Jumaine Man

So the Mets blew it big time, right? Might be the gold standard of choke-jobs.

The Jets found news ways to suck today too.

Not a banner day for local NY area sports fans.

Unless of course you consider Jumaine Jones, who's the latest career-redeemer headed to Nets camp. Now that should perk up sports fans...

What does Jones bring to the table? Well, athleticism, long-range shooting, some rebounding and defense. Oh, and 6 teams in 7 years and a bit of an injury history.

Should be perfect for the Nets. Can he play the point too?

We're definintely interested in seeing who will stick around Netsland? Malik Allen? Robert Hite? Jones? What about Mateen Cleaves and Eddie Gill? Or maybe Allan Houston?

Adding depth would be a good thing. But can that depth still play, or make contributions on the second team?

Joe

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

Something seems to be amiss in Netsland...

Injuries are a part of any competitive sport, and you expect them. But adding Marcus Williams to the injury list is just about the worst news on the eve of camp I can think of.

This isn't the spot for the Nets to be shorthanded, even though Williams backs up the All World Point Guard Jason Kidd. Kidd needs rest, and well, who will back him up and pare down his minutes now? Eddie Gill? Mateen Cleeves?

Time for Eddie and Roddie to get creative. Not that there's much out there, but that third point guard is suddenly a screaming need, even after Williams gets back. And Williams was said to have improved by leaps and bounds - we'll likely not see that until December at the earliest, even if he does return by November.

Tough break for the Nets, makes you wonder what's going on in East Rutherford. Is this some sort of Ratner-esque plot to have the Nets leave NJ sooner as damaged goods?

Why, just yesterday I was asking for the plan - now, it's going to be made up on the fly. Not the best of starts for the Nets in 2007 - 2008.

Joe

Time For A Plan

Al Ianazzone is everywhere now, isn't he?

Anyway, Al does a good job in his space on the YES Network site defining the Nets' roster, the good, the bad and the ugly, as it were. Of course, the Nets are not nearly the favorites in the East, so is it enough?

Injuries, or the lack thereof, will obviously be a key. Making sure that Jason Kidd gets plenty of rest will be too. Having the kids (Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Antoine Wright, and Robert Hite, if he sticks) continue to develop would be a big help.

But really, who will carry this team on its journey? Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson. The Big Three.

What's the plan beyond that? Nenad Krstic needs to prove he's healthy and able to pick up where he left off. Jamaal Magloire needs to be more than a capable backup center - he needs to provide the bulk, the muscle, the inside scoring, and more. Boki Nachbar's a sparkplug, but can he repeat his feats of last season, or is he a one year wonder?

The Nets, namely Lawrence Frank, need a plan to spin this roster into a cohesive, playing-the-game-the-right-way, force, like they were back in 2001 and 2002. It will be interesting to see if they do indeed run more, knowing that it's neither Vince Carter's passion nor his strength.

Camp opens with media day on Monday. Soon enough, we'll start finding out what the plan is.

And whether or not the Nets are capable of rising to the challenge, or sinking to the depths of the East.

Joe

Brooklyn More Or Less

Today's topic - Nets in Brooklyn. Discuss.

Yes, it seems like forever when the Nets were sold to developer Bruce Ratner, with the intention of moving the franchise to Brooklyn as part of Ratner's billion dollar development called Atlantic Yards. Oh, the story (as it went) was sweet - move the team to a city who's pride was still suffering from the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers a million years ago, bring affordable housing and jobs to a depressed area...etc etc. It was a feel-good story for sure.

We've heard all about the actual plan - how little affordable housing there really is, and how late in the game it (might) be available. We read with great interest how the city was going to contribute far more money than this poor billionaire was able to afford for infrastructure and whatever else was needed. How the rail yards it would be built on would be put to better use (forget the eminent domain issues, and the condemnation of property of honest and hard-working citizens).

Yes, this was altruism at its best.

Of course, aside from Ratner losing millions each year while waiting for this plan to get out of the courts and into development, it was a perfect plan.

Meanwhile, there was a perfectly good, brand new arena being built in Newark for the Devils. Why the Nets couldn't just move there, and STAY in New Jersey, is beyond me. Probably because some billionaire couldn't line his pockets under the guise of civic pride.

It's likely (no, absolutely likely) that Ratner will eventually clear the docket and get his monstrocity that towers over Brooklyn like a dark cloud built. And it's almost 100% guaranteed that he and his family will create even more enormous wealth, while the Nets continue to lose money. Sure, attendance is likely to increase. Sure, they can charge a much higher ticket price (this is NYC, they'll say) and sure, they can fill the billion or so corporate boxes with cash, I mean, fans.

But what they can't do is say this is a good idea.

We'll look at the Brooklyn trials and tribulations as we move through this season, and milestones are either met or missed. After all, if the move does go through, it'll put this site out of business.

Joe

A Fresh New Start

OK, ok - Blogs are the wave of the future (actually, about 10 minutes ago) and we're so behind the times here at JNF.

Well, we kind of like it that way, frankly.

For all you youngsters under 40, instantaneous dialogue is normal and accepted. For Joe, well, it just takes too much time in a world in which I already don't have enough.

And hey, I'm not Sussman, after all.

Anyway, all this noise up front to say this - once again, I'm going to try to be better with this Blog. More like daily instead of say, never.

I'm going to post something here near daily (including when I'm on the road and can't get the site updated, which will be often in the coming months), and there's supposed to be a place for you to reply to it. That'll be better, more instantaneous dialogue, and hopefully not something I have to edit.

I'm cool with advice, commentary and criticism, but as long timers know, I've got no use for personal attacks, rampant idiocy, or worse, a constant stream of insults and guttermouth. So, as long as we keep it clean, we can do what we want here.

So, you have my pledge - a comment nearly daily. Even if the site doesn't look updated, check the Blog and there will likely be something there. I'll try to give you a heads up when I'm on the road so you know to check.

Hopefully, this new start also begins with some interesting dialogue on the 2007 - 2008 Nets. While I'm not entirely down on them, I have to continue to wonder why the team is still virtually intact from last year. Even with all the injuries, does anyone really think this team could have done better than the second round (losing to the Cavs, a one man band, for crying out loud)?

I really don't think I do.

But, let's see what the season has in store, what Jamaal Magloire can bring to the Nets (does he really do the things the Nets need? Defense, rebounding, and low post scoring? Eh, I don't know about all three...) and if this is the year that Jason Collins gets edged out of the starting lineup. Have the kids (Marcus and Josh) grown up? Will Hassan land somewhere, and how huge of a mistake was it to let him go? Can Boki repeat his huge growth from last season? Will Robert Hite make shots? Can Malik Allen not only stick but contribute?

Yes, as always at the very beginning, there are a lot of questions. Camp starts next week - let's get down to the business of answering them.

Joe