Frustrated by the end, all eyes are on Rod Thorn this offseason
Backlash Addresses
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Backlash #9 - June 2, 2004
Take 'Em
Back To Brooklyn
Joe:
I love this team and year after year it's heartbreak. Year one
of the Finals run was great . I could live with the let down, no one thought
they could get their but they did.
Year two of the Finals they should have been in game seven but they choked,
gave up a nice lead and let the Spurs pop Champagne on their home floor.
Now this year they play like heartless, bottom feeders they didn't even
put up a fight they got utterly stomped into summer break. Rod thorn needs
to pull his head out of his ass and get us a pure shooting guard. Soooooo
long Kerry Shittles. Along with a lot of other things that need to be
done. This team needs to remember what this stomping feels like. This
team needs to win the title next year. If not goodbye, NETS. Have fun
playing in NYC.
- Disgusted
Nets fan, May 20, 2004
Disgusted:
Ouch. Obviously written in the waning moments of what was the most disappointing
game of the Jason Kidd era. Hopefully, you've calmed down, righted the
ship, and come to the following realizations: 1) the Nets will retool,
hopefully for the better; 2) It's likely Kerry Kittles, a player who did
nothing spectacularly but contributed despite his inconsistency, will
not return; and 3) it's gonna be awhile before the Nets get to Brooklyn
(in which case, I'm outta here). All I can say is, though it was a painfully
irritating season, you've got next season to look forward to (a healthy
and rested Kidd, Martin, RJ, Lawrence Frank, and maybe even a new bench).
- Joe
Binky's Lament
Joe:
NBA playoffs are not going to be fun to watch anymore. I can't say Nets in 6 anymore. Me and Tim Bassett Jr. were talking ( cause we are aquaintances now) during the game and neither of us were pleased. I mean honestly it was bad. Jason's knee wasnt bothering him either. It didnt bother him when he was dribbling or running, it only bothers him when he shoots (my ass).
And Rodney Rogers is the biggest fat ass ever ( not really, but right no it feels it). Ok, he hit a few threes or so, but why did he do it? To get my hopes up, of a huge come back to tie it or at least make it look repsectable, and then just lose it all anyway.
Kenyon Martin, wow, he wanted to win. I feel as if he tried. He had a double double, which isnt hard for him, but what can you say for the other nets? Nothing.
I am disappointed that their season ended in this manner. At least within 10, at least have Jason Kidd score.
A sad and teary eyed,
- Binky, May 20 , 2004
Binky:
The off-season is going to suck alright. At least this promises to be an active summer for Nets news.
- Joe
No Nets In Brooklyn
Joe :
I just wanted to drop a line and tell you I plan to submit the attached letter to the area papers here in Brooklyn. It mentions your website. These papers cover the ongoing Ratner story.
Also, I thought perhaps it might be suitable for your site as well as the contact information below. Your current link for letter to the editor is not working.
55 Washington Street Suite 624,
Brooklyn NY 11201
P: 718-834-9350
www.brooklynpapers.com
Last but not least, GO NETS!
- Chris Suswal, May 20, 2004
Chris,
Thanks for the catch on the link - we've fixed it. Chris' editorial is printed below.
New Jersey Deserves Chance to Keep Nets
To the Editor:
Like many NY-area sports fanatics, I've chased lots of dreams while rooting for my beloved New York and New Jersey teams. After all, the pursuit of a championship is like an unfolding reality show drama.
Now my hopes turn to a different angle: 360 degrees.
The pending development deal that would move the New Jersey Nets basketball team to a new home in downtown Brooklyn has miffed many on both sides of the river. The complicated issues include: eminent domain, public funding, massive construction, horrendous traffic, site property, city zoning, and jobs feasibility.
It is true that New Jersey fans haven't consistently sold out the Nets current residence. However, during the past three years that fan base has been building in number despite: 1) the notion of the team's move, and; 2) a team that has historically been at the bottom of the league's standings.
Some argue that New Jersey doesn't even deserve to keep the Nets because of poor ratings at the turnstiles. But the team has only recently been competitive, let alone of championship caliber. The excitement of playoff games have produced capacity crowds for the past couple weeks. If a new arena deal for the mass transit hub of Newark, NJ, which the New Jersey Devils hockey franchise is now seeking, would also certainly make an impact on attendance.
Let's face it. Ratner and company are part of the effort to bring the 2012 Olympics to New York. Just look at the recent media blasts for the proposed Upper West Side stadium. Concerned residents and fans alike should know that both the actual sale and the Nets move have yet to be approved by the National Basketball Association (NBA). Likewise, New York is still awaiting the final results of the Olympics committee.
Perhaps the buying group led by Charles Kushner is waiting in the wings. Kushner, who matched the asking price but was not awarded the sale, may just still want another shot at having his bid considered. Regardless, I hope the NBA defeats the prospect of a move, even if they validate the sale itself.
Anti-arena groups in Brooklyn need to further get involved with pro-New Jersey rallies and petitions. The website www.Joenetsfan.com has already organized protests and NBA lobby efforts but it's not enough. If the Nets are to stay in New Jersey, public outcry needs to come to the forefront. Keep saying "NO!" and we'll all possibly see our proverbial three-point buzzer shot go "swish" into the Nets goodnight.
By Christopher Suswal
Park Slope, Brooklyn
- Joe
Fat Man With A Big Void
Joe:
A fitting nickname for Rodney would be Rodney "Worthless" Rogers.
- Edan Lisovicz, May 16, 2004
Edan,
I sense frustration here...look for Rod to depart somehow in the off-season via trade. Maybe he'll sense his failures and opt out of his contract to sign with Boston...hey, you never know.
- Joe
Backup Plan
Hey Nets fans:
Al here and I just wanted to start off by saying that the these remaining playoffs games are soon meaningless without my beloved NETS in them!!! But I really wanted to stress the need for us to pick up a back-up point guard!!! J-Kidd is not a spring chicken anymore, especially with his knee problems, so the biggest thing Thorn can do for me this off-season is get a decent PG and sign K-Mart!!! NETS IN 05!!!!!!!
- Alex Jones, May 24, 2004
Alex:
Amen, brother. But he can't just sign a back-up point guard, but one that actually fits in with this offense (in other words, keep you Overtons, Childs, Goldwires, etc).
- Joe
The Duck Flies The Coop
Joe:
First off, don't be put off by the name, I'm simply a New Jerseyan displaced in NYC, but I'm NJ through and through.
That having been said, as my subject line implies, I think it's time for a serious housecleaning. I think Rod needs to boil it down to 5 or 6 players he really wants to keep, and rebuild completely around them.
Here are my ideas, keepers first:
Obviously the big three stay (depending of course, on the Kenyon situation this summer.) JKidd, RJ and K-Mart are as promising, cohesive and athletic as any big three in the league. They simply lack the role players around them to compliment their skills.
Train, you can stay based on your dedication, quiet workmanlike performance, and the occassional thundering dunk you throw down. You are gunna need to pick up the production a bit this year, however.
Veal, you proved your worth this playoff, and every team needs the doofy white guy who brings the hustle plays. Whether it's you, Madsen or Jeff Foster (scary!!), we need those loose balls and floor burns.
Zoran, we gotta keep you simply because you can't judge a guy based on a weak rookie year, but I can almost assure you that you will be number three in the PG rotation after this summer.
And now, those we are shipping out of town:
Bye bye Kerry. I love ya, but I've always needed something more consistant from ya. Have fun in Charlotte, you could be one of the jewels in that crown.
Twin, oh Twin, you're seven feet tall and I dunk more often than you do. I know we always hear about your "intangibles," but I HAVE to get more than 4 points and 5 rebounds from my center. Call your three-point shooting brother in Utah, maybe Greg Ostertag is ready to hang it up.
Tamar and Brandon, you guys are like the little brothers we keep around to make us feel better about our game. You never got better, and the clock has run out. In all fairness, Brandon did start making a few shots this year, but it didn't change the fact that he would shoot the ball every single time he touched it, which doesn't really fit with the offense. Later.
Rodney. You are the shorter, fatter Van Horn. Sometimes you make us stand up and scream "DEEEBO!!!' when you fly over someone's head and slam down a monster dunk or drill 2 or 3 three's in a row. But mostly you make us shake our head in disbelief when you miss another layup. It was a nice try, but your sixth man of the year award is years in the past now.
Sweet sweet Lou. I loved you. I really did, but you are not the dead eye shooter you once were. We need a guy that can come off the bench, stand in the corner, and make the defense scream as they run across the floor to helplessly try to put a hand in your face as the ball effortlessly drops through the twine. Granted, you were forced into a lot of PG service this year which is not your forte, but you don't have that burst of energy that the bench needs. Sorry.
I know, I know. Many of these guys are great Nets. They are part of the team, play within the system, etc. But three years on now, it's clear that that system isn't working. We lack the dominant big man, the solid backup PG, and the sniper. Now, 'Zo's making rumblings about a comeback, and 7'1" Nenad is heading stateside this summer, so MAYBE some of our big men problems are out of the way, but the shooter and the PG are still MIA.
This looks to be a deep draft, and Miami and Dallas have shown us that rookies can fit in to an NBA offense pretty quickly. And speaking of Dallas, I have to believe that both they and Sacto, after three years of the same disappointment, may be looking to make some changes. Michael Finley would look mighty nice in a Nets uniform, no? And how about someone like Erick Dampier, kind of an unsung big man that can actually match up with some of the Western Centers...... just some thoughts.
Those are my ideas. I know they seem kinda harsh and cold, but it's not called show friends, it's called show BUSINESS. And the bottom line is, if those guys aren't cutting it anymore, it's time to bring in someone who can do the job. Rod made a name for himself by pulling the trigger on some big trades a few years ago. Now is not the time to start getting hesitant.
Jersey till I die,
- The Duck, May 24, 2004
Duck:
You're not being harsh - you're being realistic. I'm with you - the Nets kept this bunch together for probably one year too long, and now it's time to be cold and calculating. Can't argue with any of your moves, though the Nets will probably retain one or more of the above players you're getting rid of (like Lucious Harris, especially if Kittles is on the move).
Like I keep saying: look for Thorn to make a major trade for someone else's headache to get a shooter, inside presence, depth or all of the above. What he's got to work with will be a challenge, but hey, that's why he gets the big bucks.
The only thing that I'd take exception to, actually, is the statement that this is a deep draft. There aren't many players who look to be ready to step in and help in this one (and we've got one coming in with Nenad Krstic already), and those that are are likely to be long gone by the time the Nets get around to it.
- Joe
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