<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Dave D'Alessandro writes he has never seen Vince Carter as down as he was Monday night and then again Tuesday morning at shootaround. Carter, he writes, knows he let the team down. More troubling, writes the Star-Ledger beat writer, is that Carter "doesn?t break guys down as easily as he used to" and "always crumples like a house of cards once the second defender meets him". D'Alessandro also thinks that Mikki Moore may now be a better player than Shareef Abdur-Rahim! Who knew?</div> Source
I have no clue what Vince's problem has been lately. He takes jump shots almost all the time, he dribbles too much, and makes bad decisions. Vince's so called career year for his contract has been a major disappointment, not only to the team but to his fans also. Vince needs to get his head in the game and play with desire and leave all of his off court problems to himself and not have to suffer while playing basketball. Without RJ now his is time to shine and play like the superstar that everyone knows him as and prove all the haters and critics wrong about his determination to the game. Bottomline is that Vince needs to start playing better basketball or else the nets will suffer.
This kind of reminds me of Carter's last couple of seasons with Toronto. He didn't like the direction the team was going, so he basically just gave up. He didn't attack the basket, and instead relied heavy on his jumpshots. I guess Carter doesn't feel motivated anymore to play at a high level. When Carter was first traded to New Jersey, he generated tons of buzz, and was ready to take the team to the next level. I guess this season he decided that Nets aren't going anywhere soon, so he's giving up. His contract runs out this season as well, so I guess he's looking at it like "I'm not coming back so why even try."
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This kind of reminds me of Carter's last couple of seasons with Toronto. He didn't like the direction the team was going, so he basically just gave up. He didn't attack the basket, and instead relied heavy on his jumpshots. I guess Carter doesn't feel motivated anymore to play at a high level. When Carter was first traded to New Jersey, he generated tons of buzz, and was ready to take the team to the next level. I guess this season he decided that Nets aren't going anywhere soon, so he's giving up. His contract runs out this season as well, so I guess he's looking at it like "I'm not coming back so why even try."</div> Do you honestly think he's thinking that? First off, his contract doesn't end this year, he has a player option. Plus, it's not like he's guranteed the 16+ million from another team if he decides to opt out of his contract. What team would want to pay him big money if the Nets do nothing? He's in the worst division in the NBA and clearly has a chance to make the playoffs as the 4th seed (potentially higher). He carried the team with Kidd two years ago and can do it again this year. For a player that has not been past the first round since 2001, he has a lot to play for. Right now, I don't really know what is, it may be a lack of focus or determination, but I can't see him playing like this for much longer.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Do you honestly think he's thinking that? First off, his contract doesn't end this year, he has a player option. Plus, it's not like he's guranteed the 16+ million from another team if he decides to opt out of his contract. What team would want to pay him big money if the Nets do nothing? He's in the worst division in the NBA and clearly has a chance to make the playoffs as the 4th seed (potentially higher). He carried the team with Kidd two years ago and can do it again this year. For a player that has not been past the first round since 2001, he has a lot to play for. Right now, I don't really know what is, it may be a lack of focus or determination, but I can't see him playing like this for much longer.</div> Good points. I didn't know he had a player option. But as you have mentioned, he seems to lack the determination and focus. Reminds me of when he was with Toronto
It doesn't matter what the problem is, but clearly it is affecting him a lot. Could it be personal issues outside of the NBA? Maybe, but then it isn't so crazy to assume he might not be happy with NJ right now. Am I saying that he doesn't care anymore? No, but at times it does look like it.
<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Do you honestly think he's thinking that? First off, his contract doesn't end this year, he has a player option. Plus, it's not like he's guranteed the 16+ million from another team if he decides to opt out of his contract. What team would want to pay him big money if the Nets do nothing? He's in the worst division in the NBA and clearly has a chance to make the playoffs as the 4th seed (potentially higher). He carried the team with Kidd two years ago and can do it again this year. For a player that has not been past the first round since 2001, he has a lot to play for. Right now, I don't really know what is, it may be a lack of focus or determination, but I can't see him playing like this for much longer.</div> I agree 100 percent.
Down on Himself, VC Seeks Redemption <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Net beat writers say they have never seen Vince Carter as down as he was Monday night in Sacramento and then again Tuesday morning at shootaround. Carter knows he let the team down. More troubling, writes the Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro, is that Carter "doesn?t break guys down as easily as he used to" and "always crumples like a house of cards once the second defender meets him". Lawrence Frank and Rod Thorn don't share those feelings and expect VC to rebound vs. Golden State.</div> Source
These are problem that plagued his later career in Toronto. He began shying away from the drive and hoisted up too many fadeaways. When he recieved the ball, he was less decisive and, because he ended up holding the ball for so long, the offense became more stagnant. And, even when he did drive, it was more predictable (baseline). With us, it was clear that he couldn't shoulder the load all by himself and wanted a change of scenery. However, I can't really understand why he's lost his motivation this year. I tend to believe that Carter doesn't get motivated by money as much as other NBA players, though.
Carter Bothered By Missed Free Throws In Defeat <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There were the missed free throws. And the pass to Mikki Moore's shoelaces that skipped out of bounds. Oh, and the foul trouble didn't help. Not to mention the season-low points. Vince Carter was dwelling on all of it yesterday, the day after a simply brutal game. This was not a happy man. He seemed more like the safety officer at Chernobyl than a perennial All-Star. With the Nets minus Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic, everyone is expected to expand their games to cover the losses. Carter, needed more than most, simply curled up and went south - deep south, as the Nets started a five-game road trip with a stinging defeat.</div> Read More
