Like Death And Taxes...

Things break.

Readers don't like posts, comments, ideas or critiques.

And time moves forward regardless.

We suffered a major computer failure here at JNF (the mother of all motherboard failures, apparently) that we're in the process of sorting out. Weeks behind, and with a ton of stuff to catch up on (and apparently bore you with, thanks Peter), we'll try to get back on the horse and figure out which way is up in Netsfanland.

While we were gone:

- The Nets held "voluntary" practices for a week, with everyone but Yi attending. While this is heartening, Waltons'-esque kind of family togetherness, will it make a difference since there are only 3 players left from last season's start? Sorry, I don't think it's going to help much. But it makes for good, no make it great, press.

- The Nets are going to run a new offense this season - the dribble drive offense that Memphis ran last season with Chris Douglas Roberts having a great offensive season. Probably more like drivel drive with the Nets' running it...

- VC's getting trashed (no surprise there, but has anyone who writes about the NBA actually watched Carter over the past few years? He's not the guy who wanted out of Toronto, and while he's not exactly comfortable as the go-to guy, he's going to have to be this year for certain. And that's not a bad thing for Netsfans, since Carter, at his motivational best, is a scorer to be reckoned with. IF and only if he stops settling for the jumper each time down the court.


- The Nets will start their training camp a weekend earlier than the rest of the league since they're headed to London and Paris for exhibitions. So that means we only have another three weeks of desperate, boring speculation to go before we start to see/hear about/understand what the 2008 - 2009 season will bring. Hey, at least Jason Kidd isn't around to age before our eyes...

- Yes, we're still annoyed that RJ was traded for Yi. Yes, RJ was overpaid and probably had peaked as a player (and who wants to see a formerly unselfish player turn selfish, practically overnight and when everything else was falling apart at the same time?), but aside from younger and cheaper, I don't see that this was the deal the Nets should have made. I also understand that there wasn't exactly a ton of demand for RJ's services, but unless the Nets retool with the likes of LeBron in 2010 and beyond, they might have been better off sticking it out with RJ. But as my new good friend Peter would say, there's nothing new there.

- I still have hope that this team will be better than the sum of its parts. I don't know that they'll look pretty doing it, but remember how much praise used to be heaped on Princeton and that damned ugliness they put on the court each game to get wins? With Boston, Philly and Toronto all better in the Atlantic, it's a rebuilding year and that's pretty much all it is.

Much more to come, including our usual preseason stuff and a whole lot more. I appreciate you hanging in there if you are even reading these words, and hopefully we have the web site worked out and back cranking out material daily in the next week or so. Luckily, as far as I know everything is backed up somewhere in cyberspace.

Looking forward to this season, as strange as that sounds. Perhaps like watched a car wreck in slow motion or something like that, but looking forward to it nonetheless.

-Joe

The Olympic Roundup

OK, Netsfans, now it gets interesting as the Olympic basketball tournament gets to the medal round. Does anyone really expect the Redeem Team to lose to anyone?

The only real interest of note around these parts is the play of Nets newbie Yi Jianlian. In a word, it's been mediocre at best, and at times pathetic. He's young, it's a ton of pressure, and he's been playing basketball for Team China, so you could understand his almost complete lack of grace in the tourney. But what does this mean for the Nets?

Probably not a helluva lot. Unless you are one of those few who think that Yi will light up the NBA (and the Izod, or whatever it's called this year), what difference will it make if he struggles in the Olympics? We'd like to think this experience will make him a better player, and it may yet, it's just not going to translate to much in the Nets' 2008 - 2009 season.

Hopefully, you can accept that.

We get an entire season to see if this ploy works out, this salary dump to rid themselves of Richard Jefferson and invest in a younger, taller, much more Asian forward who can sell tickets and hold cap space for 2010. Sure, the Nets are hoping the Asian population buys every ticket in the arena so they can focus on moving to Brooklyn without having to declare bankruptcy, so what else matters?

The play on the court, that's what.

Like the Olympics, there's going to a lot of USA - Angola type matchups, I'm afraid. Vince Carter jacking 25 shots a night, Devin Harris driving and dishing (to whom, we wonder), and frankly, anything else they can scrape together. Keyon Dooling and Bobby Simmons will each have to score 15 points a game at this rate.

But at least the vaunted rookies should hopefully get some seasoning.

Sit back, relax, enjoy the Olympics and the expected domination by LeBron, Kobe, JKidd and co. It's the last look you're likely to get at a championship calibre team until 2010.

-Joe

Games Without Frontiers

So as the world takes a pause from its troubles and strife and heads to China for the Olympics, let us take a moment and contemplate the NBA as of August 2, 2008.

There has been a lot of retooling around the league, to be expected in the annual chase to catch up to the latest thinking on how to win a championship - this time it's defense, 3 superstars, and the "right" role players. Of course, some of those role players have taken themselves to the Euroleagues or other places beyond, so it might be a bit more difficult for teams to find the right 10th, 11th, or 12th man. The money grab isn't exactly troubling, at least not until one of the big NBA stars decides to cash a $40 million per year check at the expense of some rich Russian team owner.

Many of the world's finest players will be on display at the Olympics, including our own Yi Jianlian, part of the home contingent. So too is Jason Kidd, the ex-Net and world beater (no pun intended) who still has an undefeated Olympic record, though he should be turning over the keys to Chris Paul any moment now. The USA squad, led by LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, looks pretty motivated, judging by the beatings they've put on teams in the pre-season so far.

Back closer to home, we continue to ponder this new-look Net squad, and the pieces that remain after losing Nenad Krstic to Russia. It has all the makings of a team in transition, one whose success will depend entirely on the whole being better than the sum of its parts. Yes, we're worried about scoring, shooting, and right now, even defense, but if these guys can put out maximum effort and get strong coaching, they could surprise, we suppose.

Of course, it'll come down to coaching, since the veteran quotient shrunk dramatically in the off-season. Two new coaches climb aboard - classic NBA overachiever Doug Overton and NBA washout Roy Rogers (hold off on the names till we play the name game). Plus, it appears Jim Sann may have a bigger role on the coaching staff as well, with holdovers Tom Barrise and lead assistant Brian Hill supplying the consistency.

But it will come down to head coach Lawrence Frank and his ability to whip together not only the new coaching staff, but all the new players as well. Since East Rutherford has become the international house of basketball players, will there be any large cultural adjustment needed that the coaching staff will have to smooth over? After all, one of the biggest off-season additions was Yi, who finds himself in the world's largest media market (even though the Nets might as well be playing in Siberia now that Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson are gone) and all the accompanying baggage that will follow. Can he perform at a high level under this coaching staff and the glare of bright lights (plus the knowledge of Netsfans that he was traded for Richard Jefferson, a local fan favorite?).

Right now the roster is unbalanced, and the more I review it, the more afraid I become. Too many front line players, not enough guards or shooters, and my word how about another point guard? A trade will likely have to follow, but who's buying what the Nets want to sell? So far, according to Al Iannazone, no one is interested in the two Net frontliners they'd like to be without, Stromile Swift and Sean Williams. Why you would give up on an athletic freak like Williams is beyond me, but again, if he's one of those guys the coaching staff deems will "never get it", then I guess it makes sense. Not having a true position doesn't help either. So if the Nets can rid themselves of at least one of those two, they could be forced to deal a player they'd rather keep, like one of the rookies or other youngsters who might have value. That wouldn't be optimal.

Instead Netsfans should get used to Vince Carter and Devin Harris at the guards, Yi and Bobby Simmons (or Eddie Najera) at the forwards, and either Josh Boone or Brook Lopez at center. Not exactly awe inspiring, but the bench is at least better than last year (with the exception of shooter). Keyon Dooling will back up both Harris and Carter, so he's in the rotation. But who else will be a regular contributor? Najera (or Simmons) for certain - Jarvis Hayes because he fills a definite role off the bench (shooter) - and at least one or two more big men. Figure Lopez (if he doesn't start) and fellow rookies Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas Roberts get time in and out of the lineup (rather than regular, steady time so they can develop). After that? With the way Frank operates, your guess is as good as mine.

Celebrate the Olympics, and the US Olympic team (like him or hate him, you can't root against Kidd in this situation), and understand that the NBA will likely take a giant pause over the next two weeks. Things probably won't get interesting again (if they do at all) until late August or September, and then before you know it, the Nets will be right back in training camp.

Let's hope there's more to the story...

-Joe

Russian Winters

Maybe the Nets are considering a farm team in Russia?

For the second time in a few weeks, it appears a Net will ply his trade in Russia intstead of hanging around the NBA. First it was Boki Nachbar, now it appears that Nenad Krstic ("we want him back, we swear") is leaving for more money and less pressure out in Russia. Good for him, we say.

Since the Nets have a glut of players up front, why not see if he can round back into form out in Russia? It doesn't cost the Nets anything, the retain his NBA rights, and for all we know at this time next year (Krstic has an opt out after the season to return to the NBA), the Nets are once again lacking depth up front and Krstic steps right back into the rotation. Of course, if he can't get his most formidable skills on the court back, well, Trader Rod was once again smart.

The Nets were hoping to do a sign-and-trade with another NBA team to get something back for Krstic, but this works just as well.

Frankly, even with the shaky comeback from the knee surgery, he was one of the Nets' more known commodities. Now what happens if all the depth up front doesn't quite pan out? If Brook Lopez isn't ready for prime time? If Sean Williams (if the Nets hold on to him) doesn't show any more maturity? If Josh Boone regresses? You get the point.

We'll miss Nenad - he was a godsend just a few short years ago when the Nets were thinner than thin up front, he was a rookie, and we expected absolutely nothing but 12th man status, and Nenad carried the frontliners? It all ended too quickly back in December 2006, for him as well as for us.

So the changes continue in Netsland, the Russians get a bonifide question mark, and we're not nearly done seeing all the new concepts in the NBA circa 2008. Who would have thought that the Euro would be the drawing card to lure talent away from the NBA?

- Joe

Marcus of Golden State

Great fit - the no defense Warriors and the no defense Marcus Williams.

So, the Nets get a conditional first round pick (in 2011, 2012 or 2013, or 2 second rounders...interesting how complex this stuff gets) back for a guy who was clearly not in favor in Netsland (and with Lawrence Frank).

Shame, since he appeared to have all the talent in the world, but as I said before, no idea how to harness it. A questionable work ethic combined with an allergy to defense doomed him in the eyes of management.

Remember a few short off-seasons ago when it appeared the Nets got a steal and the heir apparent to Jason Kidd? Well, now you have Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling as your point guards, and Marcus is off to score a million and one points with the Warriors. Kind of makes you a bit nervous as to how he'll turn out under someone else's watch, since he does have the ability to do well in the all offense all the time game the Warriors play.

But, that leaves the Nets with 15 guaranteed contracts, and the likelihood that one or more current Nets will also be leaving the building (somehow, I don't think Nenad Krstic will be on the opening roster, and Mo Ager probably shouldn't be making firm plans for Christmas 2008 in NJ...). The glut of fowards also needs resolution, because there are just too many players to spread the playing time around for.

That's going to be the big challenge for Lawrence Frank - fielding a competitive though young team, and keeping them in games, without having a 12 or 13 man rotation. We all know Lawrence would like an 8 or 9 man rotation, so there are an awful lot of players who could be on the outside looking in.

Problems for another day. Marcus, we hardly knew ye, and though we were teased by your potential only occasionally, we wish you nothing but luck in the Western Conference.

-Joe

Taking Shape

Wow, did you ever think you'd see a Net team under Bruce Ratner (motto: I ain't losing $40 mill a year forever) have 16 guaranteed contracts?

Well, that's what the Nets will have after they do a sign and trade for Keyon Dooling, who's been the object of the Nets affections for years.

A complete turnover of the roster since the start of last season leaves the Nets a very interesting team right now. Dooling is a young vet who can add some legs, some defense, and a turn at the point if necessary, which probably leaves young Marcus Williams packing his backs for points elsewhere (hey, is Memphis still collecting point guards?). A shame about poor Marcus, who appeared to have a world of talent but doesn't have a clue as to how best to harness it.

So with Dooling backing up Carter and Harris, and a logjam at the center and forward spots, this Nets team is taking shape and looking very much like a bit more than a rag tag team of definite losers. If Brook Lopez can learn the NBA game on the fly, if Chris Douglas Roberts can add a spark off the bench, and if the Nets can get some offense from a bunch of these role players, well, then maybe the Nets won't be a challenged as we had thought just a week or so ago.

And with Carter to (hopefully) sell some tickets, the rookies, Harris and a few others, it might not be the worst game in town (think maybe the Knicks will still play that role in the NYC area?).

Of course, it all comes down to Lawrence Frank and the coaching staff to get everyone to buy in, put together a rotation that capitalizes on strength, and hopefully go against type and give the rookies some PT so that they can develop. That might be the biggest challenge facing these New Jersey Nets - getting the coach to trust his youngsters and give them the PT they need to develop. I for one would rather watch a 35 win team that hustles and learns and grows throughout the season than a 40 win team that's flat out boring and going nowhere fast.

The next trick is to see who goes, and how fast - (no the Nets won't keep 16 guaranteed contracts, or even 15 for that matter) Nenad Krstic? Marcus? Sean Williams? Stromile Swift? Josh Boone or Mo Ager or the Keith Van Horn contract?

Put your money on Marcus and Nenad, unfortunately. The Nets likely want to have no more than 14 guaranteed contracts, and you know the 3 rookies, Carter, Harris, Najera, Hayes and Dooling are sticking around, so that makes 8 potential players that could be had in a trade. There's some value in Swift (expiring contract at season's end), Ager (same), Van Horn's contract, and I would guess that the Williams' boys value has declined somewhat and the bottom feeders will be out in force trying to catch Rod at a weak moment. But as has always been the case, no one will get the better of Rod.

Stay tuned - things continue to get interesting...

-Joe

International Flavor, But What's To Savor?

Oh, dear me...it looks like the Nets are going to fill their roster with "serviceable veterans" after the signings of Eddie Najera and Jarvis Hayes brings the roster to 15. Seems like about 13 of those 15 are forwards or centers, so perhaps the plan by Thorn and Vanderweghe is to corner the market on big men, and hope that some team needs what the Nets have and will want to deal with NJ.

Or not, because frankly, there is no way this can be over (and Thorn even said so himself).

I'm a bit baffled by the signing of Hayes, who has never done much in the "making an impression" department. Supposedly he can shoot, but really, is this an upgrade over Boki Nachbar (and I've read the pros and cons from everyone out there already - perhaps Thorn thought that Boki was a permanent bad back waiting to happen after last season?)? Frankly, I think not. Let's hope this guy doesn't wind up as the 14th man, because that's an awful lot of money to spend on a guy who is as inconsistent as they come.

Najera I understand. Not only is a solid front line player, good soldier and even a decent three point shooter, but he's the league's only Mexican born player, which fits right in with the Nets new motto - "hey, we may not challenge for a playoff berth, but we'll be able to market to any ethnicity in the tri-state area". Eddie's hard-nosed and frankly we don't understand why Mark Cuban didn't want him back (and seriously overpay for him) in Dallas.

So, Eddie got a 4 year deal, that puts him into the 2010 "let's sign LeBron" fantasy camp. He's likely front loaded on his contract so that he doesn't screw up the cap space, but we're still wondering if this is the best way to rebuild the team.

I guess it is if you are refusing to take large losses, but then again, if the team stinks, won't it just be harder to get fans into the Izod?

Jarvis Hayes? Ok, I'll stop repeating his name now, and accept that this may be this year's Jeff MacInnis. Wouldn't the money have been better spent on a backup combo guard like Keyon Dooling (and I am no fan of his either, but he's got to be a better signing than Hayes).

I did read some optimism over the past day about the Nets being better than anything thinks they will be. Well, until Thorn makes more changes, you can forget about that.

But, the Nets do have hope - though it's only the summer league, Brook Lopez looked like a man amongst boys in the pivot, Ryan Anderson had some moments to build on, Chris Douglas Roberts played like he had that second round chip on his shoulder, and this Jaycee Carroll guy may have found himself a home after going undrafted. Suddenly, you have to wonder if Sean Williams or Josh Boone are expendable...Williams because he doesn't have a true position and seems a bit thick in the head, and Boone because there are others on the team that might be better served in the offense.

But again, we'll see what transpires, since the Nets are thin at guard.

Let's hope the 3 rookies stick around and get some NBA tutoring from Vince Carter and others...because otherwise, there really isn't a lot to get excited for with this squad.

More thoughts coming tomorrow.

Joe