Wright Time

Antoine Wright does have it in him, after all. Huge fourth quarter and OT to help the Nets escape with a win against the Bulls. On opening night, no less. Can we expect more of this?m Career high 21 points.

The Nets had their moments, especially early, but they had defensive issues all evening (Nenad Krstic most of all) despite Kidd's 5 steals and the 7 blocks (about 6 more than they would have had last season). They got to the free throw line, and made them, but they couldn't stop Ben Gordon from going off and basically sucking the life out of the Nets in the third quarter. Luckily, experience took over in that overtime.

RJ was good, with 29 points and 10 boards, and 12 - 12 from the line. Carter was erratic, missing two late jumpers (and airballs at that) and shooting 6 - 21 but still having 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, and a huge defensive play late. Boki had some moments as well off the bench, and even more surprising was Jason Collins getting 25 minutes, and most of the late 4Q and OT.

The Izod Center looks good (though anything nailed down has an ad on it) without an ice rink around it, and there were many sights and sounds that I'll report back on tomorrow, but overall, its good to get a win, especially on Game 1.

Joe

Action Packed Monday

Holy smokes, Thornski does it again!

A day after getting rid of Robert Hite (who I would still argue would be an interesting keeper on the roster), the Nets pick up roster flexibility and avoid the luxury tax by trading Mile Ilic and Bernard Robinson to New Orleans for David Wesley. All three players were subsequently waived, with both teams picking up the roster space they wanted.

The Nets now go with 13 on the roster - love to know who the nightly non-dresser will be once everyone is healthy. For now it will be Marcus Williams, obviously.

Will the Nets pick anyone up? Lots of bantering about Allan Houston. Hassan Adams was a final cut in Cleveland. Hite could come back on a moment's notice, as could Eddie Gill (rumored to be headed to Sacto, and he might already be there). The Nets could always use another shooter off the bench, right? Check the last minute cuts and see who's around.

Marcus Williams and Josh Boone also had the options on their contracts picked up. Good for them both - in year 2, we expect bigger and better from them.

As we do from all the Nets.

Did RJ hurt his heel in practice today? Is it worse than anyone let on? Let the injury train stop for awhile, already.

Lots more to cover as we get set for the opening tip on Wednesday night. Tomorrow brings the Nets preview (check out the NBA Preview if you haven't already) and the first Opponent file of the season. There's still a Diatribe and a Backlash on the way (need a clear calendar, which should happen over the weekend). And much, much more as we get moving on!

Joe

New Hites

Sad to see Robert Hite disappear, being waived yesterday, when a few players on the Nets roster don't exactly belong as much as he did.

Would have like to have seen what he could bring to games, energy and shooting and whatever.

Oh well, the Nets still have a solid 13 out of 15 on the roster (and maybe 14 if Robinson was as good as they say he was before he was injured).

So here we are - Monday, two days before the Nets opener (why does it always have to be Halloween?), and we're looking at all kinds of things NBA as we scramble to complete both the NBA and Nets previews. We'll get 'em done, somehow.

Joe

Bring On The Bulls

And just like that, it's time for the regualr season to begin.

A dismantling of the "no way are they the 6th seed in the East" Knicks tonight, led by Carter's 22 points. Way too many Net turnovers (27 - yikes, and 5 by a rusty Kidd), but still this was an easy win, even after they practically blew a 17 point, second quarter lead.

Liking what Jamaal Magloire is bringing to the Nets now, tough inside presence. Kidd was rusty but effective, Carter and Jefferson continue to look good, and thus far everyone has had a role in some shape or form.

Antoine Wright continues to struggle (1 - 7 tonight), proving that not picking up option year is a smart thing. Nenad Krstic wasn't very effective on either end of the floor (with 5 turnovers to boot), but the Nets just need him to make steady progress.

And we may have seen the last performance by Robert Hite, who the Nets need to make a decision on shortly.

What happens when the bench gets shortened is beyond me (since expected to be contributors Marcus Williams and Malik Allen didn't play), but why worry about that now?

What could absolutely crush the Nets all season long is foul shooting - tonight they were 25 - 42, which is a healthy 59.5%. Jamaal Magloire was 2 for 10 - that bears watching.

These Knicks seem to be a pretty easy team to defend, and to get rattled. The collective talent of this bunch doesn't appear to be cohesive or on the same page. Even with some of their starters on the floor late in the fourth, against the Nets reserves, they still had trouble getting it done.

Want to start the dead pool over/under on Isiah Thomas now?

So, we go get ready for the new season to be - Halloween night against Chicago, who may also have a bit of a health issue (Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah all got hurt the other night) but will also be gunning for a title run. Despite not playing together all preseason, the starters showed enough to get it done, with Carter and Jefferson looking like they're in mid-season form, Collins ready to tangle, Krstic working his way back, and Kidd, well, he'll turn it up a notch when he needs to.

Let's get ready to rumble, say I.

Now, to immerse myself in the NBA and Nets season previews.

Joe

Gill Gone

Eddie Gill is history. Robert Hite, he of the mini-partial-guarantee, is still around. At least for now.

Just goes to show what money can do. If Gill stuck around much longer, the Nets would owe him some dough, dough they say they don't want to play to keep the cap straight. But they might need Gill if Darrell Armstrong continues to be balky and Marcus Williams takes longer to heal. This leaves Vince Carter as the primary backup for Jason Kidd, who hopefully is healthy, or this could be a long, long season.

Roster stands at 16. More work to be done before the rosters have to be set on Monday.

The Nets dropped a game tonight to the Sixers. Didn't see it, strikes me odd that Nenad Krstic didn't play after hearing that he would be both games of this back-to-back (Knicks in the Garden tomorrow night). Hopefully, nothing actually happened to him.

Carter and Jefferson played, though not nearly the minutes they might have if this was real. Big game for Magloire tonight (14 points, 10 boards, 2 blocks) with 33 starter's minutes. Boki was the high man with 17. And not one foul for Sean Williams in his time on the court. That must have been something.

If you haven't already, read Rod Benson's latest post on the end of the line in NJ. As usual, it's fascinating.

And with all the preseason websites and mags reporting, it's a near landslide that almost no one thinks the Nets can do anything this year. Especially not Hollinger, which is about as shocking as Mile Ilic getting a DNP. Could be especially motivational on the SI rankings, which have the no defense Knicks 6th in the East and the Nets 9th.

End of pretend coming soon. Anything can happen. Looking for a big season (but not if they're going to lose to the weak sister Sixers...).

Joe

The Cleaver

It's now less than a week (6 days, 21 hours, 33 minutes as I look at the Nets website, but who's counting) before opening night in New Jersey, and the roster is still a bit unsettled.

Waive goodbye to Mateen Cleaves, he of the 10 points (ion 4 - 6 shooting) in the fourth quarter of last night's game. The roster reduction leaves the Nets with 17 players and cut day is Monday.

Realistically, the Nets have two injuries (to Marcus Williams and Bernard Robinson) that could linger into November or December, so if those two can't go, the Nets have 15 healthy (or at least semi-healthy) bodies on the roster.

Obviously, Robert Hite and Eddie Gill are the players on the bubble. With Jason Kidd still working his way back from the back injury, Darrell Armstrong bothered by the injured foot, and Marcus Williams out indefinitely, it's probably a good idea to keep Gill around. Someone has to run the point at practice. Yes, Carter can play the point, but should he?

Robert Hite has had a decent camp after a strong Summer League showing. Frankly, the Nets can always use what Hite provides (shooting), but he's only 6' 1" and he's not suited to play the point, so he's basically a younger Eddie House. IF he can make shots, that is.

All the other players on the roster are secure, I guess for now anyway. Even Mile Ilic and Bernard Robinson are somewhat secure since they have guaranteed contracts (and there has been no talk of cutting either one, and no trades on the horizon), so it looks like Hite and Gill will be goners.

Unless the Nets surprise and make a last second trade (you never know - Charlotte needs forwards after Sean May and Adam Morrison were lost for the season), that's your roster (in various states of health).

Kidd-Carter-Jefferson-Krstic-Collins are your starters (or will be, once Krstic is ready to roll).
Marcus Williams-Wright-Nachbar-Magloire-Boone are your primary second teamers.
Armstrong-Robinson-Malik Allen-Sean Williams are your other roster mates. Mile Ilic will head for the D League (or worse). Malik Allen will surely get more time, as will Armstrong, especially until Marcus Williams is back to form.

Is that enough? We start finding out on Wednesday. Look for JNF's Nets Preview and NBA Preview coming up early next week.

Joe

No Jones-ing It

No suprise Jumaine Jones was cut, he was a victim of numbers up front, and while he probably would have made this team last season, the combined weight of an up-and-coming center (Krstic), a defensive need (Collins), a physical widebody (Magloire), two recent first round picks (Boone and Sean Williams) and a free agent pickup who plays defense and can make a shot (Malik Allen) doomed Jones.

Hope you find another team.

In other news, the Nets beat the Celtics tonight in a game that a) featured the Big Green Three on the sidelines and b) well, I didn't see much if any of the game, so I don't even know what b could be. Antoine Wright had a nice second half along with Boki Nachbar, as Thornski struggles whether or not to pick up Antoine's option before the season or risk losing him at the end of the season as a free agent (I say take the risk). Jason Kidd again didn't play, VC apparently played some backup point guard, and even Mateen Cleaves chipped in 10 late points (Good luck Mateen in any case).

One other oddity - RJ had 6 fouls tonight?

More tomorrow as we start sorting through the roster.

Joe

Will He Or Won't He?

Jason Kidd was feeling talkative today at camp, for the first time in about 2 weeks. The back is getting better, he says, and he's looking forward to the start of the season.

Anyone contemplate what that season might be like if Kidd is forced to miss any significant time?

Darrell Armstrong was a great pickup, but at 39 he can't carry the Nets point guard load, especially with Marcus Williams not heading back for another month or so. Plus, Darrell's having trouble with his foot, and if that's slow to heal, those feet are a big part of what Armstrong's all about.

Could Marcus, upon his return from injury, handle a larger workload, say 30 minutes a game, in his sophomore year? Offensively, definitely. Defensively? The jury would still be out. All the talk of improvement over the off-season, and we haven't been able to see that yet.

Look, we've (I've, anyway) worried before about Kidd, and he's always bounced back, even after microfracture surgery on his knee. So we'll try to remain calm for now.

But a Nets season that at least looks promising at the outset is compromised with Kidd's health (and his reappearance on the pages of the NY Post) swinging in the balance.

No need to worry about Kidd missing an entire preseason (after all, he played enough basketball for Team USA over the summer). But if it goes beyond opening day, and we read alot about the Nets being cautious, well, then we'll start with the worry beads.

Joe

Death By A Thousand Cuts

Once again - Injuries are part of the game. We know and understand this.

But this is getting a wee bit ridiculous.

Malik Allen hurt his foot today (x-rays negative) just as Jason Kidd was coming back to practice to do the only thing he was capable of doing thus far - shooting.

Once again: Marcus Williams, Bernard Robinson, out until December likely. Darrell Armstrong and Malik Allen have foot injuries. Boki hurt his neck, Josh Boone tweaked something (now I can't even remember what), Jason Collins hurt his wrist or arm, Boki hurt his neck. Anything else I'm missing?

Time to get the season started, and fast - you know it's bad when you almost lose a player to drowning...

Joe

Holiday On Ice

Ice Capades in Worcester, Mass...the Nets get a condensation cancellation thanks to the heat inside the building on the court over the ice rink.

Sheesh. What's next, a Gum-out? (Did you see the gum on the court and the staff working feverishly to remove it on Thursday night?)

So we didn't learn much in this one, except the Big Four didn't even go up there, Boki was back and carried the offense, and Shawn Williams sure knows how to pick up fouls (4 in 5 minutes, apparently).

Adding insult to injury, according to Sussman, the flight back home was a wee bit choppy...

The Celtics are back on the schedule Tuesday night. A look via YES at KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce together at last...Or maybe not, if they don't come for the ride.

We're down to 10 days until opening night at the Izod Center. Cuts are coming shortly (can you possibly guess who's not going to make the team? Who shouldn't but will?), Kidd's still days away from a return from the back injury, Marcus Williams and Bernard Robinson are out until December probably, and who knows what else could happen in the next 10 days.

But it's time to get it started, anyway.

Joe

Game 3 Observations - Knicked In The Flesh

No Kidd, No Boki, No Marcus, etc... but the Nets did have Carter, Jefferson, Krstic and their new secret weapon, Darrell Armstrong.

Nets win 110 - 94, after taking a 10 point lead in the second quarter and then watching it dwindle down to a point at the half. Second half, apparently, no contest.

Boy, were the Knicks bad defensively. And that two-headed frontline monster, Curry/Randolph, needs some work yet.

Some things we noted from the first televised game of the season(I only saw most of the first half):

Carter and Jefferson looked like they were in mid-season form. Carter drained his first trey, and RJ took it to the hoop.

Nenad Krstic showed confidence in the knee, drained a three pointer (we heard he had extended his range) and looked like the weapon the Nets remember before the knee injury. Of course, he'll have plenty of ups and downs to come, but it was impressive as a first start.

Jason Collins had a monster first quarter defensively. Who needs offense?

Darrell Armstrong showed he has a way to go with conditioning and his overall understanding of the offense, but he way strong on both ends of the court (8 assists, some fine defensive work on his 4 steals, overall, a pain in the ass).

Jamaal Magloire still looks a bit lost with his Net-mates, but he still had 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 20 minutes. It'll get better, Netsfans, as long as he stays happy with his role. The Nets had 7 blocks overall - dare we dream?

Antoine Wright CANNOT finish around the basket. His big make-or-break year and he seems to have the yips around the basket. Still time for him to get better, and if he plays defense, and Boki makes shots, we won't necessarily care what he does on offense.

Robert Hite needs to make this team. Not for any outstanding reason, but the kid can play. In a limited role off the bench, when you need to make shots from outside, he should be the man (along with Boki).

The Knicks suck defensively. I know they it's the preason, but they got dusted by 40 to the Celts the night before, and after pulling to within a point at the half, they lost by 16?

Free throws are still the Nets issue...19 of 29 after an 8 - 16 start...but they shot the ball well (56%).

There's still plenty of work to be done, and plenty of worry over those missing, but still, you have to be encouraged (and damned happy that the Nets slapped the Knicks around again).

Joe

Kidd N' Play

Oh, boy...late night for Jason Kidd. Got into a bit of trouble, did he?

To be fair, we know almost no facts in this case yet (except apparently he was out at 2:30AM on the night before a school, I mean practice day), but this does not bode well for the Nets.

Neither of course does the fact that he's still out with the back issue, and no one seems to know anything except "he's a bit better" and "it's too early to panic".

The Nets need controversy swirling around them (much like last year) about as much as they need Mile Ilic on the roster. Last year chemistry and chaos (combined with injury) almost doomed the season as it started. With big expectations, the Nets can't afford another mediocre start, and more news in the gossip columns than in the sports pages.

Add in the fact that seemingly everyone else is hurt as well (Marcus, Bernard Robinson, Collins, Boki, Armstrong, and Boone - did I miss anyone), and suddenly, it's not too early to feel the pangs of panic.

Big game tomorrow night against the hated Knicks - is anyone going to be ready to play? Krstic might get a blow at some point, but he's still nowhere near ready. Let's see more Magloire against Curry and Randolph, I say. Of course, he might be one of the few healthy Nets by tomorrow night.

Let's hope the late-night Kidd story is a non-issue (but as we all know, where there's smoke, there's fire), the back is better soon, and all becomes well in Netsland.

Or else, it'll be a long, long season for everyone. Especially if the Captain ain't right.

Joe

Up On Cripple Creek?

Oh boy, Kidd's still down for the count. Nothing to worry about, Joe, it's minor and injuries occur all the time.

But Kidd's down for the count and won't play against the Knicks on Thursday.

Marcus is already down, Darrell Armstrong sounds like he should be, and Kidd is down.

That is one scary scenario, the Nets with the best point guard in the league going with a fourth or fifth string come opening night.

Why am I having flashbacks to that season before Kidd showed up?

Still time, hopefully it's a non-issue (and let's not get into the whole Olympic qualifying time costing him this season...).

Because if it is an issue, well, the Nets can easily find themselves piloted by Vince Carter. And we all know how that usually turns out.

Joe

Big Troubles?

All of those Netsfans wondering what NJ would do with all the bodies on the preseason roster can apparently hold that thought...

First Marcus Williams. Then Bernard Robinson. Now it's Darrell Armstrong's turn at the injury well. Word is a troublesome foot - don't know how bad, but enough for him not to play in tonight's exhibition game (and he was supposed to start...).

Plus, Kidd's tweaked back from the other night...

Now we know why Eddie Gill and Mateen Cleaves are in camp.

With the roster standing at 19, and three bodies temporarily on the DL (still don't know yet about Armstrong), plus Mile Ilic destined for the D-League, that leaves 15 healthy bodies (plus Kidd). Figure no way Cleaves makes the squad, and who knows about Jumaine Jones, so the Nets might actually have all the decisions made for them, at least for now, come roster time.

Two more weeks to decide - and health may play the largest factor in who stays and who goes.

Joe

TMRB - Too Many Roster Bigs

So our friend Rod Benson was cut today. For shame, he's a colorful character, and we can always use those around Netsfanland...

Good luck Rod - perhaps there is some team that needs whatever it is you bring to the table. Plus the comedy.

In more serious news, Jason Kidd's back tightened up on him at practice. Good thing it's early, because like each and every year that's Kidd's been around the Nets, the player they can least afford to lose is JKidd. Rest up, still another couple of weeks until the regular season.

Lots of navel gazing in the Sunday papers about the big man rotation, and how it's mighty crowded. Still think there is no chance that Collins doesn't start, which will probably get Jamaal Magloire a bit hot and bothered. Don't discount Malik Allen's potential role in the rotation, as well as Josh Boone. I could see both of those guys getting regular minutes, while there are nights when Jamaal Magloire's strengths simply aren't needed.

Until Nenad is ready to return and tear up the courts again, though, I'm sure every big on the roster will be important. At least there's skilled depth now at both power forward and center.

Let's see what the Charlotte game brings - at least RJ and VC are playing.

Joe

Boki Power

Without the Big Three, Boki Nachbar powers the Nets to a 91 - 90 OT win against the Sixers.

Film at 11.

Ok, maybe not, since it wasn't televised and apparently no fans showed up. Does a game count if no one shows up?

In any case, box score gazing, looks like Josh Boone had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. Antoine Wright didn't shoot well but got 17, and the Nets appear to be lucky to have escaped with a win, blowing a 20 point, second half lead.

Sean Williams didn't play because he was late for the team bus. So, that's not exactly a good start, and might doom him to the bench early because this was his best chance to get playing time. Let's hope he's understanding of the fact that this is a job, and showing up on time is part of the deal.

God bless Boki.

Joe

Game On

OK - the first preseason game tomorrow. No VC, No JKidd, No RJ, No Krstic.

And it's not on any local TV.

Enjoy!

Hopefully, answers as to the roster makeup of this team will come quickly. No Marcus and no Bernard Robinson for the first month or two, so that should make things interesting in terms of who stays and who goes.

In this Philly game tomorrow night, I say ride Boki as far as the Nets can take him. Let's see the new collection of tricks Boki's learned over the summer.

Oh, and I was at the CAA last night for the Springsteen concert. Wow, the parking situation and the confusion resulting from the construction everywhere (new stadium, Xanadu) is absolutely horrendous. Good thing the Nets don't sell out, but heaven help us all if there is a Sunday night Nets home game and a football game at 4PM...

Until tomorrow.

Joe

Pointed Lessons

So the Nets went to West Point today - think the Little General took in the surroundings? Ordered a carpet bombing somewhere?

Not much to report at the moment. Bernard Robinson is down with an MCL tear and will be lost for maybe 2 months. Not sure where he playing time is going to come from anyway, but you never want to see anyone get hurt, especially not in practice.

First preseason game is Friday night. Two more weeks plus and the Nets will be playing their first game of the season. Who will be ready to go? Not Marcus Williams. Not Robinson. Probably not Nenad Krstic, who thus far is working his way back from the knee injury. So there might be some short term opportunity for other role players to grab some time with both hands and make an impression. Not just the usual suspects like Antoine Wright and Boki Nachbar, but perhaps Malik Allen and Darrell Armstrong.

I'm off the Arkansas at 4AM tomorrow - be back in the saddle on Wednesday night (I may have a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen, so forgive me if I don't update until Thursday).

Joe

Practice Bloody Practice

Just back from the Nets open practice today at FDU. Logistically, a nightmare, as no one seemed to understand just how many people were broiling in the hot sun. By the time the long line starting moving, others simply walked right up and were let right in.

So much for order.

In any case, interesting day for the Nets. Front and center was Bruce Ratner, owner of a lonely heart (for Brooklyn, anyway) and Brett Yormark, head cheese du Nets. The full squad was assembled, and after two separate (and spirited) half court games when we arrived, it was time for the call to order.

A three quarter scrimmage then ensued, with Kidd, Carter and Jefferson leading the blues and Magloire, Wright, Armstrong and Boki leading the grays. We saw enough to know the following things:

1. Darrell Armstrong will fit right in with these Nets, as his chemistry (and the overall team chemistry) amongst those likely to stay was high. Of course, they WERE on public display. Best pickup overall.

2. Sean Williams is super-freaky athletic, and will cause some problems for some poor team, maybe not at the beginning of the season but certainly at the end.

3. For all the summer hype, Antoine Wright had a hard time finishing. His defense was stellar, but he couldn't finish around the basket, nor make jumpers.

4. Look out for Robert Hite, everyone. Not that I (or anyone else) was keeping score, but when he finally got into the scrimmage, he looked like the high scorer to me.

5. Liked the way Rod Benson went about his game, not itimidated in the least to be there. In fact, it looked like everyone belonged, and roster choosing might be more difficult than feared.

6. Bernard Robinson went down with some sort of knee injury before the scrimmage even started. Didn't look all that great, either, so let's see what the diagnosis is.

7. Mile Ilic is still stiff, and very tall, and very stiff. Did I mention he's stiff as a board?

8. Didn't see a whole lot out of Jamaal, but suffice it to say that he can only improve things.

9. I saw with my own eyes Jason Collins making 2 consecutive free throws.

10. No one appeared to be having more fun than Vince Carter. Kidd looked pretty happy, and in game shape (with little to no body fat, as has been reported). RJ was intense, at least until he hit two half-court shots in the interactive fan games portion of the practice to win it all.

11. Boki looked like he was even better than last season. Nenad was held out, of course, so there was plenty of time for all the bigs to get their work in.

12. Almost forgot - Malik Allen looked like he's been with this team for years. No way, based on less than an hour's worth of play I watched, is he NOT going to make the team.

13. Good efforts from Jumaine Jones, Eddie Gill, and Mateen Cleaves, but no way are they sticking around.

After they battled it out, they had some fun, interactive with the fans games, and then I had to leave the building for the next thing. Rumor had it there was going to be some player signings, but in all the years I've gone to these things, well, I don't recall there being much of that. More hustling the fans out to the parking lots. If someone reads this and stayed until the end, drop me a line and let me know if they did so.

But, take heart, Netsfans, this team, at least for the moment, looks deeper than it's been since the 01 - 02 season, and this roster is more talented top to bottom than that team was. Didn't see much resembling a new offense, but when Vince Carter dusted a turnaround jumper from about 40 feet, well, you can understand that he's going to get his points no matter what offense they run. Defensively, hard to say, as they were doing their best going at each other, but will it hold up when the season starts?

Fun day, would love to see the Nets get it right one of these days and treat the fans a bit better BEFORE they get into the arena, but with free t-shirts, calendars (large and small) and a free Bergen Record, well, it wasn't all bad.

You should be feeling better, Netsfans. Of course, it's a long season and things can happen, but they appear to have more pieces in place, better chemistry, and more hope for this season. When was the last time I said that?

Joe

A Week In Fantasy Land

Five days of camp in the books, and the living is good.

Desperate for bench strength, maybe a week ago the Nets were dying to bring in Allan Houston, and offer non-guaranteed contracts to fill out the bench.

Now, there's no room for Houston, but the salary cap isn't an issue.

Say something brilliant here, since cap-ology isn't one of my strong suits, maybe it's yours.

In any case, a good first week of camp, if the blogs and stories are to be believed. Sean Williams has shown his athleticism, Boki's on fire, Nenad's taking it real slow, Jamaal's a beast with a giant windspan, Rod Benson has a head on his shoulders (and he's a funny, funny man), and Malik Allen looks like he'll fit.

So, what does that leave the Nets with as a potential roster (and no, it's never too early to check, even if everything can and likely will change)?

We know Kidd, Carter, Jefferson, Krstic, Collins, Magloire, Boki, Williams #1, Williams #2 and Boone are locks. So far that's 10 of 15.

Unless they're traded, Antoine Wright and Bernard Robinson have to stay. That's 12.

So, there are 3 spots remaining for the likes of Malik Allen, Robert Hite, Darrell Armstrong, Jumaine Jones, Rod Benson, Eddie Gill and Mateen Cleaves. Oh, and I forget Mile Ilic, who is under contract, can't be moved, and likely won't be cut but sent instead to the D League.

If that's the case, then Ilic is 13, Allen is likely 14 and Armstrong is most definitely 15. Assume Williams is on the IR for a few months, so maybe Hite (who looked like a lock to make the roster out of the Summer League, before the myriad of additions came aboard) stays around. I can't see the Nets doing much more than that.

Of course, if money is no longer any object, Bernard Robinson could be a goner. But right now, he's 12th man in an 11 man rotation. Ilic also could be bought out to make some more room.

A roster this large and talented for a coach who likes to play what? eight, maybe nine tops every night?

Much more to come, much more to think about. But for one week, even with Marcus Williams' injury and the slow comeback for Krstic, you have to be full of hope.

Full of hope in the Izod Center, anyway. As I told the Times today, I guess that's better than the Southpole Igloo or the Roca Bowl...

Joe

Good Times

Armstrong in the house, and Netsfans couldn't be happier.

The news appears to be getting better, and the word is that Allan Houston's leaning toward NJ as well (ok, let's debate whether or not this is good news). So maybe some kind of tide is turning.

Let's hope so, anyway.

Had a great day up here at Niagara Falls. Had no idea, honestly, that this area was something worth noting. Nothing else to do here, but then again, living in NJ, right next to NY, what else would I expect.

Be back tomorrow with more player profiles, and the beginnings of the preseason preview.

Joe

Run Like The Wind

Someone pointed out to me today that Tony Massenberg, Ex-Net, is in the Wizards camp. He's 40, been a journeyman who's played with no less than 13 teams in the NBA.

Someone also pointed out that Cliff Robinson has decided to call it a career. He's 40, and has had one helluva career.

Go figure.

Good to see Hassan Adams latch on with Cleveland's camp. Too bad he was a cap casualty, since it certainly seems like the Nets will go over the cap (give Darrell Armstrong what he wants, we need the back up PG, Rod...).

Anyway, running and being in shape - that's mental and physical shape, mind you - were the orders of the day at camp. Perhaps the overriding thought was the Nets weren't ready to begin the season the last few years, when they sucked right out of the gate? Or is L. Frank just trying to break the mojo any way he can?

Well, anything to change up the same old, same old, with what is essentially the same starting 5 plus...

Get well soon, Marcus and good luck on that surgery tomorrow. Stay healthy, every other Net...

I'm headed out to Niagara Falls, NY for a brief spell. Will try to give some commentary in the Blog tomorrow night. If you don't see the site updated, the blog still might be...

Joe

Media Madness

Richard speaks! Jason speaks! Lawrence Frank speaks!

Ah, Media Day, the start of the official basketball season. With the team dinner this evening, and camp opening tomorrow morning, look for all sorts of news from all sorts of places on the Nets attempt to find respectibility. Or did they cover that today?

Anyway, the news out of camp on el Dia De Los Media was mostly positive - RJ's ankle is a "non-issue", Jason Kidd says there will be no days off in the Eastern Conference, Nenad is the key but he'll have to take it slow at first, Marcus is going to be out until likely mid-to-late December, and all is good.

Oh, and the Nets will take a look at Darrel Armstrong (who's 39, friends) and and when he's waived by Indy, which is expected tomorrow. He'll cost but he'll likely be the veteran backup that actually fits what the Nets are tying to do, even at his advanced age.

Dan Dickau will likely be bought out of his contract with the Knicks, now that they've traded for Jared Jordan. Does anything this Knick team does make sense? So maybe Dickau's a potential as well. Not sure that he'd fit, but for 10 minutes a game, he's capable.

One last thing - the Allan Houston watch drags on longer than an episode of Caveman, but he's said to be inching ever closer to the Nets. We'll see about that.

Tomorrow - meet the hopefuls and wannabes at Nets camp.

Joe