Joe Netsfan Backlash #2

Half man, half interested?

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Backlash #4 - January 29, 2007
In-Wince-Ible?
Joe:
Here's something for your (now very overdue) backlash.

Vince is a dog. He's insanely talented, but he's not a winner. You just see it. Some games (particularly this season) he just hasn't shown up. It's ridiculous. In retrospect, I'd still rather have Vince a million times over K-Mart, a proven fraud, a bigger loser and always injured. But looking at it from another angle, if you took K-Mart's heart and Vince's talent and body, you'd have a top 5 player. Now the Nets have a potential top 5 player with bottom 5 effort (Wince!).

The Nets should get rid of him while they still can get something for him because those dunks still put people in the seats. The Nets trade could him (with another part) for someone else who will put people in the seats and (maybe) put rings on the finger. I know it’s a pipe dream, but Garnett would be awesome. Alternatively, what are they going to do? Hope Vince doesn't walk? Count on the cap space to get whomever is available?

When's Elton Brand's contract up? He'd be a good trade for Vince, and he would fit the Nets' needs perfectly. If the Nets could trade Vince and Collins (and maybe Josh Boone) for Brand, then the Clips would be getting a great deal for Brand, and the Nets would be taking care of their business.

L. Frank should give up on trying to win every game with his starters. He's got to condition the rookies and the bench to play more. It's just the same crappy tendencies all over again. In the Sacramento game, the bench was holding its own with Adams, and Boki and Moore. Then L.Frank puts in Wince and there's no defense, no energy and all of a sudden - no surprise - no win.

The Nets have a shot, but they have to get rid of Wince. Thanks for the great web site, it is a great read.

Best regards.

-Artemaria (from Brooklyn), January 23, 2007

Artemaria:
Yeah, well, I agree, it's long overdue. And it's probably (mostly) not relevant anymore, but that's what happens when life gets in the way.

OK, enough of my whine, now on to yours.

I don't think that Carter's gonna bring back an All Star. KG, Elton Brand, Pau Gasol or even Andrei Kirilenko for crying out loud, all good names but none of those teams would trade their player for Carter straight up. What does that tell you?

So what do the Nets do to keep people in the seats if they can't get back a premier player? Hold on to Carter and make the best of it? Trade it for the best young talent, expiring contracts and picks you can? The Nets aren't in the position to start over, at least not yet, and since they're going to Brooklyn in 2009 (you must be happy), they can't just bag on talent. Who knows what 2009 brings, in any case (LeBron?).

But I agree - move Carter before the trading deadline. And keep playing the subs as often as you can, since in the long run of the season, this flawed, injured team isn't going anywhere anyway. Thanks for the props, we still enjoy doing it even if we can't get to it as often as we'd like.
-Joe

Call It Like You See It
Joe:
The calls were definitely not going our way on Saturday night (against Minnesota). When you’ve got a veteran like Jason Kidd attacking the basket, hitting the floor and receiving a no-call, that’s proof enough there. Perhaps there’s a bit of heat still on him for attacking the officials verbally a few games back. I don’t know, but regardless, very few fouls were called tonight in the Nets’ advantage. I’m certainly one of those yelling at the guy who’s sitting around looking for a call, but at some point you’ve got to start questioning this yourself. Aside from that I think this depleted Nets team played very well. And Kidd shooting well? I’ve always loved his game, but that’s just a bonus!

Also, I think keeping Uncle Cliffy in as long as Frank did was a big issue, unfortunately it was the only option we had with so many in foul trouble. It seems like with his age, and with his getting used to the game again after being injured for the first time in forever, both his defensive and offensive skills are way off. It seemed like anyone you put on him was a mismatch and this led to easy attacks to the basket along with foul calls on teammates trying to help cover his man. Seeing that Cliffy has been known at times as the anchor of the Net’s defense, do you think it’s just a matter of time before his offensive skills, and more importantly his defensive skills, pick back up
-William Shippen, Brentwood, TN, January 15, 2007

Wiliam:
A Netsfan in Tennessee - wow, that's something. As for the Minnesota game, and the Nets in general, I guess when you're often mediocre and don't make many attempts to get in the paint, you don't get many calls...that's one thing that about sums up the Nets season so far.
- Joe

Kidd For President
Joe:
I II just did the math...

If Jason Kidd was to average
10.8 assists, 11.4 rebounds, and 7.8 points
for the rest of the season...
he could average a triple double for the season.

You gotta think... if he really put his mind to it...

I mean... they are talking about giving NASH as THIRD MVP.
- A., January 12, 2007

A:
Imagine what this season would be like without Kidd...scary thought. I sincerely dont' believe Kidd will average a trip dub, because L. Frank seems determined to get him more rest, which is what he and the team need for the long haul.
- Joe

Forward Thinking
Joe:
I think they should offer up one of the big 3 to get Garnett, maybe even 2 of the three. I think he's got 3-4 good years left and there's not a better big in the East, besides Dwight Howard. It wouldn't be that much of a gamble, because, like you said, this team's not going anywhere anyway. I disagree with you on Ely. He averaged 10 points/5 rebounds and over 50% from the field last year in only 23 minutes a game. He's not getting any minutes this year. Look at what Moore is doing with his minutes. Sometimes all you need is a fresh start somewhere. He would've helped the bench. Boone is looking like he's a couple years away and he's got zero post game. No one on there entire team has a post game, unless you count Kidd or Carter.
- David G, January 12, 2007

David:
Listen, right now I'd trade half the team to get KG. But that won't do much good, as he appears to not be headed anywhere, and if he is, too many teams have much better packages to offer than these Nets. Why would the TWolves want to rebuild around Carter, you should ask yourself...

As for Ely, well, I still don't think he'd offer much for the Nets up front, but who knows? In any case it was addition by subtraction.
- Joe

Brooklyn In The House
Joe:
I completely agree with ya. The only thing I don’t agree is that I support them going to BK giving us a chance to land King James in 2009! How ironic is that? LBJ becomes a FA and we move to NY. Anyways if I had a choice to what the Nets would do, I would tank this season given the fact that we won’t be serious contenders this yr. We probably will be the worst team that will make the playoff and hopefully we don’t get swept. We will be stuck with a 13th pick again and probably draft another Antoine Wright. I don’t want players like that no more. If we tank the season, we would have a chance to draft a legit big man like Noah and we can prevent RJ from seriously hurting his ankle more by doing the proper surgery necessary to have him ready by next year. See what’s out there for VC and if we can get picks and young players, we should consider it. I would love to get Felton, May and a 1st rounder from the Bobcats but I was told that was a reach. I would also check out if we can land Foye in some way showing signs of Wade status. If we take this course of action and things fall in place, this would be my line up for the year 2009. At C- Kristic, Pf- Noah, Sf- LBJ, Sg- RJ, Pg- Marcus Will with a very deep bench! Let me know what you think Joe and I can’t wait till your next article. Laters.
- Joey from NYC, January 3, 2007

Joey:
I guess I would be a complete idiot to hate the Brooklyn move if the Nets wound up with LBJ, right? In any case, the big question now is what do you do? Tanking the season isn't possible unless you trade Kidd, because he wouldn't stand for letting that happen. So, unless you trade Carter or someone else (even Kidd) for a combo of player, high pick and whatever else you have to do to make it work, the Nets won't be drafting as high as you'd like them too in 2007. No way the Nets could get Felton or Foye, but that would be some 2009 if Rod Thorn could pull it off (and how long will Rod hang around, anyway?).
- Joe

Hassan's Got Chops
Joe:
One thing everyone has noticed is that when Adams is on the floor
mostly good things happen, defensively and offensively
Moore and Adams bring an intensity that is missing from the vets in a consistant way.

I think this still can be an entertaining positive fun to watch team
even with few expectations of the postseason.

If they can find themselves there is still hope.

If not , it is immensely disappointing to the fans and hopefully
themselves.

Thanks
- Mo, January 3, 2007

Mo:
When I got your email, it read like a (an?) haiku. Interesting.

Anyway, you are correct, things happen with Adams on the floor. But he's certainly not gotten the fair shake of consistent minutes that he deserves. I still think (as do most others) that he should get minutes nightly.

And almost a month later, this team still hasn't found itself...
- Joe

Sunny Day
Joe:
I love reading your blog, intelligent and fun look at the Nets...and it helps to suffer with others.

Let's keep this simple: Vince Carter needs a point guard next to him who can give him the ball and wait behind the three point line. Jason Kidd needs a guard who can run next to him down the court on the fast break and defend on the other end to create turnovers. Jason and Vince just don't fit together.

This team has no identity largely because of this. All this talk about trading RJ or firing the coach wouldn't help to fix the problem mentioned above.

Are we gonna be a Vince Carter team or a Jason Kidd team, we can't be both.

Please Thorn trade one of these two players so we can begin to end the suffering. The players lose and continue to make millions, but the poor fans, what do we get.

Thanks again for your blog,
sorry about the Brooklyn move,

Seth from Arizona (home of a team with an identity), January 3, 2007

Seth:
Are you saying that living in Arizona, land of the Suns, you are a Nets fan? I am seriously impressed, considering the Suns have ripped off 17 game winning streak as I write this (again, about a month late).

That's an interesting proposition you lay out for us to consider - Kidd and Carter don't fit together. My first reaction was to say that you're wrong, because Kidd could make anyone better. But, as I think about it, you're probably right, and we witness it on a daily basis. The junking of much of the offense so Carter can play one on five; the lack of a running game; the defensive mis-alignments...

And well, Brooklyn, hey, who am I to stand between a man and his billions?
- Joe

It's Over
Joe:
It's over... I've been pretty optimistic in the offseason, as well as
pretty realistic. I thought we should've traded VC, but Thorn assured me we'd be OK. I was given a false sense of hope by this team that's been around each other for too long... What are we at now, 5 surgeries? Nenad's out for the year, RJ needs surgery and looks like it... VC simply doesn't care. It's time to cut some ties with some players and try to build for
the future... Gross.
- Tom, December 28, 2006

Tom:
Things got better since you wrote this, but the underlying assumption is still true. The Nets need to start over, not necessary rebuild from scratch but more like change on the fly. If they can figure out how...
- Joe