History
Pages
Page One: 1976
- 1981
Page Two: 1981 - 1986
Page Three: 1986 - 1991
Page Four: 1991 - 1996
Page Six: 2001 - 2003
Page Seven: 2003 - 2005
Page Eight: 2005 - 2006
Coach Cal sweeps clean the Nets bench – and pulls off one of the biggest robberies of all time. Nets trade Robert Pack, Khalid Reeves, Ed O’Bannon, and Shawn “Stiff” Bradley to Dallas for Chris Gatling, Jimmy Jackson, Eric Montross, George McCloud and Sam Cassell. Though it doesn’t pay off in the standings, the new Calipari recruits, plus first round pick Kerry Kittles and holdovers Gill and Jayson Williams, set the team off in a much more positive direction. At least, we hope.
1997 - 1998 Just Win, Or Else I'll Yell
Calipari trades for Keith Van Horn at draft day, completing the remaking of the team (for now). Young and aggressive, the Nets win 43 games and make the playoffs, giving the Bulls a run for their money (although, once again, a first round playoff sweep). Calipari yells, screams and stomps his way through the season, however, making enemies that will wind up costing him.
1998 - 1999 Year of the Strike/Starbury Arrives
When the season finally begins after a contentious player lockout, the Nets lose 17 of their first 20 games and Calipari is fired. Don (Career Assistant) Casey is hired, Stephon Marbury is acquired (proving that there is someone in the organization with some brains) and the team suffers more injuries, including what would be a career ending broken leg for Jayson Williams, the heart and soul (and funniest man in the NBA) of the team. Nets miss playoffs, finishing 16 – 34. The curse of Dr. J continues.
1999 - 2000 New Season, New Owner, Same Suck
Williams works to make a comeback, is within days of playing, and breaks his foot in a practice. Kittles sits out most of the year with a damaged knee. Van Horn forgets how to play for a spell (now I know it was because Casey had no system). Marbury is the only bona fide threat, and the Nets open 2 – 15 and finish at 31 – 51. Casey is mercifully relieved of his duties after the YankeeNets partnership takes over the team. Mr. Steinbrenner wants change, Mr. Steinbrenner gets change.
2000 - 2001 All Star Chile, Slight Return
New GM Thorn & New Coach Scott have Stephon Marbury but little else as injuries and ineptitude (a recurring theme with this franchise, perhaps?) mar a season in which Marbury makes the All Star team for the first time. Injuries to Van Horn, Kittles, Feick, Gill and eventually Martin and Marbury doom The First Season of Joe Netsfan to a 26 - 56 record and "science experiment gone wrong" status.
Highlights: Marbury's 50 points vs the Lakers and wins over Sixers, Spurs and Knicks (Games 64 and 72).
Lowlights: Just about the rest of the season, including the West Coast Death March (Games 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46) and playing out the string with 4 scrubs and Van Horn. So much pain made for so much comedy, though.
Archive: 2000 - 2001 Season
1976 - 1981 | 1981 - 1986 | 1986 - 1991 | 1991 - 1996 | 2001 - 2003
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© 2001 Shawn Belschwender and Michael Kozlowski
