Final Grades For One And All
Well Netsfans, it's time for that time-honored tradition of handing out end of season grades - a process that comes far earlier than any other time we've done this since 2001. It was a shame the Nets didn't make the playoffs after such high expectations in training camp, but then again, we should have seen the signs early and often. Of course, we were hoping the Jason Kidd wanting to be traded angle was just a nasty rumor (like the one about RJ being gay last season), but alas, it was all true, and the season just turned out to be one big lie.
We'll get over it, of course, and move on with future Net endeavors, but not before putting the final nail in the coffin with the grades. I hope you approve.
Vince Carter: Grade - B
I hope you cut me (and Vince) a bit of slack here. He started off the season hurt, saw his averages drop dramatically, and seemed to have lost a step or three, and with it, the ability to challenge the defense. But he recovered nicely after healing (and I would say after Kidd took his mind games to Dallas), averaging some startlingly strong numbers in addition to scoring and showing some maturity on the court.
Richard Jefferson: Grade - B
Started off terrific but tailed towards the end, at least offensively. He found himself a Top 10 NBA scorer, but with that came a lack of defensive responsibility that seemed to more than outweigh his offensive contributions most nights. Without RJ shutting down the opponent's scorer, the Nets were often dead in the water since no one else played much defense either. He might be a goner, but that contract of his is pretty significant for a second or third banana.
Devin Harris: Grade - B
He wasn't around all season, so he didn't have the luxury of playing the game at full speed while knowing where his teammates could always been found on the court. Still, he's got burners on his legs, and he's a better shooter than anyone realized. He can create havoc on both sides of the ball, and he appears willing to initiate contact, which makes him that much more valuable. Just don't count on double digit assists nightly.
Josh Boone: Grade - B-
He wasn't expected to contribute much, and wound up being their best big man up front for much of the season. He was strong rebounding and finishing on the pick and roll, and he'll block a shot and play some defense. He still struggles with the better bigs, however, and he needs to get stronger and find a consistent jump shot. Maybe he's best coming off the bench, but if he's here and he's healthy, he's got a role next season.
Nenad Krstic: Grade- C-
He probably deserves an incomplete, because we didn't see much of the old Krstic. He struggled with his conditioning and his mental approach, so he came back and then disappeared for much of the season. His shot and footspeed needed work, but he lacked consistency because he couldn't put in the work he needed to until after the new year. He's a restricted free agent who could fit in next season, and be a godsend if he returns to his old form.
Boki Nachbar: Grade - C-
Boki was very inconsistent (or perhaps, consistent in his inconsistency, like the rest of the team) - when his shot was falling, or he was making things happen, he was good. But when the shot wasn't falling, he contributed next to nothing. Struggled with some injuries as well, but he was being counted on to be the lead scorer off the bench, and too often he was anything but. He's a free agent, but we'll see if the Nets can afford to bring him back.
Marcus Williams: Grade - D.
I'm probably going easy on Marcus, for all the mistakes and the glaring lack of defense that he plays, he may well deserve an F. He lost time to the injured foot at the start of the season, then seemed to forget anything he'd learned and wound up looking worse than in his rookie year. He's not a pass-first point, but too many times this season his shot selection was highly questionable, and when the shots didn't fall, his already non-existant defense got worse. He may not be around next season.
Gana Diop: Grade - C
He came in the Kidd trade, and he proved early on that he can rebound and defend the paint, something no one else seemed capable of doing this season. But he's no offensive whiz, and when he's in the game, often the Nets are playing 4 on 5 offensively. He does what he does pretty well, though, so he'll be highly regarded this off-season.
Sean Williams: Grade - C-
He's got the athleticism but not the head for the NBA game, yet. He found himself briefly a starter, and his energy was contageous, his shot blocking skills outrageous. But he couldn't seem to grasp what the Nets were trying to do, so by the end of the season, he was riding the pine. Although I ask, defensively, what Net was grasping what they were trying to do? He's got a lot more work ahead of him.
Darrell Armstrong: Grade - B
He gets a B for his enthusiasm alone. Great, positive influence as the third PG, he saw spot duty when he saw it at all, and he had a few moments in the sun. But he's going to be 40, and isn't going to stick around for the rebuilding unless he joins the coaching staff.
Stromile Swift: Grade - C-
What in the world does this package of athleticism do when he hits the court? He had some shining moments, but he's also one who disappears at times, or worse, finds himself on the bench or in the doghouse because his play doesn't match up to his skills. He's got a player option for 2008 left on his contract, so unless the Nets can move him or his mistakenly opts out, look for more Stro next season.
Trenton Hassell: Grade - D
Plays defense. And that's about it. For that, he's probably highly overpaid, and after a brief glimpse of him when he first arrived from Dallas, that's not someone the Nets need next season, guaranteed contract or not.
Mo Ager: Grade - D
What can he do? Shoot some? Play any defense? Not sure, since his playing time was extremely limited, and mostly to garbage time at that. The Nets don't really need him except for practice play.
Keith Van Horn: Grade - Inc.
You can't grade a ghost, even one who again hit the lottery...
Lawrence Frank: Grade - D
Perhaps that's harsh, but this group of Nets was never able to find any chemistry. That falls on Frank just as much as the stupid losses to horrible teams does. If his job is to motivate, well, he failed on all counts, because he never could get this team to play defense either. What's left is enough to build upon, but if he can't get the Nets back to the playoffs, or worse, off to a decent start, then he'll be trying to hook on with another team as an assistant next year.
Rod Thorn: Grade - C+
We like Rod, after all, he's the guy that built this team from loserville into a 6 time playoff participant. But, he's been spotty with his personnel moves of late, from signing Jamal Magloire to drafting Antoine Wright to bringing in Alonzo Mourning, but he redeemed himself by prying Harris away from the Mavs for Kidd. A very critical off-season will likely cement his legacy or condemn it.
We'll get over it, of course, and move on with future Net endeavors, but not before putting the final nail in the coffin with the grades. I hope you approve.
Vince Carter: Grade - B
I hope you cut me (and Vince) a bit of slack here. He started off the season hurt, saw his averages drop dramatically, and seemed to have lost a step or three, and with it, the ability to challenge the defense. But he recovered nicely after healing (and I would say after Kidd took his mind games to Dallas), averaging some startlingly strong numbers in addition to scoring and showing some maturity on the court.
Richard Jefferson: Grade - B
Started off terrific but tailed towards the end, at least offensively. He found himself a Top 10 NBA scorer, but with that came a lack of defensive responsibility that seemed to more than outweigh his offensive contributions most nights. Without RJ shutting down the opponent's scorer, the Nets were often dead in the water since no one else played much defense either. He might be a goner, but that contract of his is pretty significant for a second or third banana.
Devin Harris: Grade - B
He wasn't around all season, so he didn't have the luxury of playing the game at full speed while knowing where his teammates could always been found on the court. Still, he's got burners on his legs, and he's a better shooter than anyone realized. He can create havoc on both sides of the ball, and he appears willing to initiate contact, which makes him that much more valuable. Just don't count on double digit assists nightly.
Josh Boone: Grade - B-
He wasn't expected to contribute much, and wound up being their best big man up front for much of the season. He was strong rebounding and finishing on the pick and roll, and he'll block a shot and play some defense. He still struggles with the better bigs, however, and he needs to get stronger and find a consistent jump shot. Maybe he's best coming off the bench, but if he's here and he's healthy, he's got a role next season.
Nenad Krstic: Grade- C-
He probably deserves an incomplete, because we didn't see much of the old Krstic. He struggled with his conditioning and his mental approach, so he came back and then disappeared for much of the season. His shot and footspeed needed work, but he lacked consistency because he couldn't put in the work he needed to until after the new year. He's a restricted free agent who could fit in next season, and be a godsend if he returns to his old form.
Boki Nachbar: Grade - C-
Boki was very inconsistent (or perhaps, consistent in his inconsistency, like the rest of the team) - when his shot was falling, or he was making things happen, he was good. But when the shot wasn't falling, he contributed next to nothing. Struggled with some injuries as well, but he was being counted on to be the lead scorer off the bench, and too often he was anything but. He's a free agent, but we'll see if the Nets can afford to bring him back.
Marcus Williams: Grade - D.
I'm probably going easy on Marcus, for all the mistakes and the glaring lack of defense that he plays, he may well deserve an F. He lost time to the injured foot at the start of the season, then seemed to forget anything he'd learned and wound up looking worse than in his rookie year. He's not a pass-first point, but too many times this season his shot selection was highly questionable, and when the shots didn't fall, his already non-existant defense got worse. He may not be around next season.
Gana Diop: Grade - C
He came in the Kidd trade, and he proved early on that he can rebound and defend the paint, something no one else seemed capable of doing this season. But he's no offensive whiz, and when he's in the game, often the Nets are playing 4 on 5 offensively. He does what he does pretty well, though, so he'll be highly regarded this off-season.
Sean Williams: Grade - C-
He's got the athleticism but not the head for the NBA game, yet. He found himself briefly a starter, and his energy was contageous, his shot blocking skills outrageous. But he couldn't seem to grasp what the Nets were trying to do, so by the end of the season, he was riding the pine. Although I ask, defensively, what Net was grasping what they were trying to do? He's got a lot more work ahead of him.
Darrell Armstrong: Grade - B
He gets a B for his enthusiasm alone. Great, positive influence as the third PG, he saw spot duty when he saw it at all, and he had a few moments in the sun. But he's going to be 40, and isn't going to stick around for the rebuilding unless he joins the coaching staff.
Stromile Swift: Grade - C-
What in the world does this package of athleticism do when he hits the court? He had some shining moments, but he's also one who disappears at times, or worse, finds himself on the bench or in the doghouse because his play doesn't match up to his skills. He's got a player option for 2008 left on his contract, so unless the Nets can move him or his mistakenly opts out, look for more Stro next season.
Trenton Hassell: Grade - D
Plays defense. And that's about it. For that, he's probably highly overpaid, and after a brief glimpse of him when he first arrived from Dallas, that's not someone the Nets need next season, guaranteed contract or not.
Mo Ager: Grade - D
What can he do? Shoot some? Play any defense? Not sure, since his playing time was extremely limited, and mostly to garbage time at that. The Nets don't really need him except for practice play.
Keith Van Horn: Grade - Inc.
You can't grade a ghost, even one who again hit the lottery...
Lawrence Frank: Grade - D
Perhaps that's harsh, but this group of Nets was never able to find any chemistry. That falls on Frank just as much as the stupid losses to horrible teams does. If his job is to motivate, well, he failed on all counts, because he never could get this team to play defense either. What's left is enough to build upon, but if he can't get the Nets back to the playoffs, or worse, off to a decent start, then he'll be trying to hook on with another team as an assistant next year.
Rod Thorn: Grade - C+
We like Rod, after all, he's the guy that built this team from loserville into a 6 time playoff participant. But, he's been spotty with his personnel moves of late, from signing Jamal Magloire to drafting Antoine Wright to bringing in Alonzo Mourning, but he redeemed himself by prying Harris away from the Mavs for Kidd. A very critical off-season will likely cement his legacy or condemn it.
posted by Joe Netsfan at 9:25 PM
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