Hot Topics
The Pistons on the road...then the Raptors at home...then three straight on the road, starting with the Cavs...
Sounds like the impossible dream to me, having to win these next 5 (and really, the remaining 7) and hope that Atlanta stumbles. Hey, the Nets had their chances...but that early stumble with all the home losses, then the 9 game streak, and well, here we are.
Just take a look at the month by month records for a second:
October/November: 7 - 8, but only 3 - 6 at home (they beat Philly, Portland and the Lakers on the road, but couldn't beat the Heat or the Grizz at home)
December: 7 - 8, but only 4 - 5 at home (that makes 7 - 11 at home in the first two months - losses to the Knicks, Clippers and Kings at home).
January: 5 - 10, but 3 - 3 at home (this was the month of the big swing towards the road losses, part of the 9 game losing streak that pretty much killed the Nets)
February: 7 - 6, the only winning month of the season (and the Nets were 5 - 2 at home)
March: 5 - 11 (4 - 3 at home, which means a 1 - 8 on the road).
April: 0 - 1 thus far with 7 games to play
The biggest winning streak was 5 games, spanning December and January (and including the surprising knockout of the Magic in Orlando). That was with Jason Kidd all but on his way out the door, and with an upcoming 9 game losing streak not 3 weeks later.
So we expect the Nets to run the table now? Since Devin Harris took over, the Nets have not won more than 2 straight games in more than a month. And they absolutely cannot win on the road (the Nets are 1 - 8 0n the road since Harris took control, with the Knicks being the only victims).
What makes this a hot topic, anyway? Just from the standpoint that it is what it is - the Nets can't control what's already occured (giving games away that matter now) and they can't get out of their own way with everything on the line.
It's a hot topic for the draft position they get if they don't make it.
And it's important for Netsfans to come to terms with the end of an era - 6 straight years of playoff basketball.
Why not give Marcus Williams and Sean Williams more playing time and see what occurs? Yes, theoretically they are still in it, but if Atlanta wins the first game of a home and home with the Sixers, well, let 'em loose. There is lots to figure out for next season.
Why don't Stromile Swift and Trenton Hassell play more? Dave D said it's because Lawrence Frank wants to win. If that's the case, he's sure got a funny way of showing it. And that just means that there is likely no place on the team for Swift, Hassell or Mo Ager next season as long as Frank is around.
Detroit is next - they might be beatable if they're starting to rest their key players and the Nets go all out, but then again Detroit's subs could whip the Nets first team right now, at least defensively.
Last hot topic - since we're likely going to be at the end of the season with no playoffs, it's time to start thinking about what changes should be made. I know that many of you will say "Fire Frank", and it's getting harder to argue against that by the day, but what do the Nets need to do now that the future suddenly is now? Let me know some thoughts - try to keep them realistic.
Joe
Sounds like the impossible dream to me, having to win these next 5 (and really, the remaining 7) and hope that Atlanta stumbles. Hey, the Nets had their chances...but that early stumble with all the home losses, then the 9 game streak, and well, here we are.
Just take a look at the month by month records for a second:
October/November: 7 - 8, but only 3 - 6 at home (they beat Philly, Portland and the Lakers on the road, but couldn't beat the Heat or the Grizz at home)
December: 7 - 8, but only 4 - 5 at home (that makes 7 - 11 at home in the first two months - losses to the Knicks, Clippers and Kings at home).
January: 5 - 10, but 3 - 3 at home (this was the month of the big swing towards the road losses, part of the 9 game losing streak that pretty much killed the Nets)
February: 7 - 6, the only winning month of the season (and the Nets were 5 - 2 at home)
March: 5 - 11 (4 - 3 at home, which means a 1 - 8 on the road).
April: 0 - 1 thus far with 7 games to play
The biggest winning streak was 5 games, spanning December and January (and including the surprising knockout of the Magic in Orlando). That was with Jason Kidd all but on his way out the door, and with an upcoming 9 game losing streak not 3 weeks later.
So we expect the Nets to run the table now? Since Devin Harris took over, the Nets have not won more than 2 straight games in more than a month. And they absolutely cannot win on the road (the Nets are 1 - 8 0n the road since Harris took control, with the Knicks being the only victims).
What makes this a hot topic, anyway? Just from the standpoint that it is what it is - the Nets can't control what's already occured (giving games away that matter now) and they can't get out of their own way with everything on the line.
It's a hot topic for the draft position they get if they don't make it.
And it's important for Netsfans to come to terms with the end of an era - 6 straight years of playoff basketball.
Why not give Marcus Williams and Sean Williams more playing time and see what occurs? Yes, theoretically they are still in it, but if Atlanta wins the first game of a home and home with the Sixers, well, let 'em loose. There is lots to figure out for next season.
Why don't Stromile Swift and Trenton Hassell play more? Dave D said it's because Lawrence Frank wants to win. If that's the case, he's sure got a funny way of showing it. And that just means that there is likely no place on the team for Swift, Hassell or Mo Ager next season as long as Frank is around.
Detroit is next - they might be beatable if they're starting to rest their key players and the Nets go all out, but then again Detroit's subs could whip the Nets first team right now, at least defensively.
Last hot topic - since we're likely going to be at the end of the season with no playoffs, it's time to start thinking about what changes should be made. I know that many of you will say "Fire Frank", and it's getting harder to argue against that by the day, but what do the Nets need to do now that the future suddenly is now? Let me know some thoughts - try to keep them realistic.
Joe
posted by Joe Netsfan at 9:30 PM
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