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Monday Morning Mailbag #4
Aug 30, 2010 Monday Morning Mailbag 8 Comments
Day in and day out, we here at NetsAreScorching try to provide content that you guys want to read, however, we don’t know what exactly you want to hear about, and some things may fall through the cracks. This is what the mailbag is for. Every Monday we are going to be answering questions from you the reader, don’t be afraid to e-mail your questions to mailbag@netsarescorching.com.
Welcome to the fourth edition of the NetsAreScorching Mailbag. In this week’s edition we look at the Carmelo Trade, Damion James, Jordan Farmar, and the slim pickings in the Nets’ team store. Let’s get started.
Manuel Martinez
Would you rather trade for Melo and give up practically all our assets maybe leading us to mediocre playoff team (which some Nets fans think this will happen if we make the trade since we will no longer have flexibility, but i dont) or just keep our roster intact this season and let our young guys grow together and form chemistry and continue building our team through the draft?
That’s tough, but I think the Nets would end up making this trade for a ton of assets, and I would actually be ok with it. Part of the reason why you build assets like younger players and picks is so you can make yourself available to take advantage of teams in a position to deal one of their best players. The only problem I would have is if Brook Lopez was to be included in the deal. This is because the team wouldn’t even be competitive, let alone make the playoffs, if Carmelo were to come over with Brook Lopez going in the other direction. If the Nets can somehow get Carmelo without including Brook they would have a future front-line of Carmelo, Derrick Favors (can’t be traded for a year, so he is staying), and Brook Lopez. Pretty solid if you ask me.
How comfortable would you be with Farmar as our starting PG if we do get Melo for a package including both Harris and T Will?
I’d be ok with it. Farmar wouldn’t be asked to do what Devin will have to do if Carmelo doesn’t come over. That is score and get the Nets into their offense. There would be so much scoring power in the front court that all Farmar would have to do is bring the ball up, get the Nets into their offense, and hit an open shot here or there.
John Katehis
What kind of NBA player do you see Damion James developing into and what NBA player does he remind you of. He reminds me of Gerald Wallace, a good defender, a good rebounder, but ok (streaky) offensively. Also they both can play at the SG, SF, and PF position, and both are 6-7 and 220 lbs. What do you think?
For me, it is hard to call him a Gerald Wallace type player especially when we haven’t seen James play as a pro yet. Also, I think it would be a stretch to say he can play the shooting guard position. James isn’t the best ball handler, and if he is playing the two, he would be required to handle the ball a ton. This year, I am just looking for James to contribute on the defensive end of the court. Anything else is an added bonus.
Daily Link: Patience is Key for ‘Melo
Aug 30, 2010 Brook Lopez, Carmelo Anthony, Daily Link 9 Comments
The Examiner’s Gregory Hrinya discusses recent rumors involving the Nets and Carmelo Anthony and advises GM Billy King not to blink first in a potential deal, especially if it involves Brook Lopez:
The Nets have the assets and the location to lure Anthony. The pieces are in place to make a deal happen without giving up Lopez.
Billy King needs to avoid the panic button. Patience is the better part of valor here.
Denver will realize that New Jersey has the best package to offer, it just might take a little time while Ujiri tries to hold one team hostage.
Agreed. NAS will discuss potential packages for ‘Melo later this week, but Hrinya makes a great point and being patient.
Devin Harris’ Expects to Make Playoffs in 2010-11, Needs to Raise Game
Aug 27, 2010 2011 Playoffs, Devin Harris, Evan Kaplan 10 Comments
Evan Kaplan is a new writer for NetsAreScorching and he will be posting here once a week. Evan is a lifelong Nets’ fan, so he shares the same passion for the Nets as all the other writers do. To keep track of Evan’s work, you can go here.
The Nets won just 12 games last season. It was by all accounts one of the worst seasons in NBA history. So don’t blame me if I’m a bit skeptical of starting point guard Devin Harris when he says the team’s expectation is to make the playoffs in 2010-11. Let’s just take this thing one step at a time, Devin.
There is no question that this year’s version of the Nets will have more talent. The additions of Troy Murphy, Derrick Favors and Jordan Farmar will certainly help the team (and I guess you can throw Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw and Johan Petro in there, too). But with so many new pieces a major factor will be how this team meshes together. New Head Coach Avery Johnson will have the task of getting everyone on the same page and making sure everyone knows their role on the team. But in the increasingly point-guard driven NBA, much of the success of this season will fall on D. Harris.
Devin Harris will be entering his third full season in Jersey and the team is hoping he can regain his 2008-2009 form. Despite the team winning just 34 games two seasons ago, Harris’ numbers were quite impressive. He averaged 21.3 points, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals, on his way to being named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team. But his numbers trailed off dramatically in 2009-2010, and he admitted that in 2010-11 he needed to get healthy and regain his All-Star form.
The relationship between Harris and Avery Johnson will be one to keep a close eye on. The two were together in Dallas and many in the media felt that Johnson did not let Harris play the point guard position with enough freedom. However the Nets point guard did say he was excited when the organization hired Johnson to be the team’s new head coach.
The former Wisconsin star is the definition of the modern-day hybrid point guard. He is most effective when he’s scoring the ball first and dishing to teammates second. But with the new pieces the Nets have on their roster, he needs to be more of a facilitator and get everyone else involved. In 64 games last season, Harris had 10 or more assists just 7 times. If the Nets are to improve in this upcoming season and take a substantial step towards respectability, he will need to up his play and be the team’s true floor general. Devin Harris can say he expects the Nets to make the playoffs in 2010-11, but much of the team’s success will fall on his shoulders, and if he can become an All-Star caliber player again.
Daily Link: Nets Head the Pack for ‘Melo Trade
Aug 27, 2010 Carmelo Anthony, Daily Link 26 Comments
NBA writer extraordinaire Adrian Wojnarowski has some interesting news on the Carmelo Anthony saga – he wants out of Denver, and that appears to be somewhat official – but if Denver is going to pull the trigger, they want to get something back in return. That’s where the Nets come in:
The Nuggets made it clear to teams they want young players and draft picks for Anthony, league executives said. The New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the two most probable destinations for Anthony because they have assets that appeal to Denver. The geography works for Anthony because of his wife LaLa Vazquez’s entertainment career.
Since these ‘Melo trade rumors began a few weeks ago, I’ve heard a lot of Nets fans say Anthony is not the kind of franchise changing player the Nets should be chasing. Balderdash. Granted, I wouldn’t trade just anyone for ‘Melo, it would have to make sense. But if you pair an offensive talent like Anthony with a center like Brook Lopez, the Nets can become a dangerous team.
The Importance Of Shooting Threes
Aug 26, 2010 2010 Offseason, Offense 11 Comments
The Nets offensive woes from last year have been well documented on NAS, but for those of you who still aren’t in shell shock from the 2009-10 campaign, I wanted to revisit the team’s three point shooting performance. At .314 percent, the Nets ranked second-to-last in the league on treys, and while there were a number of reasons why the Nets ranked last in the league in offensive efficiency, they’re inability to hit much from behind the arc was certainly a contributor and something the front office has very forcefully addressed in their player acquisitions this summer.
Anthony Morrow is one of the best sharpshooters in the league, while Troy Murphy may be one of the NBA’s better shooting PFs. However, Jordan Farmar and Travis Outlaw also bring respectable shooting to the team. And while I’m sure you’ve heard this before, I’d like to point the many advantages of having legit shooters in the NBA: it spaces the floor better for your big men in the post while preventing defenses from settling into monotonous zone defenses – something that repeatedly did the Nets in during their close games last year.
So how much better are the Nets at shooting threes? By looking at just how their new acquisitions performed last year, the answer is: miles and miles better. Collectively, the current Nets roster shot 37 percent from three last year, which would have placed them 6th in the league based on overall percentage. It’s difficult to gauge if those shooters could have replicated those numbers in the Nets system last year – keep in mind that Courtney Lee went from a 40 percent shooter in Orlando to a 34 percent shooter with the Nets – but it’s a good indication as to how much more improved the Nets are in that one area.
It’s also worth noting that good three-point shooting does not guarantee success in the NBA – Toronto and Golden State were both in the top 6 last year. But look at some of the other teams near the top in this statistic – Phoenix (1st), Cleveland (2nd), Orlando (3rd) and Dallas (5th). So it obviously only helps, especially if they’re able to accomplish other things on offense besides launching treys.
As a fan, these numbers are also reassuring that the front office has developed a legitimate strategy for improving the team on offense. While the Nets didn’t acquire the “best” player at any one position, outside of Johan Petro, all of the new acquisitions have long range shooting skills and an offensive system can be built around that, especially with Brook Lopez in the middle.
Daily Link: Devin Harris Interview
Aug 26, 2010 Daily Link, Devin Harris Leave a comment
It’s easy to get caught up with the new player acquisitions and the development of young guys like Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams, but remember, at one point last year, for better or worse, this was Devin Harris’ team and in many ways, it still is. NJNETS.com has posted an interview with Devo on their Facebook page. As one would expect, it sounds like Harris is getting ready to move on from last season:
“I look at the team that we had, and some of the games we were losing, it was just mental. We were in a lot of games – though we got our butts kicked our fair share, too – but we just made mental mistakes down the stretch. That’ll change with a new season. Coming back, we’ve got a lot of new guys. You look at last year and move forward.”
You would have to think that if Harris was playing like an all-star for most of last year, the Nets would never have been flirting with the worst record of all time. I think Harris’ performance out of the gate will go a long way in determining if he’s really that special kind of a player we all saw in 2008-09, or if that season was a bit of fluke.
The Nets Will Make The Playoffs If…Part 4
Aug 25, 2010 2011 Playoffs, Avery Johnson 15 Comments
After struggling with a 12 win season last year, Nets fans are feeling good about their current situation. A much improved roster, a successful coach, and an owner willing to spend has fans thinking about the playoffs. We here think that the playoffs are a possibility but not a guarantee. Over the next two weeks, we are going to look at four things that need to happen for the Nets to make the playoffs.
The Nets Will Make The Playoffs If…Avery Johnson can get the Nets to play solid team defense
Why Is It Important?
In my opinion, defense is just as important as offense when it comes to winning basketball games. It can get you through cold stretches on the offensive end, and if you play good defense, it helps set a tone. Given Avery Johnson’s reputation as a defensive minded coach, you know he is going to hold players accountable on the defensive end, however it is going to be a challenge. This is because of the personnel that he has. As four of the five projected starters (Harris, Morrow, Outlaw, Murphy, and Lopez) can be considered a defensive liability individually.
On the perimeter, we already know about Devin’s tendency to reach and get lazy, allowing for his man to get by him. Anthony Morrow is just as bad, if not worse on the defensive end. According to 82games.com, Morrow allowed opposing SGs to put up 23.3 points/48 and post a PER of 17.8 (average is 15). On the inside, while Troy Murphy does pull down defensive rebounds, he is a pretty weak defender. Murphy allowed opposing PFs to put up a PER of 21.5, and when he was on the court the Pacers’ defense allowed 4.1 more points per 100 possessions than when he was off the court. Brook Lopez is a decent one on one defender, but his poor foot speed and lateral movement is a concern, especially when pairing him with Murphy, who doesn’t have the quickest feet.
Nets’ fans saw how much a poor defensive team hurt the momentum of the Nets game in and game out. With a new coach, a new system, and a ton of new players the Nets might not start off too hot on the offensive end, which is why defense will be so important.
Can It Happen?
Despite all of the flaws on the defensive end, the Nets can still be a solid defensive team, and this is where Avery Johnson and the rest of the Nets’ coaching staff come into play. Avery Johnson needs to install a concept of team defense where everyone has each others’ back. If someone gets by Devin or Morrow, a big helps, while the rest of the team rotates correctly. On the pick and roll, the Nets are going to have to use a team defense concept to stop the offense.
In my opinion, it can happen, but Avery Johnson needs to get this team trusting each other. We saw last year how a lack of trust can hurt a team on the defensive end. There was poor communication, people switching while everyone else was staying home, and rotations were off. Eventually the team started looking out for themselves rather than the team, and that doesn’t work on the defensive end.
Johnson has a reputation of holding players accountable, and I think this accountability will force each and every player on the Nets to trust his teammates on the defensive end, and in conclusion be a pretty solid defensive team.
Daily Link: Statheads like Murphy
Aug 25, 2010 Daily Link, Troy Murphy 8 Comments
For those of you who enjoy the insights at the Wage of Win Journal (I do), you should be happy to read what Ian Levy wrote about new Nets PF Troy Murphy:
Murphy was among the most productive front court players in the league last season, posting a WP48 of 0.281 and producing 13.7 Wins over the course of the season. Murphy has obvious limitations at the defensive end, but is an extremely efficient scorer and a very strong rebounder. Murphy scored 1.10 Point Per Shot last season and grabbed 15.1 Reb/48. His 28.1% Defensive Rebound Rate over the past three seasons was bested by only Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard, Joel Pryzbilla and Marcus Camby. Replacing him is going to be no small task.
I’ll be interested to see how Avery Johnson accounts for Murphy’s lack of defensive chops, especially when paired with Brook Lopez who can be rough around the edges defensively as well. Still, I expect the acquisition of Murphy to be one of the better trades the organization has made in recent history.
The Nets Will Make The Playoffs If… The Derrick Favors Edition
Aug 24, 2010 2011 Playoffs, Derrick Favors, Devin Kharpertian, Troy Murphy 25 Comments
The Nets could find themselves playing more than 82 if this guy steps it up.
After struggling with a 12 win season last year, Nets fans are feeling good about their current situation. A much improved roster, a successful coach, and an owner willing to spend has fans thinking about the playoffs. We here think that the playoffs are a possibility but not a guarantee. In this third installment, we are going to look at something that needs to happen for the Nets to make the playoffs.
The Nets will make the Playoffs if… Derrick Favors earns the starting PF role.
Why Is It Important?
Daily Link: How About JR Smith?
Aug 24, 2010 Daily Link, Rumors 10 Comments
While most would say the Nets roster is pretty final, some basketball writers are still speculating how things may shake out the next few weeks. Aron Phillips of Dime lists the Nets as a possible destination for Denver SG JR Smith, who is reportedly on the tracking block.
Other than Anthony Morrow (who’s still young), New Jersey needs some experience and depth at the shooting guard spot. Bringing in the New Jersey native would help fill that void.
I’m not quite sure I agree on the depth issue. In addition to Morrow, Terrence Williams seems destined to play SG with Travis Outlaw and Damion James at the three. There’s also an expectation that Devin Harris and Jordan Farmar may be on the court at the same time this season. So I don’t really see why the Nets would look to make a deal for Smith.
