What's the Frequency Kenneth?

Seven games in a row. Seems like yesterday the complaints were many that the Nets were playing so far under their talent level.

Now the frequency is how far over they're playing...such is life in the NBA.

Can the Nets overcome their lack of strong post players? Are the smaller slashers and shooters enough, even with Kidd at the controls? Really, Carter has been exceptional, but will he break down, or can he carry the load forever?

We still don't know, honestly. The problems are still there, they're just far in the background these days because winning cures all.

Will the Nets be able to hold their own with the likes of Detroit and Indiana, and yes, the Heat despite the win last week? The jury is still out on that one.

Is the bench enough? What about Jeff McInnis? Will he add something down the road, or simply be moved for a more useful player? What exactly is McInnis' sin in Lawrence Frank's eyes anyway? Too unsteady? Too out of control? Still not grasping the offensive or defensive concepts that Frank is dishing out? Help me, Dave D'Alessandro...

Anyway, weird week coming up, in which the Nets play tomorrow night, the sit it out until January 6 (which is next Friday). Can they get a win against a struggling team in the classic trap game before heading out for the week to rest (and practice?)?

At least the frequency of wins is much greater than it's been since the '03 - '04 season...

The Acid Test

Where did December go?

Anyway, things are finally looking up, sort of an early Christmas present for Netsfans, as New Jersey has won 4 straight and looks more like the team we had imagined in the off-season.

Yes, they are being aggressive, playing defense, and following the lead of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. Dave D'Alessandro believes the streak is mainly because Jefferson has been more aggressive with run-outs, leading to easier points. It seems to have brought Kidd back into the flow and even when the statistics don't show it, he's again controlling the games.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the bench support, and the fact that the two guys thought to be the main subs back in September are actually almost non-factors, while forgotten men like Jacque Vaughn, Scott Padgett and now Lamond Murray are making the big contributions. Who would have guessed that McInnis and Jackson would have more DNP-CD's than Vaughn or Padgett?

But now comes the acid test - the Miami Heat, with a newly healthy Shaq and Pat Riley, lover of big men, now at the controls. The Nets were swept in the post season last year, and still don't have anyone to deal with Shaq or shut down Dwyane Wade, so what can the Nets make of this one? They need to run the ball and force it down Miami's throat, or else get Shaq in early foul trouble or hurt him.

A four game win streak has stopped most of the doubts about this team, except one big one: can they compete with the likes of Detroit, San Antonio, Miami or Indiana? The big test comes tonight.

Settling For .500

Right now, friends, hate to say it but .500 is a goal for this Nets team right now.

Consistency is of course the issue - they can't seem to get the whole package flowing at the same time. After two straight games of getting offensive and defensive contributions in wins over the Bobcats (who hung around far longer than necessary) and the Cavs (who got back in it before the Nets showed some killer instinct), the whole consistency thing surfaced again against the Sixers on Saturday night.

The offense was fine - really, there was not anything that struck fear into hearts, but it was fine. The defense, however, suffered letdown after letdown (albeit, in the form of the ankle breaking variety of Allen Iverson) and the Nets are right back at square one.

Tomorrow night's game against the Wizards is game number 20 - really, for all intents and purposes, that's a full 1/4 of the season. How much longer can the Nets afford to be "working through it", "figuring each other out" and any other phrase you want to add?

The bench is still struggling mightily, from the sounds of it to understand their role let alone perform it. McInnis is a shell of his former dangerous self (really, when he enters the game, do you expect some fireworks, or do you just cringe?), Marc Jackson is fairly openly grousing about a) being traded to the Nets at all, b) his playing time, c) his role coming off the bench d) criticisms over his defense, and e) the explanations from Lawrence Frank and staff about how he's been told about his role.

Anyone seen Zoran Planinic lately? Assume as you've read - that it's about defense as well. So who does that leave, exactly? Scott Padgett gotten some increased minutes the past few games, and really, he's been no worse than any starter when he's in the game. Lamond Murray? Dead and buried, apparently. Linton Johnson? Seriously...Jacque Vaughn may get more minutes, because he actually plays defense (you surely cannot hold AI's explosion against him).

A trade might be in the works for all we know, because we can't believe that Thorn and Stefanski haven't seen what we've seen. Of course, there may be nothing out there worth acquiring, but hey, you never know...

A win gets the Nets back to .500. Keep that in mind.

Going For Broke

Not so good news that Jason Collins will likely miss about a week, and potentially much more, is it? The defense, which did show a marked improvement against the Bobcats, needs to go for broke and find a way to shut down LBJ and his crew at Cleveland. Ziggy Ilgauskas always gives the Nets fits, Net-killer Damon Jones is here now, and Larry Hughes is always tough on the Nets, so watch closely on Friday night and see how competitive the Nets will likely be against tougher opponents this season.

So far their track record ain't too good, if you know what I mean.

Other news - was anyone surprised to hear/read that Lawrence Frank was basically told by upper management to make use of his bench players?

What the big buildup on Linton Johnson was all about this pre-season I still don't understand.

And is it time for a "Free Lamond Murray" campaign? Should we all start chaining ourselves to the CAA parking garage in protest? I mean, aside from the fact that he hasn't appeared to have played a lick of defense in years, what has the man done wrong? Is he as bad a practice player as he seemed to be in games (defensively, anyway - the man still can shoot)?

Carter vs. LeBron - another quality matchup, if Carter's healthy enough to put on a good show, and smart enough not to get into a one-on-one, can-you-top-this game with him.

The season begins now.

Devil Is In The Details

Netsfans,

Well, I'm not going to take up much of your time tonight. I'll get my thoughts into a diatribe tonight and tomorrow and get it posted as soon as possible.

But after watching last night's performance against the league's worst, I'm no longer wondering about these Nets and their uneven performances.

I expect it to be a regular occurance. As long as they continue to insist on settling for outside jumpers, or rely on Carter to play 1 -on - 4 to get points.

As long as they insist on looking clueless on defense, on having a shaky bunch of role players, and as long as they continue to insist that they're just getting to know each other.

They don't run and take advantage of Kidd's strengths like they used to.

They don't play fierce defense like they used to , the kind that forces turnovers and creates opportunities in transition.

They don't have anyone other than Krstic to force the ball inside (and the other guy they have, Marc Jackson, can't get court time because of suspect defense).

All these little details that frankly ain't so little anymore.

Find a big man. Patch up the defense. Make better use of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. Find a consistent bunch off the bench (try some different combos, what can you lose, L-Frank?).

More to follow. But you get the point.

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.