Carter, Carter, Carter
Today's missive: is the Nets offense too "Carter-centric"?
Didn't see the Nets loss to the Pistons last night, but I was alarmed when reading D'Alessandro's critque in his Nets Blast blog about how the lead slipped away in the third quarter after a string of failed Carter attempts at scoring.
Again, qualifier - didn't see it - but it sounds like more of that patented Carter 1 on 5 style of offense. Which kills the Nets, especially when you consider they have the world's best creative on-the-run playmaker, who can't play that game much with Vince because Vince doesn't seem to like it.
This is not a slam at Carter - hell, the Nets were desperate for a creative player - but an overall concern that, despite all the lip service about how unselfish the Nets' big 3 are, the offense is still doing WAY too much standing around watching Carter in isolation situations and other Vince-centric plays.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't credit Seth in Arizona for getting me going further with his email, which went like this:
"Have been a Nets fan since J-Kidd was traded from Phx.(my home). Love reading your column, you have greatinsight into the game and you present it extremely well.Here's the deal. No one's pointing out the all to obviousflaw with the nets. Right now Jason Kidd and the Nets areforced to play around Vince Carter for the most part. Ifyou look back at the couple of games where J-Kidd dominated,Carter was having an off night so Kidd and Jefferson started to push the ball more. On these occassions they stopped relying on the slow down isolation game of Carter. The true problem with the Nets right now is that they are trying to play Carter's way rather than the Net's (Kidd's) way.This can also be to blame for Kidd's apparent dropoff in performance.I'm not saying that they can't coexist, but Carter needs to learn toplay a more uptempo form of basketball."
Think I agree with you, Seth, especially in situations where the Nets stand around looking stupid while Carter does everything but try to sell hot dogs in the stands making something happen.
Let me look at the Pistons game, and then I'll string more thoughts together in a new Diatribe.
Didn't see the Nets loss to the Pistons last night, but I was alarmed when reading D'Alessandro's critque in his Nets Blast blog about how the lead slipped away in the third quarter after a string of failed Carter attempts at scoring.
Again, qualifier - didn't see it - but it sounds like more of that patented Carter 1 on 5 style of offense. Which kills the Nets, especially when you consider they have the world's best creative on-the-run playmaker, who can't play that game much with Vince because Vince doesn't seem to like it.
This is not a slam at Carter - hell, the Nets were desperate for a creative player - but an overall concern that, despite all the lip service about how unselfish the Nets' big 3 are, the offense is still doing WAY too much standing around watching Carter in isolation situations and other Vince-centric plays.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't credit Seth in Arizona for getting me going further with his email, which went like this:
"Have been a Nets fan since J-Kidd was traded from Phx.(my home). Love reading your column, you have greatinsight into the game and you present it extremely well.Here's the deal. No one's pointing out the all to obviousflaw with the nets. Right now Jason Kidd and the Nets areforced to play around Vince Carter for the most part. Ifyou look back at the couple of games where J-Kidd dominated,Carter was having an off night so Kidd and Jefferson started to push the ball more. On these occassions they stopped relying on the slow down isolation game of Carter. The true problem with the Nets right now is that they are trying to play Carter's way rather than the Net's (Kidd's) way.This can also be to blame for Kidd's apparent dropoff in performance.I'm not saying that they can't coexist, but Carter needs to learn toplay a more uptempo form of basketball."
Think I agree with you, Seth, especially in situations where the Nets stand around looking stupid while Carter does everything but try to sell hot dogs in the stands making something happen.
Let me look at the Pistons game, and then I'll string more thoughts together in a new Diatribe.
3 Comments:
I disagree Joe.
I watched the whole game. The problem was that the ball wasn't falling in the hoop for the Nets in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
Nenad missed three or four easy putbacks that on most night he would have had easily.
I think the problem with the Nets is, they play 4 on 5 when they are on offense because Collins gives them nothing. He's not even a threat from 15 feet like he used to be in his rookie season when he could hit that elbow jumper.
Having a guy who is no threat at a crucial position (the 4) just means an extra defender can gear up on Nenad or Carter or Jefferson.
I know L. Frank loves Twin's defense, but I think its time to look at starting Cliff Robinson at the 4. He can at least pose a threat from the outside and he's not too bad a defender either. Having Collins come in at the 6 or 7 minute mark isn't such a bad thing.
And in terms of what the other guy said about the team trying to play Carter's way and not Kidd's way, well, this isn't 2002 anymore.
Jason Kidd isn't the same player he used to be. He can be marvelous in spurts, but that's all he's going to give you now - spurts. He's not going to dominate a game from end-to-end for 48 minutes anymore. Especially against a team that has a premier physical point guard like Chauncy Billips or Baron Davis.
The Nets should play Carter's way because he's the only guy on the team who can go into a 'zone' at any given time and just drop 30 in a quarter. He's hasn't absolutely exploded yet this year, but you have to figure he's due soon.
I think things will turn around for the Nets. And this might all be moot, because I don't think this is going to be the same team we see on the court come playoff time. I think Rod and Ed have a move or two up their sleeve. So lets wait and see before we start pressing the panic button.
Yeah, I remember everyone being similarly concerned about the offense being too "Carter-centric" when they went 15-4 down the strech last year.
Listen guys, I appreciate the commentary but do me one favor: Watch Vince in the next game he plays. When the Nets get an opportunity to break, notice who's lagging behind.
Joe is right, Carter seems disinterested in uptempo offense.
Please understand that I more than anyone love to have Vince as a much needed half court threat. But I'm not convinced that he's anymore than that for this team.
Jaynetsfan, you might by right that Kidd is not the point guard he used to be. But if we give in to that idea and start to play around Carter, we have no need for Kidd or for Jefferson for that matter.
Neither Kidd nor Jefferson seem to have a natural place in this new Carter isolation offense I keep seeing.
On the other hand I'm not sure the pieces are right for the uptempo offense I'd like to see.
Hmmm. Not an easy fix. I'm entirely worried about this season.
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