I would like for the Nets to make the playoffs. Washington isn't that far ahead and who knows, if they go on a run like they did last year they could come up with the 6th seed. That way they would avoid playing the 2 power houses in the first round. As for the Mavs, that's undecided for me right now.
I want both teams to make the playoffs this year. While I don't doubt that we'd get a better pick at, say, #10 than at 16, I think it's equally important to get meaningful playoff experience for your younger players and to instill in them the confidence that -- right now -- they are part of a playoff team. Krstic, Boone, Marcus, Sean, and even Devin need all the playoff seasoning they can get if they are going to produce in a couple of years when the team might be ready to seriously contend again. I want Dallas to make it this year because I want the immediate pick. I also want them to make the playoffs next year, after one more flurry of off-season moves to try to get them over the hump. And then I want the whole house of cards to crash in on them in 09-10, just in time for the Nets to get their lottery pick and position themselves to acquire LeBron James. Sweet.
The Giants have taught us that if you play hard all the time, even if you don't have to, good things will happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Feb 24 2008, 10:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Giants have taught us that if you play hard all the time, even if you don't have to, good things will happen.</div>
I want that extra pick, so I want the Mavs to make it. I want the Nets to make it so they can prove something to themselves in the post-Kidd era. For a pretty young team that confidence can go along way. Plus at this rate if we don't make the playoffs we'll be right around the 9th seed, and I don't see us getting that high in the lottery.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Feb 24 2008, 10:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Giants have taught us that if you play hard all the time, even if you don't have to, good things will happen.</div> "That's the gayest shit I've ever heard" -Dave Chappelle Source (could only find the audio)
i hope the nets miss the playoffs since the difference between the picks would be great...you have to miss the playoffs sometimes to get a chance to hopefully pick up that franchise player who will play for you in his rookie contract years and this is the year to do it with all that's been going on...also, the giants is a good underdog story but that is so much harder to duplicate in the nba where you will have to go through 4 best-of-7 series. unless all of the other playoff teams' superstars get injured there is almost no chance for the nets to win it all... i want the mavs to miss the playoffs as well because i want the 2009/2011 UNPROTECTED picks...if the mavs make the playoffs then our pick will be near the bottom for sure...if they don't who knows what will happen to them next year? a little bad luck and they might crash and burn and the pick is UNPROTECTED! if they don't then we'll pick in the same range as 2008 anyway with the mavs making the playoffs...also the longer we have the picks the longer we can use it as an asset if a nice trade opportunity comes along...
Really? I was under the impression that if the Mavs didn't make the playoffs that protected pick means we lost it forever.
Right now, you would have to say that Sean Williams, taken at #17, was worthy of a lottery pick. Those who cover the 2007 Draft Class for ESPN, SI and NBA.com put him in top 5 every week. He has had some problems the last week. No big deal. He would not escape the top 5. You would also have to say that Josh Boone and probably Marcus Williams, taken at #23 and #22, were worthy of lottery picks...and if you don't think so, take a look at the middle of the first round in the 2006 draft...Bust-o-rama. Boone has 9 double doubles this season, second only to LaMarcus Aldridge and is improving his shot-blocking and free throw shooting. He would probably go top 5 to 10 right now, Williams probably 10 to 15. (Maurice Ager, are you the next Net redemption from that draft??) Being in the lottery doesn't guarantee lottery-level talent and vice versa. As for Dallas, if you're a Net fan, you should root for or against based on whether you think the 2008 or 2009 draft class will be stronger. If you think the 2008 class is stronger, root for them to make the playoffs. If you think the 2009 class is going to be stronger (and it may be), then root for the Mavs to miss the playoffs. I don't think Mark Cuban will let the Mavs fall so far that they will be in the lottery in 2010. The guy is worth $8 billion. So don't get your hopes up.
I'm pragmatic and I want Nets management to understand that they are still far away from competing for a championship. I also want the Nets to get in the lottery because a chance at top 3 pick is better than not having one. However, I can't root for the Nets to lose, so I'm left to also root for the other Eastern Conference teams to pass the Nets in the standings. As for the Mavs, I want them to make the playoffs because I want the Nets to have the asset of an extra draft pick this June because it opens up more trading options.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Feb 24 2008, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Really? I was under the impression that if the Mavs didn't make the playoffs that protected pick means we lost it forever.</div> no...mavs don't make the playoffs that 2008 pick becomes an unprotected 2009 pick and the 2010 pick becomes a 2011.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jirohkanzaki @ Feb 25 2008, 01:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Feb 24 2008, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Really? I was under the impression that if the Mavs didn't make the playoffs that protected pick means we lost it forever.</div> no...mavs don't make the playoffs that 2008 pick becomes an unprotected 2009 pick and the 2010 pick becomes a 2011. </div> Oh. Well then fuck J-Kidd. I hope the Nets make the playoffs and the Mavs bottom-out.
I hope Nets and Mavs both make the playoffs. The Nets probable should then trade both picks for a lower lottery pick.
I dunno. Mixed on this...I want the Nets to make the playoffs, definitely. I don't see it as being that bad for the Nets to have a 15ish pick. And I'd like to see everyone make the playoffs, and for the youngins to get as much experience as possible. As for the Mavs, I don't really give a shit either way. Unless they could improve by next year, it really doesn't matter to me whether they make the playoffs this year or not.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Feb 25 2008, 01:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>As for Dallas, if you're a Net fan, you should root for or against based on whether you think the 2008 or 2009 draft class will be stronger. If you think the 2008 class is stronger, root for them to make the playoffs. If you think the 2009 class is going to be stronger (and it may be), then root for the Mavs to miss the playoffs. I don't think Mark Cuban will let the Mavs fall so far that they will be in the lottery in 2010. The guy is worth $8 billion. So don't get your hopes up.</div> I tend to think that if the Mavs miss the playoffs this year they'll probably miss them next year too. I mean, it'll essentially be the same team only with everyone a year older. The only trade-able asset they've got left is Howard, and I can't think of any deals involving him that make the Mavs better. If Cuban ends up signing Kidd to an extension, I'm not sure he'll have the financial flexibility under the cap to really keep the Mavs competitive. Money's an advantage, but when you're THAT far over the cap and filled with huge contracts, it can be hard to start over. Isn't that what essentially happened to the Layden Knicks?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Feb 25 2008, 12:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Being in the lottery doesn't guarantee lottery-level talent and vice versa.</div> Obviously not. No one said that it did. But having a higher pick clearly gives you a better chance at picking the best player possible.
I'm telling you, just play hard and do everything with the most integrity possible! The Giants won the Super Bowl, and I have no doubt they will draft a Hall-of-Famer with the 31st pick because karma deems that they deserve it. Face it, history will remember the Giants as great, great champions because of the way they conducted themselves for the last two seasons. That's the kind of organization that treats its fans like gold! They bought commercials JUST TO THANK THE FANS!! I realize some of you are not Giants fans. That must eat away at your soul every day. You must be asking God "Why? Why didn't you make me a Giants fan? Why must I suffer rooting for this inferior franchise?" Well, here's a chance for the Nets to provide you with a little of the feeling we have. Get on board. Root for them to make the playoffs. Root for RJ to play hard again. Root for VC to slay the critics and do what everyone said was impossible. Root for the role players to make superhuman contributions. And if they lose valiantly in the first round, I'm sure there's a Hall-of-Famer to be found with the 16th pick. I just know it.
the way VC and RJ have been playing, I don't think they'll be too happy about missing the playoffs. I think we're seeing Marcus follow their lead, if those 3 play hard + Boone keeps getting double doubles, we should be pretty good to secure a playoff spot. Hey, Devin can keep up with Rondo. Sean has contained Garnett at times, and Boone has too. Hassell will be a pest to Pierce and/or Allen. wishful thinking again.
Is it just me or are the Nets basically the basketball version of the Giants? Started off with absolutely no Defense but half way through the year the D picks up. Shockey got injured and Boss took over well, Kidd got traded Harris/Williams could be good. We play better on the road than at home. We could sneek into the play-offs and who knows.. Idk about Detroit in the 1st round but I know we can take Boston.
