible at stopping the pick & roll and slashers last year, and that’s because none of the rotation bigs were particularly great at helping out. Humphries is a good man defender, but defense is a 5-on-5 proposition. Dwight Howard is the ideal candidate, but there are other options on the market.

3) Which big man (if any) should the Nets target in free agency?

• Justin DeFeo: I’m personally a Kris Humphries fan, so I would first see what kind of market value he is attracting. If the price is right, I’d look to re-sign him first. Avery Johnson has already come out and endorsed his pleasure in Hump, plus he’s shown that he is a good complement in the front court to Brook Lopez.
• Dennis Velasco: Yes, David West is a scorer and decent rebounder, but unless he comes under market value (doubtful), I wouldn’t want to sign him. The same goes for Kris Humphries. I love the hustle and all that, but as mentioned, the focus must be on getting Howard and keeping D-Will happy. That said, I may suggest the Nets overpay for Nene because of his ability on offense and defense. However that comes with the caveat that D-Will approves the move and would be a major factor (if not the deciding factor) to him re-signing with the Nets.
• Devin Kharpertian: Nene, if only because he has the fewest question marks. He’s on the right side of 30. He’s always been ridiculously efficient. He’s a capable (albeit unspectacular) defender. Although the rumors are that the Nets aren’t targeting him, I think they’re making a mistake. Unless Deron told them in private to stay away, he may end up becoming the best value grab in free agency.

4) Which wing player (if any) should the Nets target in free agency?

• Justin DeFeo: He may not be a wing in the most traditional sense, but I believe the Nets should target Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. He’s more of a four in today’s NBA, but he’s versatile enough to play the wing. He gives the Nets depth, rebounding, and athleticism, and he’s capable of guarding multiple positions.
• Dennis Velasco: I’m a huge Marcus Thornton fan, but the drafting of MarShon Brooks makes going for MT23 a moot point. Granted, it’s always better to have a player with NBA experience (although relatively limited in Thornton’s case) over a rookie, but a more traditional small forward and not another shooting guard should be the aim. That said, I’m not really sure I like any available wings that are available to take a shot on with the aforementioned cap space being important. However, if D-Will signs off on someone like Andrei Kirilenko, go for it. Do you get the picture yet that the most important thing this offseason is to keep D-Will happy?
• Devin Kharpertian: The Nets are set at the guard positions, but they’re in dire need of a small forward. Reports have indicated that the Nets are seeking a free agent through the trade market, so keep an eye on that. That leads me to my guy: Caron Butler. He was a target at the deadline, and as an unrestricted free agent could sign outright or perhaps be a piece of a sign-and-trade. If Dallas doesn’t want Butler, the Nets could seriously use his scoring punch at the 3. Just keep the contract relatively short and insured.

How will Marshon Brooks fare at the next level?

Now that the dust has settled on the NBA Draft (even the Bogdanovic deal has been confirmed!), let’s take a quick look at how all these pieces might eventually come together.

1) Marshon Brooks: How does he fit in next year?

• Justin DeFeo: On a team in need of scoring, a player that score like Brooks fits in well. He’s able to help immediately, can (at times) have plays run for him, and with the attention being drawn by Williams and Lopez can space the floor and make defenses pay for helping off him.
• Steven Kyritz: His defense is questionable (though isn’t pretty much everything for any rookie?) and may affect his playing time. Brooks knows how to score the ball and can provide instant offense, something the Nets have seemingly been missing forever. Considering where the Nets were picking, getting a (near) sure-fire contributor and possible starter is a definite win.
• Vivek Netrakanti: Brooks would ideally fit in as a scoring sparkplug off of the bench next season. Billy King has said that he expects Brooks to compete for the starting role, but I don’t think that Brooks will become a starter next season. Hopefully, Brooks can become like a poor man’s Jason Terry and give the Nets some much-needed help on offense.
• Devin Kharpertian: I’ll say it: I think Brooks can compete for a starting spot by the middle of next season. I have to watch more film, but from the little I’ve seen, I love his game. I think he needs to add at least 20 pounds of muscle to his frame, but if he keeps developing, the Nets might have a star in the making.

Read more…

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Mark, Devin, Justin, Danny, Vivek, and/or myself will answer questions regarding the L.

1) Has LeBron James turned a corner? He’s had ice water in his veins this postseason, so is this when he becomes legendary? Will he lead the Heat to the promised land?

Mark: How can you turn a corner when you’ve continually been the best for years? What about the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons? I know LeBron’s teams have flamed out spectacularly the past two years, but if there’s been any corner turned it’s tied-in to what people have been saying since July. LeBron has legitimate teammates now in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He can take over a fourth quarter more easily because he’s not the only guy who can kill you. Trust me, I hate this. I hated Superfriends since Day One, though I’m secretly hoping that Nets can replicate it with Dwight Howard and Deron Williams in Brooklyn. But the fact is, anyone who didn’t see a Miami postseason run like this is crazy. LeBron is and will be a beast for years, and now he’s got two other top 10 players (including a top five guy in Wade) standing right next to him.

Devin: I’m with Mark. The guy’s been the best player in the league for years now. Before this year, when everyone decided that hate was worthy and Derrick Rose was God, LeBron James was your two-time reigning MVP and undisputed King. He had hit more than his fair share of clutch shots in the playoffs, though people seem to recall last year’s game 5 over his overall body of work. Those who cry ringless lose track of the team element of this game. I don’t know if Miami will win the championship, but I do know that we’ve been witnessing greatness for a long time.

Justin: I have never been a big believer in the “LeBron’s not clutch” argument. Let’s face it, he’s hit  game-winners in the playoffs against the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic. He had his 25 straight points in the win over the Pistons. He’s scored 40 points or more in eight playoff games (Kobe has nine since ’02) including a Game Seven and he’s gone to the NBA Finals once. This is just the best supporting cast he’s had, and yes I do think the Heat will be the champions this year. I predict LeBron wins three of the next five NBA championships.

DV: I never got that feeling about LeBron the way you did about Kobe in the playoffs. That “I’ll do anything and will my team to victory” type of feeling. Kobe over the years has proven that desire and effort, that assassin-type of mentality. You never got that feeling from LeBron… except now. His eyes light up now with excitement and looseness like he knows he’s going to break the other team’s neck, no question. It’s a different feeling nowadays and it will probably land the Heat another NBA title and LeBron’s first.

2) Mike Brown is the Los Angeles Lakers’ choice to replace Phil Jackson as head coach of the team. Is this surprising considering other candidates such as Rick Adelman and Brian Shaw?

Mark: I do not get the fascination with Mike Brown. It’s like “Hey, we’re a storied franchise that just got embarrassed, so let’s bring in the guy who watched his star quit on him last year.” Needless to say, I’m not a fan of Brown’s, nor was I even remotely interested when he was on the Nets’ radar last summer.

Justin:It was somewhat surprising just because I thought they would go with either Rick Adelman or Brian Shaw. Mike Brown, however, is a good choice and maybe his fresh approach will breathe new life into this Lakers squad. I don’t have any doubts about Brown’s ability to construct a game plan, I just wonder what type of relationship he’ll form with Kobe Bryant.

DV: I think Brown will bring in a strong sense of defense from the team because that’s where his strengths as a coach lays. However, offensively, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. The triangle offense has been such a part of the Lakers it will be weird to see them run anything else. I know this much, Brown better win over the veterans and the fans quick because he’ll have a short leash in LA in regards to support. That’s what happens when you replace a legend.

3) How much of an impact will Jerry West make in the front office of the Golden State Warriors?

Mark: Well, the guy is a winner, though how much say will he ultimately have? That’s still not entirely clear. And while I would take either one on my team as a scorer, a backcourt with both Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry is not the cornerstone of a prospective playoff team. One of those guys needs to go for a frontcourt piece.

Devin: You ever play NBA 2K11 and start a franchise with the Timberwolves or the Clippers, just for the hell of it? While the financial incentive is obvious, and his impact is yet unstated, I do think Jerry West loves a challenge. The Warriors have a lot of moves to make, and West is a brilliant basketball mind. Larry Riley would be foolish not to listen to him. I think the direction of the team will be more solidified by draft day: Riley has to make moves to improve that frontcourt and their defense, and the Warriors definitely have the assets. We’ll see if Jerry West helps them turn Golden State into gold.

DV: I think it’s a great PR move and, obviously, West knows how to construct a winning team. However, how deep will his involvement be? Trades will probably go down and perhaps a change in offensively philosophy with more stress on defense. Yes, it actually does exist, Warriors. West has a brilliant basketball mind, but how many brain cells will he actually put into use with the Bay Area squad?

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Mark, Devin,  Justin, Danny, Vivek, and/or myself will answer questions regarding the L.

1) Who wins the respective Conference Finals?

Mark: In the East, my heart says the Chicago Bulls, but my brain says the Miami Heat. The Heat seemed to have figured out that whole “how will they close out a game” situation in the postseason, and I’m starting to think a team just can’t win a close game against these guys. And given that one of Chicago’s better scorers in Carlos Boozer is also perhaps their biggest liability defensively, I just don’t see how they’re going to score enough in the fouth quarter of a close game to keep pace with Miami.

In the West, I think the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to find a way to take down the Dirk-momentum train and the Dallas Mavericks. It’ll go all seven games, but I have to think a team with younger, fresher legs is going to prevail there.

Devin: Firstly, I think the Mavs win, no question. The way Dirk Nowitzki’s been playing, I can’t imagine Dallas not making it to the NBA Finals. I know Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have been great, but Dallas’ attack was bordering on unstoppable before Dirk Nowitzki scored 48 points on 24 free-throws and 12-15 shooting. As for the East, I picked the Bulls before the playoffs started, but now I couldn’t tell you. The only thing I’m sure about after these two games is that this series is going to seven. Miami has two unstoppable scorers finally working in tandem, and Chicago has had an excellent defensive formula and ballerina/wizard Derrick Rose running the point all season. They’re as evenly matched as it gets. For what it’s worth, I do think the winner of the ECF will be your eventual NBA champion.

Justin: Miami and Dallas. Miami showed in Game 2 they can tighten the screws on defense, and Chicago doesn’t have a lot of answers for that. The Heat have enough length and athleticism to make finishing around the rim tough for Derrick Rose and Lebron and Wade can make enough plays on offense for Miami to win.

I saw enough from Dallas against the Lakers to pick them before this series started and game one only cemented those thoughts. While I think this series will stretch to at least six games, OKC has no answer for Dirk, and he’s crafty enough to continue getting himself to the foul line where he’s made 50 of his last 51 attempts.

Danny: Now that the Heat have stolen home-court advantage, Udonis Haslem is officially back, and they seem to have found a way to contain Derrick Rose, I’ll stick with my original prediction of Heat in seven. As for Thunder-Mavericks, I obviously loved Dirk’s Game 1 performance, but the fact that the Thunder hung so close in the game regardless was alarming. Still, I’ve got the Mavericks in six.

Vivek: The way things are looking right now, I would go with the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Mavericks. Originally, I felt that the Heat could take down the Bulls in six, but I clearly underestimated Tom Thibodeau. The guy has stopped LeBron and Wade before and I believe that he can do it again. As for Dallas, Dirk is just unstoppable right now. He won’t get 40-50 a night (or at least, he shouldn’t), but the guy is a near lock to score 30 points against any team in the playoffs. The Mavs have the perfect combination of star power and depth, so this is their year in the West. However, KD will be back soon.

DV: I believe in the Chicago Bulls, especially since it seems like they haven’t peaked yet during the postseason. I know it’s in them and Derrick Rose isn’t the MVP for nothing. They have enough length in the frontcourt, especially from Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, in order to make an impact. Interior play will be the key, both with how players get to the rim and how players defend it.

Thunder up! I’m a big Durantula fan (who isn’t?) and if Westbrook can play under control, the Thunder will go far. What’s really good about the Thunder is that Eric Maynor is capable of running the team and James Harden off the bench can be devastating. Nothing against the Mavs, but OKC all the way.

I believe both series will go the full seven games.

Read more…

1. Greg Oden is once again out for the season. Should he continue to try to come back to the NBA or take his various major surgeries/injuries as a sign and quit?

Mark: My word, can this guy or the Portland Trail Blazers catch a break? The thing is, of course he should come back, because there’s going to be a team that takes a chance on him regaining at least some of his form after this third microfracture surgery. So why walk away when there’s a potential contract out there waiting for him. But wherever he ends up, the expectations have to be remarkably low for what he can accomplish, and for how long. Keep in mind, Sam Bowie lasted 10 years in this league, so I guess there’s a precedent of some sort.

Devin: The sad tale of Greg Oden seems to be spiraling out of control. It’s no coincidence that a few days before the announcement of the surgery, The Onion ran this article. I still maintain that Oden’s got a ton of talent – in those rare instances when he was on the floor he was a huge difference-maker for the Blazers. But this last injury is the 50th or 60th nail in the coffin for the Oden-vs.-Durant discussion. He’s a truly nice guy, and I hope he makes it on the floor as an effective player one of these days, but for all sorts of unfortunate reasons it looks like he’s the biggest #1 bust since Kwame Brown.

Justin: If Greg can still get enjoyment after going through another surgery and a long rehab process, then I say go for it. At the end of the day he’s not going to make more money doing anything else most likely and someone will be willing to pay for him, even if its the league minimum. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a good example of a center who constantly seemed to be injured and eventually managed to find a way to put together a pretty nice career, so there is still hope.

DV: I’d quit if I were Oden to save his knees and not be one of those former athletes in his 40s that can barely walk without pain. The dude is still young enough to go back to college, get his degree, and get a regular job. However, because he was a former elite athlete, I’m sure he’ll have some doors open to him somewhere in the real world. And best of all, he has millions already in the bank (I hope) as a base for the rest of his days. This isn’t about quitting on basketball, it’s about building on life. Read more…

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Mark, Devin, Evan, Justin, Danny, and myself will answer questions regarding the L.

1) Kevin Durant seems to be having a “slow” start considering all of the praise and hype thrown his way before the season, particularly when it comes to preseason MVP predictions.  That said, is he even the MVP of the Oklahoma City Thunder?  Overall, Russell Westbrook is looking strong and has a higher PER (25.1) compared to Durant (20.0).

Mark: Well, it’s a little chicken or egg here, but does Westbrook even put up his numbers without a player as good as Kevin Durant on the court pretty much demanding the attention of opposing defenses 24/7. Don’t get me wrong, Westbrook is a very good player and would love someone with his talent on the Nets, but Durant is the NBA of that team, and by season’s end, I think he’ll be MVP of the entire league.

Danny: I think Durantula is pressing a little bit now that, for the first time, he’s bearing the weight of lofty expectations on his shoulders. His team gave the Lakers a run for their money in the playoffs last year, and he was the clear leader at 21-years-old for the USA Basketball team in the World Championships this summer. Taking all that into account, the slow start isn’t a total surprise. But I don’t anticipate that his slump (if you can really call it that) will last much longer. He’s only shooting 36 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc, and there’s no doubt those rates will normalize to past levels over the course of the season. Not to mention his block, steal, and rebound numbers are up so far this year. As for the comparisons to Russell Westbrook, he showed that he can also be a great player in this league. But he won’t be the MVP of that team until he can hit jump shots regularly and convert in late-game, high-pressure situations. If you’re just going to go on PER, Pau Gasol was the MVP of the Lakers last season.

DV: Durant will be fine.  Perhaps he’s dealing with the high expectations, not only on the court, but off the court as well.  Durant has basically been labeled the Golden Child (Numpsi!) and juxtaposed to the “evil” LeBron James, which heightens Durant’s paragon status.  While Westbrook will be a great player in the NBA, he’ll never be as naturally talented as Durant.  However, a Scottie Pippen type of role is more than achievable for Westbrook.  Considering Pippen is an NBA Hall of Famer that ain’t bad at all. Read more…

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Mark, Devin, Evan, Justin, Danny, and myself will answer questions regarding the L.

1) Kevin Garnett allegedly called Charlie Villanueva a “cancer patient” and Villanueva took to Twitter and essentially ratted Garnett out.  Was this a personal issue that Villanueva could have kept between himself and Garnett?

Justin: This to me seemed like a personal issue and something that should have been kept between them. While I don’t doubt Garnett said something in bad taste, I don’t feel it was necessary for Villanueva to make it a public ordeal, though its easy for me to say.

Danny: If there’s one thing in sports I hate more than cultural insensitivity, it’s libel. Villanueva had no business exposing this supposed conflict to the public. Even if Garnett did, in fact, say what Villanueva reported he said, sparking public discourse about it certainly isn’t going to solve anything. Go to Garnett directly and work it out with him. Instead, now we have to face thinly veiled cover-ups like the claim that Garnett said Villanueva is a cancer to his team and the league. I don’t buy that for a second. Honestly, while Garnett has been one of the forerunners of trash talk over the years, I think he has been inclined to ratchet it up lately now that his game can no longer speak for itself. Bad move both ways.

DV: I wouldn’t be surprised if Garnett actually said what Villanueva said he said.  However, since I’m neither one of them and I wasn’t anywhere near the vicinity when this went down, I can’t say for certain.  Despite that, whatever was said happened during the heat of battle and I’m pretty sure that those of us who trash talk say the wildest things to get into an opponent’s head.  Do I really think Garnett doesn’t have an honest grasp of how serious cancer is?  Of course I don’t.  But what I do think is that Villanueva was being a baby here.  It’s the equivalent of telling your second grade teacher that so-and-so threw a ball at your head during a game of dodgeball.

2) There are three undefeated teams in the NBA early on – Lakers (5-0), Hawks (5-0), and Hornets (4-0).  What is working early on for the Hornets and what needs to happen for it to sustain the whole season?

Justin: I think what you’re witnessing with the early success of the Hornets is the impact Chris Paul has on a basketball game. I think people are quick to forget just how good this guy is, and how his teams perform when he’s healthy. While they won’t sustain quite the success they are having now, I do believe they can remain in the Western Conference playoff hunt all season as long as Paul is in the lineup.

Danny: While I expect that the Hornets’ unbeaten start will end tonight at the hands of the Miami Heat, New Orleans is succeeding for two primary reasons: (1) they’re playing stifling defense and (2) they aren’t turning the ball over. I’m surprised at the cohesiveness of the team considering all the rumors that Chris Paul would be gone by the season’s outset, but new coach Monty Williams has this team believing in the fundamentals. Any team that controls the ball and plays defense like the Hornets are now could be very successful in this league. It remains to be seen, though, if they can keep it up throughout the season. Trevor Ariza will be a key cog to sustaining the solid play.

DV: The Hornets are ranked fifth in points allowed (93.8), sixth in opponent’s field-goal percentage (42.8%), and ninth in opponent’s 3-point percentage (31.8%).  If the Hornets can keep up the D and have Chris Paul inspired, the Hornets will contend for a playoff spot.  The additions of Trevor Ariza and Marco Belinelli should pay off in a significant way.

3) After a handful of games, which team has surprised you, good or bad, the most?

Justin: My surprise team in the early season: LA Clippers. While I know it’s not much of a surprise that the Clippers are bad, I think that this season, in particular, is surprising. Many believed including myself that the Clips would be near the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. They certainly have the talent to do so. Eric Gordon had a great summer playing with the US team, and I thought he would carry over that momentum with him to the NBA. He, along with rookie Blake Griffin, the Clippers were certainly a team everyone was excited to see this season, but they have been anything but exciting. Eric Bledsoe did look impressive against the Thunder though which is a sign of encouragement.

Danny: You’ve got to be shocked at the Houston Rockets right now. At 0-4, they are the only winless team in the league other than the Detroit Pistons, and it doesn’t really make sense. Yes, two of their games were against the Lakers and Nuggets, but there are some very bad signs about this team. The Golden State starting backcourt torched them for 71 points and they’ve allowed 107 points or more in all four games. If they hope to make the playoffs, the defensive effort needs to show up to supplement the potent offensive combination of Aaron Brooks, Kevin Martin, and a limited Yao Ming. It’s a real shame that they’re spoiling Luis Scola’s smoldering start.

DV: The Miami Heat are a disgraceful 4-1.  How could they have lost their first game of the season to the Boston Celtics?  The Boston Celtics!  What have they done recently?  The Heat are allowing 84.0 points per game to their opponents and that makes zero sense.  It should be 46 points per game, 50 at the most!  Unbelievable.  You’d think with all the hype surround them, they’d at least try.