http://www.nba.com/nets/news/AllAccess_Onl...f_the_Nets.html</p> --"There are certain players that are going to have to improve off of last year for us to be successful.” Okay...some skepticism by the GM. Later, he names who he's talking about: the entire bench.</p> --“Very excited about Jamaal Magloire coming in; I think he is a piece that is really going to help us from a physical standpoint that we haven’t had here in years. We know he can rebound the ball and he can also score inside. I think he will help complement our guys and give us an added front-court player that we’ve needed. We’ve needed more depth in the front-court and I think he adds to that.” Wow, that's very enthusiastic. The placement of this at the top of the interview also suggests he and the organization are placing a lot on Magloire's shoulders.</p> --“The obvious is the big three coming back. Richard wasn’t healthy last year until the very end and he came on like gang-busters. Hopefully Richard can continue there." Uh, I though RJ's ankle was completely healed.</p> --“And then you add a Krstic who is hopefully going to be healthy by the beginning of the season – he is progressing very nicely." He won't commit to Krstic being ready to go on October 31. Uh oh. Now I understand the enthusiasm for Magloire.</p> --"Is Boki going to play as well as he played last year? He’s proven he can play, now can he do better? Can Antoine take another step forward? The two rookies last year, Marcus and Josh, can they take a step forward? They are all questions you ask." Boki had a career year then took the summer off to prepare for his contract year...and yet there are doubts. Doubts about Antoine too. Seem to be less doubts about the two kids. Then again, the Nets hve to make significant decisions this year on Boki and Antoine, but not so with Wlliams and Boone.</p> --"Bernard Robinson will get a chance this year. The year we traded for Boki, he didn’t get into a game until the following year when he had a preseason under his belt and the coach felt comfortable. There’s a chance for Robinson to step up also.” Lot of copy for the 14th man. So we will do the same...If you look at Robinson's record, what stands out is that he is someone Charlotte, and before that Michigan, used at a number of positions, including PG and PF. Bickerstaff at one point said Robinson was the only Bobcat who could play all five positions. Good defender too. The Nets confidence in him seems to suggest they had a choice between keeping him, with his $1.08 million guaranteed contract, or Adams, with his $687,500 contract.</p> --“You have a rookie who is very athletic, but raw. How long is it going to take Sean Williams to figure it all out? We can’t rely on him to figure it out right away but we think he’s got upside.” What??? He's not the next KMart??? Maybe Sean's nickname should be "Tartare" as in Steak Tartare. Raw is now the word EVERYONE in the Nets' organization uses to describe him, from Stefanski and Thorn to Boone and Williams.</p> --“I thought Marcus had an awesome summer. Everything we asked of him from basketball, from coming here to going to Tim Grgurich’s camp out in Vegas with other pros and playing in the summer league. He fulfilled what we asked of and more from a basketball standpoint.” Prepare to be surprised, doubters! Oh wait..."only from a basketball perspective"? What else did you ask him to do, Ed?</p> --“If we’re healthy, we’re a good basketball team. I think we have numerous pieces. Health is a huge thing. I’d like to see us stay healthy and see where it falls. I think the addition of Magloire and a healthy Krstic are two big additions from last year.” Four references to "health" in a 47-word answer. Is there a message here, for fans? for Tim Walsh? for the gods of basketball?</p> --“The division got a lot harder over night. Boston, with their trades, is a very formidable opponent now. Toronto won the division last year. Zach Randolph goes into NY, very talented player, so they got better. Philadelphia played very well at the end and got good draft picks. The division as a whole got better.” Wait a minute, he doesn't list the Nets in the division! Is that the order he is predicting, not including division champs from New Jersey? Sure sounds like it.</p> What's missing: any reference in the Q and A to Mile Ilic or Jason Collins. Nor did he reference either of the two vets on vets minimum deals: Malik Allen and Robert Hite.</p> </p>
Good breakdown. As I've said before, Ed strikes me as the guy that always attempts to blow sunshine up the Nets fans collective skirt, so the items NI has highlighted that aren't pure positives are things to worry about.</p>
Luck with health is the key, how many games did our starters miss in the 01-03 runs, a handful, including those KMart suspensions? Don't count Deke's missed games. He wasn't much of a contributor. Now in the past what 4 years. Kidd, Krstic and RJ has missed major time.</p>
I know you like reading between the lines, but in my view it is a little misguided. This isn't high diplomacy or statements by the Fed with every word analyzed for some hidden meaning or signal. If Stefanski had prepared a written statement it may have more validity, but he often strikes me as someone who talks off the cuff in an interview setting. I think he was just trying to find a way tosay something positive abouteveryone on the roster.</p>
I think you might be overanalyzing some points. That being said we can certainly all agree how important health, bench play, and frontcourt play will be.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Remind me again where Buford is filling it up these days</p> </div></p> </p> Exit 18 on the Turnpike, the first Shell station on the right.</p>
i didn't even have a legitimate response to this. all i read was bullshit, bullshit, more bullshit, a side note of bullshit, and some bull mixed in together with some shit.</p>
He said Nenad and Magliore would be factors to our success, as would health. Wow really Ed? Ya think our frontline playing the way the should and our stars staying healthy is key? Really going out on a limb there.</p> I agree that we're over anaylzing him for lack of anything better to do because I sincerely doubt he practiced saying this in the mirror the night before he told this to the press and chose his words that carefully on purpose.</p> For the record, the quote from Bernie rgearding Bernard is a completely retarded. Bernard is a small forward who can swing to the two defensively only and to the 4 offensively only against bigger slower 4s. He is not Boris Diaw or even a poor poor mans version of him.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (reganomics813)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> He said Nenad and Magliore would be factors to our success, as would health. Wow really Ed? Ya think our frontline playing the way the should and our stars staying healthy is key? Really going out on a limb there.</p> I agree that we're over anaylzing him for lack of anything better to do because I sincerely doubt he practiced saying this in the mirror the night before he told this to the press and chose his words that carefully on purpose.</p> For the record, the quote from Bernie rgearding Bernard is a completely retarded. Bernard is a small forward who can swing to the two defensively only and to the 4 offensively only against bigger slower 4s. He is not Boris Diaw or even a poor poor mans version of him.</p> </p> </div></p> 1. Yes indeed</p> 2. He may have. He didnt say it to the press. He said it to he Nets press person.</p> 3. Bernie is retarded but he did say it.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nextlevelgame)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Unamused.</p> </div></p> We know.</p> </p>
Okay, now I am going to get realllly conspiratorial. Only Nets veteran not mentioned by Stefanski: Collins. Kevin McHale says the Wolves have a few deals on the table waiting to get done. One involves Juwan Howard, who the Nets considered trading for last year...when he was with Houston. Collins was going the other direction. Get my drift: Collins is going to be traded.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Okay, now I am going to get realllly conspiratorial. Only Nets veteran not mentioned by Stefanski: Collins. Kevin McHale says the Wolves have a few deals on the table waiting to get done. One involves Juwan Howard, who the Nets considered trading for last year...when he was with Houston. Collins was going the other direction. Get my drift: Collins is going to be traded.</p> </div></p> </p> Nah, Twin is just so forgettable, that even his bosses don't remember that he's on the team. In fact, I am SOOO convinced you are wrong, I'll wager my signature lineagainst it. If Collins is dealt by the start of the regular season, I'll change my signature to whatever you want for a week. Of course, if he ISN'T traded . . . you get the idea. you in?</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Nah, Twin is just so forgettable, that even his bosses don't remember that he's on the team. In fact, I am SOOO convinced you are wrong, I'll wager my signature lineagainst it. If Collins is dealt by the start of the regular season, I'll change my signature to whatever you want for a week. Of course, if he ISN'T traded . . . you get the idea. you in?</p> </div></p> </p> A week? C'mon Dumpy show some conviction and up that ante to a month. While I think yer right that JC is forgettable, it wouldn't suprise me if NJ called about Juwan.</p> </p>
And then there is this...</p> Nets website Atlantic Divison Preview, team by team, including the Nets. Matt McQueeny mentions Magloire high up (as did Stefanski), mentions Malik Allen...NO mention of Collins again.</p> http://www.nba.com/nets/news/AllAccess_Onl...on_Preview.html</p> </p> </p>
On one hand Juwan Howard is perfect for the east, hes a legit west conf. big that adds depth. On the other I would really hate to see Collins go the year he finally gets to come off the bench.</p>
