Home Wreckers
Not good. Not good at all.
Are the Nets affected by the lack of home support, and THAT'S why they're 3 - 6, with 5 straight losses, at home? That's what Dave D. seems to be implying (or more than implying, really) in the aftermath of the bad loss to the Grizzlies.
We've said it a million times, especially over the last two years - the Nets simply have to beat the teams that they're better than to have any chance of putting something together in the playoffs. That they can't beat the Grizz, even though they were back home after winning 3 straight, got big performances from the Big Three, and they knew this was something of a trap game, speaks volumes about where this team is at.
Just like last year.
Sleeping through whole quarters, lacking energy or fire or dare I say any sense of urgency until they get down by double digits is not something that Netsfans want to sit through for another season. This team, even with the absense of Vince Carter (and Marcus Williams and Darrell Armstrong), should be at least 10 - 5 right now, except they have the nasty habit of not showing up on time at home and digging themselves a deep one.
I know it's early, but if they wind up overplaying the Big Three again this year and burning them out, leading to a horrible showing come playoff time because they have to scramble just to make the playoffs, then maybe it's time to start looking into doing something now. Play the subs more minutes and take your lumps until you figure out who can play and who can't/shouldn't.
If they had Nenad Krstic at full health and back to form, perhaps this wouldn't be the case. But it is, and he's not available to help, so no excuses there.
Time to figure out how to win at home, in a damned hurry. The calendar next week (which I'm about to update, wish I had time for half of what needs to be done on this site) gets ugly, with Philly, Detroit, Cleveland, the Knicks and Houston on tap, with 3 of those games at home.
It starts with the leaders, Kidd/Carter/Jefferson. Preach defense, and play it. Find ways to win even when the shots aren't falling. How about playing more of Sean Williams, regardless of team or matchup, since he's the only one who can do the things he does. Use the bench, get Kidd 12 - 15 minutes of rest when you can. And for crying out loud, have energy for all 48 minutes.
Miscellaneous NBA Chatter:
So let me get this straight - Gilbert Arenas injures his knee, and the Wizards start winning? Bizarre.
The Celtics finally dropped a game, to the LeBron Triple Doubles. So at 11 - 2, they're still catchable (if only the Nets would wake up before the Raptors do).
What exactly is wrong with the Bulls? How could so right last year turn so far wrong? Is it the ghost of Kobe?
And speaking of Kobe, does it appear to you like it's time to pass the torch to LeBron James as the best all around player in the NBA?
Joe Johnson of Atlanta leads the NBA in minutes played per game at 41.1 . RJ is 11th at 39.1. Jason Kidd is 30th at 36.8, which is probably still too many this early in the year, after the long summer, and at 34. That's a troubling sign, even with his two backup point guards out of commission.
And it looks like Marcus Williams won't be back and contributing for at least 2 more weeks, and potentially in January. He could have been something of a difference maker, now the Nets must be hoping it's not a lost season entirely.
Joe
Are the Nets affected by the lack of home support, and THAT'S why they're 3 - 6, with 5 straight losses, at home? That's what Dave D. seems to be implying (or more than implying, really) in the aftermath of the bad loss to the Grizzlies.
We've said it a million times, especially over the last two years - the Nets simply have to beat the teams that they're better than to have any chance of putting something together in the playoffs. That they can't beat the Grizz, even though they were back home after winning 3 straight, got big performances from the Big Three, and they knew this was something of a trap game, speaks volumes about where this team is at.
Just like last year.
Sleeping through whole quarters, lacking energy or fire or dare I say any sense of urgency until they get down by double digits is not something that Netsfans want to sit through for another season. This team, even with the absense of Vince Carter (and Marcus Williams and Darrell Armstrong), should be at least 10 - 5 right now, except they have the nasty habit of not showing up on time at home and digging themselves a deep one.
I know it's early, but if they wind up overplaying the Big Three again this year and burning them out, leading to a horrible showing come playoff time because they have to scramble just to make the playoffs, then maybe it's time to start looking into doing something now. Play the subs more minutes and take your lumps until you figure out who can play and who can't/shouldn't.
If they had Nenad Krstic at full health and back to form, perhaps this wouldn't be the case. But it is, and he's not available to help, so no excuses there.
Time to figure out how to win at home, in a damned hurry. The calendar next week (which I'm about to update, wish I had time for half of what needs to be done on this site) gets ugly, with Philly, Detroit, Cleveland, the Knicks and Houston on tap, with 3 of those games at home.
It starts with the leaders, Kidd/Carter/Jefferson. Preach defense, and play it. Find ways to win even when the shots aren't falling. How about playing more of Sean Williams, regardless of team or matchup, since he's the only one who can do the things he does. Use the bench, get Kidd 12 - 15 minutes of rest when you can. And for crying out loud, have energy for all 48 minutes.
Miscellaneous NBA Chatter:
So let me get this straight - Gilbert Arenas injures his knee, and the Wizards start winning? Bizarre.
The Celtics finally dropped a game, to the LeBron Triple Doubles. So at 11 - 2, they're still catchable (if only the Nets would wake up before the Raptors do).
What exactly is wrong with the Bulls? How could so right last year turn so far wrong? Is it the ghost of Kobe?
And speaking of Kobe, does it appear to you like it's time to pass the torch to LeBron James as the best all around player in the NBA?
Joe Johnson of Atlanta leads the NBA in minutes played per game at 41.1 . RJ is 11th at 39.1. Jason Kidd is 30th at 36.8, which is probably still too many this early in the year, after the long summer, and at 34. That's a troubling sign, even with his two backup point guards out of commission.
And it looks like Marcus Williams won't be back and contributing for at least 2 more weeks, and potentially in January. He could have been something of a difference maker, now the Nets must be hoping it's not a lost season entirely.
Joe
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