Joe pours milk on Snap Crackle's' Hoop Dreams

Joe Hears
Your Pain
To quote Stephon Marbury’s
Opening Night Plea, “Without
you, there is no us.” Email Joe
or Champagne. Let us know
what you think of this site, the
Nets, the NBA, or anything.
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with our replies.
Addresses:
joe@joenetsfan.com,
champagne@ joenetsfan.com

First, there will be the draft lottery. While I was a bit disappointed that the New Jersey Nets received only the 7th pick and not the 3rd as I had hoped, it could have been a lot worse. Who do I feel the Nets should pick with the 7th pick? Nobody. I feel they should try to either trade up or trade down. By trading down they would enable themselves to select Shane Battier. I like the big man from Duke for two reasons. He is big and he is NBA ready. Battier would impact New Jersey greatly coming off the bench next season.

The prospect of trading down also interests me because New Jersey would be able to receive something in return for swapping positions in a weak draft. I do not feel that there is a big difference this year in the 7th or 17th pick. It will be a draft of chance with as many undergraduates as there are. Maybe the Nets could swap the 7th pick up for Bo Outlaw and Orlando's first rounder.

Another subject that will be talked about is: to trade Van Horn, or not to trade Van Horn. In my opinion, trade this stiff. Do not get me wrong; I do believe he has talent. He is an excellent scorer. However, with Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles set to return, Keith will not be given the ball as much. Not being able to guard anybody, Van Horn should be swapped for a solid defender/rebounder. How does Dale Davis or Elton Brand sound?
-Matt Amitrano, June 4, 2001

Matt,
Are you volunteering to join Joe's army? Because there is no rest when you put out a site about the NJ Nets. If you'd like to contribute to the site, send your ideas to Joe. That goes for everyone out there. I promise I'll read everything you send.

Anyway, I agree with just about everything you say. I hope they trade the damned pick, personally (See Part II of Draft Dodging coming soon), but in either case the Nets HAVE to get someone who can contribute and not fall into the spell of the curse.

Read yesterday where Utah's looking to acquire Van Horn - natural fit and all. But with names like Donyell Marshall and Bryon Russell being thrown around, well, that hardly helps. And I like both players, but c'mon...

Frankly, I don't even count on Kittles next year until he proves it. So, let's trade VH and the pick for whatever makeover material we can find. I'll leave that up to Rod Thorn.
- Joe Netsfan

Snap Crackle's Pre-Pre-Draft Picks
Joe:
By this time each year the New Jersey basketball season has virtually been long over. What do die-hard Net fans have to look forward to? Nets fans watch the the NCAA Final Four hoping that one of those players will be helping put the Nets back up. These are the players the New Jersey Nets could use the most:

1) Shane Battier PF: After four years of playing for a top program in Duke, Shane should be well prepared for the NBA. He would give the Nets another young big body. Could help the Nets form the first tri-towers with Van Horn, and Martin.

2) Lonny Baxter PF: Another top-notch big body from a high quality program.

3) Jason Williams G: It's still up in the air wheter or not he will leave the Blue Devils for the NBA. If he does leave, he may become the next Iverson. Probably the best college player in the nation. But could he play with Marbury?

4) Troy Murphy F/C: Hyped as the next Larry Bird. Can do it all. shoot from the outside or score inside. Does this sound familiar?

5) Omar Cook PG: In my opinion is leaving 3 years too early but the Nets may want to take a chance on him if they get one of the last lottey picks in the draft. A great passer, Cook could spell Marbury for about 10 mintues a game.

6) Michael Bradley C: Will a new coach at Villanova keep him from turning pro? Probably not. Could give the Nets an inside scorer. Should provide 8-10 points a game with close to 7 boards.
- SnapCrackleWow, April 2, 2001

P.S. My name is Matt Amitrano. I keep meaning to include that.

Whoa Matt!
Slow down, I think you might be hyperventilating there in your excitement to handicap the upcoming draft. The biggest question right now is what happens to Keith Van Crumble, I mean Van Horn. What Thorn decides to do with him will ultimately guide the drafting process. Also, do you count on Kerry Kittles coming back and performing at a high level? If so, do you still draft a shooter as insurance? In either case, the great roster purge at season's end should open up some space for two draft picks. Here are my thoughts to your choices:

1) Battier: I'm not sold on him. Strikes me as a great college player who may or may not be a good to great player in the NBA (think Dennis Hopson - not that I'm comparing Battier with him. Just the concept). Does most things well, it's true. But he plays a position that the Nets have talent in. If he's drafted, bye-bye Keith.

2) Baxter: You couldn't be more wrong. Can't leap 3 feet in the air. Has the body but not the talent of Charles Barkley. Stay away at all costs. Will be a mediocre player in the NBA. Mark my words.

3) Jason Williams: The class of the draft, if he comes out. Local boy, would make an exceptional combo with Marbury. Wow, if this ever came true, I'll sell my mother to buy season tickets immediately. The best of all scenarios - keep your fingers crossed.

4) Murphy: Not sold on him either. Don't think he's Bird, but I do think he has more potential to dominate in the NBA than Battier. At worst, he's probably a Christian Laettner type. Question: Is he any tougher than Campfire Keith?

5) Cook: Again, stay away at all costs. Might possibly be a diamond in the rough, but he has a lot to learn about basketball and life. Would be a 2 - 3 year project as he's not anywhere near ready for NBA life.

6) Bradley: We need a center, and he might be the best we'll do. Don't know a lot about him, from what I'm told he'll score some points. But is he really Chris Mihm in sheep's clothing? Or worse, another Esch? I'm not opposed to choosing him, as long as he doesn't go in the first 3 picks.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Eddie Griffin, who's now coming out. Loads of talent, turns it on and off. Could have used more seasoning at Seton Hall. Will he be able to control his temper? Could be a bust or a superstar. The Nets need players who can contribute now. They're locked in tight with the cap, so Thorn's gonna have to get creative. Two draft picks come cheaper, and I think youire allowed to sign them without cap worries. So this draft could be important to the annual rebuilding process. Thanks for the thoughts, Matt. Try to hold yourself together until draft day.
- Joe Netsfan

Only 24 hours after brusing some egos in New York, the Nets reminded us why they are surrounded by a swamp. Stinking much worse, New Jersey blew an early lead in dropping yet another road game.

This season the Nets have beaten title contenders such as the Sixers and the Spurs (my pick for the Finals in June) but have fallen to the Bulls and Grizzlies. This shows a few things:

1) New Jersey lacks experience in the right places. Sure they have J-New and "The General" but neither are the wheels that make the Nets go. Marbury, Kittles, Martin, and Van Horn all have talent but lack the experience or hunger. Stephon does have the hunger but has yet to show the ability to will his teammates into leaving it all out on the court.

2) The next thing those "bad" losses have shown is that Nets have not learned how to pick each other up. If Keith Van Horn is not shooting well nobody else steps up. How many games have there been that the New Jersey Nets have lost because Marbury struggled and no one answered the call?

3) Finally, losses pile up when you do not put a team away. Does the Boston game come to mind?

With Stephon Marbury running the show, the New Jersey Nets will make it back to the play-offs and maybe even win a title. The question is how many more of these seasons will we have to cover our eyes through?
- Snap Crackle Wow, March 25, 2001

Snaps:
What can we say? We agree with your points. And beating the Knicks is always a thrill, but the Sixers and the Spurs games you mentioned were truly the games of the year. Slim pickings, huh? We're always hoping it can't get much worse. Then it always does.
- Champagne

Elfin Magic
Hey Guys -
I have just seen my letter on your site and realized I didn't write much. I just figured it would be deleted or something. Thanks for answering it though. Anyway, I have to disagree with your evaluation of the New Jersey Nets. I do not think drastic changes our necessary. However, the team does need some tinkering.

If I were the Nets brass the first thing I would do is wave good bye to the one year wonder Kendall Gill. Since his first full year as a Net, he has done nothing to say the least. Second, I would have Jayson Williams work with his buddy Keith Van Horn. Maybe the spirited Williams could light a fire under his feet. Hopefully that will make Van Horn jump as high for a defensive rebound as he does for a dunk. The next step I would take is to give Kerry Kittles the starting job next season and allow him to play his way back into a star. It has been awhile but I think he could find the same stroke which not even Michael Jordan could stop. Playing him off the bench would be wasting his potential talent. Finally, I would bring in some veterans who know how to win. The type of player I would look for is a Horace Grant type or a Steve Smith. My choice would be to try and get Howard Eisly from the Mavericks or the Sixers' Toni Kukoc.

What the New Jersey Nets do is anyone's guess but most would agree change is a given.
- Snap Crackle Etc, February 16, 2001

Snap Crackle, Etc. -
Finally! Someone wants to engage in a discussion about the Nets with Joe. Thanks for your thoughts, let me give you mine.

I have to disagree with you - the Nets need drastic changes. They've gone about as far as they can with this bunch. To make minor changes would be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Your first point I totally agree with. Kendall Gill is as good as gone. Had he been healthy, he still wouldn't have been the answer at the shooting guard, but he would have helped somewhere. Seriously. Your second point would be interesting, if only because I miss not having Jayson around to wiseass and rebound. But FF Keith (FF now stands for Floppy Feet) needs more than what Jayson could teach him. Van Horn needs to go to the Oakley school of hustle and hardass. Your third point - well, you're assuming that Kittles will come back and be healthy. I just don't see it, and I hope I'm wrong. I like the guy (though I think he's soft too) but he's been out for too long. But you're right - if he's here and he's healthy, he starts for sure, because who the hell is gonna play in front of him? Stephon Jackson? Lucious Harris? Please... And finally, you're right again. The Nets need a veteran who can still play that has leadership skills and an attitude on the court. Grant or Smith would help, but sorry, Kukoc is about done. And Eisley, if they could get him away from the Mavs, would be great as well. But let's not kid ourselves - most shooting guards in the NBA right now could help us, including Postell from the Knicks. That's how bad the position has been.

Thanks again for the response - look forward to debating the finer (finer?) points of the Nets in the future with you, and everyone else out there. Keep those cards and letters flowing.
- Joe

Great Site, Period
Hey, keep up the good work guys. The site is very orginal. As a die-hard Net fan it's great to see a site like this. I live in New York so the Nets are overshadowed by the head-bunters. Anyway, whats the deal with my man Kerry Kittles? Is he coming back or what?
SnapCrackleWow, January 21, 2001

SnapCrackleEtc., -
I love your description of the Van Gundy-ites. I laughed my ass off.

Hard to say what's going on with Kittles, he's always been a mystery to me. I don't doubt that he's hurt, but I also think that he's soft. Not in a useless way, just that he has a lot of potential locked inside of him that we'll never see again, most likely. My guess is he goes the same way that Jayson did - gets hurt while practicing after spending a year plus recovering. Hey, he is a Net, after all. What do you want, a happy ending?

Thanks for the props - keep watching the site for more action and adventure. Champagne and I think it's getting better all the time - in fact, Champagne believes this site is the future of sports reporting. I hope he's right - this thing doesn't pay for itself, you know.
- Joe

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