Warm Greetings
Off to Orlando, unfortunately just as the weather is warming up here. I'll miss the San Antonio and Memphis games, but I'll try to get them done and up on Friday night. Not sure that I can blog, but what the hey, check it anyway and see what turns up. You never know.
Just like these Nets. Now, clearly they were in over their heads on Sunday night against the Spurs, but still, despite playing badly for much of it, they never got down by the 20 or so they used to get behind routinely earlier in the season when you-know-who was quarterbacking the team. What did we learn, besides not being quite ready for the large step up in class?
Well, for starters, Marcus Williams needs much more seasoning as a pass-first point guard who can play (some) defense. That much was clear. On the defensive end, Devin Harris wasn't quite able to keep up with Parker either, but the guy's just getting over an ankle injury, and he has the cred, so we'll let him slide. But not Marcus.
Win, lose or draw - the Nets have to play Williams some type of consistent minutes to see if he can continue to develop. Sure, they want to make the playoffs, but that might be a pipe dream as early as the return flight home from this midwestern swing. So, get both Williams the playing time they need, because you could see a lineup of Harris, Carter (face it, he's almost untradeable), Jefferson, Boone and Sean Williams running the show next year, along with the other young talents they might be able to draft or acquire, with a sprinkle of vets like Trenton Hassell and Gana Diop or folks like them. Wouldn't be the worst thing, they just wouldn't compete for a title just yet.
Let's see what this team is made of during the next week - San Antoine is probably not going to go well, but the Grizz are beatable, and maybe they could steal one of the three matchups remaining, against the Hornets, Mavs and Rockets. Hey, you never know.
Just don't hold out hope for a playoff spot. Hopefully, there are more good times coming (draft/trades during the off-season), and maybe you all will get your way and a new coach will arrive on the doorstop. It's not the coach, right? It's the players? But who takes the fall for mediocrity? Usually not the players. If Rod decides to step aside, maybe Kiki sends him packing (and coaches the team himself...).
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's see what this team can do, and let's not criticize until we see the finished product, or at least until next week. It's all downhill from here - the last 23 games of the season, the playoffs begin, and where will the Nets wind up? Care to make any guesses?
I'll be back Thursday night to comment regardless of whether I blog the next three days or not. Here I come, 85 degree weather...
joe
Just like these Nets. Now, clearly they were in over their heads on Sunday night against the Spurs, but still, despite playing badly for much of it, they never got down by the 20 or so they used to get behind routinely earlier in the season when you-know-who was quarterbacking the team. What did we learn, besides not being quite ready for the large step up in class?
Well, for starters, Marcus Williams needs much more seasoning as a pass-first point guard who can play (some) defense. That much was clear. On the defensive end, Devin Harris wasn't quite able to keep up with Parker either, but the guy's just getting over an ankle injury, and he has the cred, so we'll let him slide. But not Marcus.
Win, lose or draw - the Nets have to play Williams some type of consistent minutes to see if he can continue to develop. Sure, they want to make the playoffs, but that might be a pipe dream as early as the return flight home from this midwestern swing. So, get both Williams the playing time they need, because you could see a lineup of Harris, Carter (face it, he's almost untradeable), Jefferson, Boone and Sean Williams running the show next year, along with the other young talents they might be able to draft or acquire, with a sprinkle of vets like Trenton Hassell and Gana Diop or folks like them. Wouldn't be the worst thing, they just wouldn't compete for a title just yet.
Let's see what this team is made of during the next week - San Antoine is probably not going to go well, but the Grizz are beatable, and maybe they could steal one of the three matchups remaining, against the Hornets, Mavs and Rockets. Hey, you never know.
Just don't hold out hope for a playoff spot. Hopefully, there are more good times coming (draft/trades during the off-season), and maybe you all will get your way and a new coach will arrive on the doorstop. It's not the coach, right? It's the players? But who takes the fall for mediocrity? Usually not the players. If Rod decides to step aside, maybe Kiki sends him packing (and coaches the team himself...).
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's see what this team can do, and let's not criticize until we see the finished product, or at least until next week. It's all downhill from here - the last 23 games of the season, the playoffs begin, and where will the Nets wind up? Care to make any guesses?
I'll be back Thursday night to comment regardless of whether I blog the next three days or not. Here I come, 85 degree weather...
joe
posted by Joe Netsfan at 8:17 PM
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