Brian Hill Leaving For Detroit
Jul 24, 2009 2009 Offseason, Brian Hill, Cheap, Coaching, Coaching Moves, Sucks
It is official, Brian Hill is leaving the Nets. Fred Kerber reports:
“Brian is going to Detroit,” team president Rod Thorn said. “He is a terriffic coach and a better guy. Solid all the way. He did a great job and we hate to lose him. His coaching credentials are impeccable.”
You guys already know how I feel about it, but the move makes sense for Coach Hill, who ends up getting a multi-year deal and he doesn’t have to take a 50% paycut. There is no question in my mind that the quality of the playcalling will go down this year.
Still undecided is Coach Roy Rogers, who has been offered a multi-year deal by Rutgers. No word on when the decision will be made.
An Open Letter To Vince Carter
Jun 26, 2009 2009 Offseason, Open Letter, Sad, Sucks, Trades, Vince Carter
Dear Vince,
I know that you were only with the Nets for 4 fulls seasons (It seems like so much longer doesn’t it), and this might be silly to do for a guy that has been here for 4 years, but you deserve it. I remember when I found out the Nets had traded for you, I was happy because we got you for basically nothing, but I wasn’t ecstatic. I saw how things went down with you and Toronto. The accusations of not playing hard, the injuries, the selfishness, and the failures in the clutch.
However, once you landed in New Jersey, you put all of my concerns at ease. Not playing hard? I haven’t seen you take a play off your entire Nets’ career. The injuries? I thought we were getting a broken down star when you came, but you only missed missed 11 games in your four years here. The selfishness? Despite being paired with two other “stars” you didn’t butt-heads with either, and in the end, you were the last one standing. Heck, when Lawrence Frank decided to go to the dribble drive offense to showcase Devin Harris more, you didn’t make a peep. You just played the best basketball of his career. The failures in the clutch? I couldn’t be more comfortable having anyone else taking the shot at the end. Just look at that game against Toronto this year.
The thing that impressed me the most about you this past season was how you were a professional through everything. Playing hard even though we were out of (realistically rather than mathematically) playoff contention, through the trade rumors, and through the shift in offensive philosophy. It’s going to be strange not seeing you do your pull-up on the net before the games. It is going to be strange not seeing all of the Vince Carter jerseys walking the tunnel to and in the stadium. Most of all, it is going to be strange not hearing our PA Announcer screaming “VC3″ after a big three-point bucket.
I want to personally wish you luck next year in Orlando. You are now going to play on your first “championship contending team,” plus you will be playing in your hometown. I kind of want to think that Rod Thorn purposely sent you to Orlando as one last “thank you” gesture, because I know how much he enjoyed having you on the team both on and off the court. When you went back to Toronto for the first time, you were greeted with a chorus of boos. I doubt that will happen when you will come back to Jersey, I know for a fact that you will be cheered when your name is announced. I know it seems a little corny to write you this open letter when you were only a part of this team for 4 years, but the way you represented the Nets, you deserved it.
Much respect,
Fans of the New Jersey Nets
P.S.
Please don’t drop 40 when you come back to the IZod center. Take it easy on us.
TWill’s Charlotte Workout Video Plus Some Workout News
Jun 23, 2009 2009 Draft, Sucks, Videos
Well, big shot out goes to one of twitter followers, Matthew Davis (aka 15048) who sent me a link to TWill’s workout yesterday in Charlotte.
He also made mention to something that I have been hearing whispers about, and that I was finally able to confirm this morning. Apparently Terrence Williams has nixed his plans to work out with the Nets today. This is due to a “sprained ankle.” Fred Kerber reports:
Scratch Terrence Williams’ return visit tomorrow.
The Louisville wing won’t be coming in to workout for the Nets
because of a sprained ankle suffered today.
“He won’t be here,” confirmed team president Rod Thorn, “he sprained his ankle and will pass.”
That doesn’t damper the Nets’ interest in the all-purpose SG/SF who Thorn praised for his “versatility” and “ability to play different positions.”
Now from the video it seems like Wiliams ankle is fine, so what gives? Well it seems like the Bobcats have promised to pick him if he is availible at 12. Most likely with a condition being that he doesn’t work out with anymore teams. Now I could go on a huge rant about promised picks and everything, but I won’t. Good for Terrence Williams for getting a promise out of a team. I still think we saw enough of him in his first workout, and he is still #2 on my board (With Earl Clark being #1).
Gerald Henderson has been added to the workout (Not sure if it was because of TWill’s scratch, or if he was added before hand). Here is Al Iannazzone with the news:
The Nets host their final workout tomorrow and it seems their pick will come out of this group.
As you already knew, Johnny Flynn, Brandon Jenningsand Tyler Hansbrough are coming in, but Terrence Williams and Gerald Henderson have been added, too. For Williams and Henderson it’s a second look.
Devin Harris Not Named Most Improved Player
May 12, 2009 2008-2009 Season Review, 2009 Offseason, Devin Harris, Sucks
Earlier, I mentioned that Devin Harris might not win Most Improved Player when I talked about how Brook got snubbed for the second time. Apparently there is a reverse-bias towards the New Jersey Nets. I guess whatever happens in Jersey should be ignored huh? I thought that it just might have been the pessimist in me, but apparently my instincts were right because it is being reported that the Pacers have scheduled a press confrence for Tuesday. I really doubt that they are going to hold a press conference to announce that Danny Granger came in second place.
I don’t know, Granger did improve and turn into a star (and believe me, this post isn’t designed to take any credit from him), but in my opinion Devin Harris improved much more this year. At the end of last year, Granger was a budding star, everyone knew what he was capable of, and it was pretty much assumed that he would be an All-Star this year. Nobody was really expecting an All-Star year from Devin Harris, and that is what he produced. In my opinion, the numbers also showed that Harris improved more (Even though it is tough to quantify).
Danny Granger:
- 07-08 PPG – 19.6
- 08-09 PPG – 25.8
- 07-08 RPG – 6.1
- 08-09 RPG – 5.1
- 07-08 APG – 2.1
- 08-09 APG – 2.7
Devin Harris:
- 07-08 PPG – 15.4
- 08-09 PPG – 21.3
- 07-08 RPG – 3.3
- 08-09 RPG – 3.3
- 07-08 APG – 6.5
- 08-09 APG – 6.9
Looking at the numbers, you notice that Danny Granger’s rebounding numbers went down! Also in my opinion when you look at the term “Most Improved” one has to look at what your team expects from you vs. what they get. Over at Indiana, everyone knew that Granger was going to be the man. He is basically their only scoring option, and his team went in expecting an increase in scoring. With Devin Harris, the Nets would have never told you that they were expecting Devin Harris to be the leading scorer.
I don’t know, I guess I am just venting, but still Devin Harris should have won the award in my opinion.
Update: Posts Missing
Hey guys, as some of you may know, the site was down for a bit today. It is back up and running, but I am notices a few of my posts are gone…including my 2,500 word breakdown of Lawrence Frank. I don’t have this saved anywhere, so I don’t think I will be reposting it. I apologize for that.
I also had a few posts that were going to be posted today get deleted so…you will get some stuff later today please be patient.
Lawrence Frank Will Start Next Year As The Nets Coach
Apr 29, 2009 2009 Offseason, Front Office, Lawrence Frank, Opinion, Rod Thorn, Sucks
Rod Thorn announced Wednesday that he will keep Frank and have him return for the final year of his contract at $4.5 million. Here is what Thorn said about it:
“We are very happy to have him, and as far as we’re concerned, we’re very lucky to have him.”
But why did you take so long Rod if you were so confident?
“We wanted to look at whole operation and see where we were going and see ways we could improve it. There are ways to improve, but changing the coach, in my mind, was not one of the ways to improve it He’s a good coach. He’s done a good job here. This past year we weren’t expected to do very well but we did better than many expected us to. Our young players got better. I believe we’re on the right road.”
But what about his contract status? Lame duck coaches usually don’t work out (Except for Doc Rivers):
“He’ll handle it as he handles most things: with equanimity and class. He’s concerned with how well he can coach the team and how well he can be doing that, and any of those ancillary things he doesn’t care about.”
Well thanks for clearing all that up Rod. I am going to go right out and say it, this sucks. I mean don’t get me wrong Lawrence Frank is somewhat a decent coach (he’d have to be to last over 5 years now), but I would just have loved to see someone new coaching this team…someone who can run a play and just doesn’t go ISO for Vince when the game is on the line. I understand that you can’t run plays every possession, but coming out of timeouts and during late game possessions, plays should be run and we never seem to run any.
It just seems to me that this decision was made by the owner because they didn’t want to spend money on two coaches (If they would have fired Frank, they would have had to pay his salary as well as the new coach’s salary). Even though Ratner claims otherwise, I don’t believe him. Especially because you have the President claiming he is unsure that Frank’s voice is being heard, you have your All-Star PG agreeing with him, but you still don’t fire him. It is all about the money folks…
Who knows. Maybe Lawrence Frank will coach his ass off next year. Maybe we get the #1 pick, make the playoffs, and everyone forgets about this whole offseason “situation.” I am going to say it one more time though, if Lawrence Frank gets fired midseason and we are stuck with an interim head coach (instead of being able to hire our own this offseason), I will be pissed.