i dont mind boone starting but he needs to get stronger... alot. he had a good game last night but the pace makers were so slow to rotate on him and he got easy finishes. there are games where he's pushed out of the paint quite easily and overmanned by opposing bigs.
The elite teams like Boston, Detroit, San Antonio, Phoenix, even New Orleans have a specific identity--they play a certain way, focus on certain things, and that focus extends through the entire team. You NEED that to become an elite team--a set of guiding principles and a style of play that you can fall back on when things are going poorly to regain your confidence and mojo. The Nets don't have that. Their bench is just a jumble of players with a jumple of strengths and weaknesses: Marcus, Hassell, Boki, Sean, Krstic, Swift, Diop. It's a problem. Their primary four players--Devin, Vince, RJ, and Boone have a lot of flexibility. The team management has to decide what their identity will be before figuring out who should fill that other starting big spot, and who should come off the bench. All of those bench players are NBA-caliber players, which is something the Nets haven't had for a while, but as I said earlier they are just a mish-mash of talents that don't mesh with anything. THe average and below-average teams are filled with players like that--players who have some talent and ability but don't work well together. This HAS to be the primary focus of the Nets this offseason. They won't get an elite big, not even if they deal off Vince or RJ, so I personally don't see the point in it. It's cheaper and easier to solidify the bench, in my view, and it would have about the same effect if they had an elite big man and a terrible bench without an identity. Anyway, back to Boone: he provides some necessary skills that no one else in this four-man unit can provide--he compliments them, and they compliment him. He doesn't demand the ball, but knows how to score garbage points, is a threat on the offensive boards, and is improving on defense. Once his FTs improve to about 65% (he'll be there next year), he'll be a very solid contributor.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Mar 27 2008, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The elite teams like Boston, Detroit, San Antonio, Phoenix, even New Orleans have a specific identity--they play a certain way, focus on certain things, and that focus extends through the entire team. You NEED that to become an elite team--a set of guiding principles and a style of play that you can fall back on when things are going poorly to regain your confidence and mojo. The Nets don't have that. Their bench is just a jumble of players with a jumple of strengths and weaknesses: Marcus, Hassell, Boki, Sean, Krstic, Swift, Diop. It's a problem. Their primary four players--Devin, Vince, RJ, and Boone have a lot of flexibility. The team management has to decide what their identity will be before figuring out who should fill that other starting big spot, and who should come off the bench. All of those bench players are NBA-caliber players, which is something the Nets haven't had for a while, but as I said earlier they are just a mish-mash of talents that don't mesh with anything. THe average and below-average teams are filled with players like that--players who have some talent and ability but don't work well together. This HAS to be the primary focus of the Nets this offseason. They won't get an elite big, not even if they deal off Vince or RJ, so I personally don't see the point in it. It's cheaper and easier to solidify the bench, in my view, and it would have about the same effect if they had an elite big man and a terrible bench without an identity. Anyway, back to Boone: he provides some necessary skills that no one else in this four-man unit can provide--he compliments them, and they compliment him. He doesn't demand the ball, but knows how to score garbage points, is a threat on the offensive boards, and is improving on defense. Once his FTs improve to about 65% (he'll be there next year), he'll be a very solid contributor.</div> Another haul from the Dumpy goldmine. Great post. If I had to name the one reasonably obtainable commodity that could substantially improve the Nets next year, it would be a RELIABLE wing shooter who is at least average as a defender and passer. I think we have enough guys that are defenders and extra possession guys, especially if we keep Diop. We have enough guys that can penetrate, finish if it's available, and collapse defenses in any event. But good team morale -- and, yes, good defense -- relies to some extent on good shooting. I haven't seen a team yet that didn't find a whole lot more motivation to defend in a tight game when they finished a well-executed offensive possession with a wide open jumper made rather than with one missed. It's terribly disheartening to do everything right for 24 seconds except that one thing that calls for the most precision and individual talent: putting the ball in the basket from distance. No matter how much people preach "defense wins championships", name me the last team that won a title that didn't have at least 2 guys getting significant minutes that could flat out light it up? Since jumpshooting is what most good defenses are willing to give up first, it has to be an area of strength in order for any team to be considered "elite". And so, in broad terms, I would favor that this team develop more of an offensive personality, the personality of an opportunistic running team (but not a team that artificially forces tempo) that in the half court relies upon a combination of pick and roll/pop; post isolations for Carter, Krstic, and Jefferson (in that order); motion plays aimed almost exclusively at getting back doors or catch and shoots for RJ and Carter; and wing isolations for Jefferson and Carter when they have favorable matchups. If Sean can actually develop some post moves over the summer, so much the better. And the team should look to average around 106-108 ppg (about 12 more than their current average). Now that the Nets clearly have their point guard of the future, they should think about combining Marcus and Swift (his 6M is a good salary component, especially since it will expire after next season) and perhaps a pick to land someone like a Mike Miller (3rd team necessary, obviously) or Anthony Parker. Or they could keep Marcus and aim a little lower for someone like a Matt Carroll. But they've absolutely got to find a consistent shooter between 6'4" and 6'8" to come off the bench.
I agree that they need a consistent outside threat... someone who can hit a 3 pter or a long 2 when they are open, because everybody in our team as of now is too inconsistent... mike miller would be a dream for me. i think he would be perfect...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>'m very confused by your post. You first talk about the Nets needing to trade to get an elite post player and then you start talking about trading for JON. That is like saying, you need to buy an ice cream cone, here let me sell you a lump of coal.</div> ??? you just said my post was confusing and then just said that???? I started off in my first post by talking about why the nets were starting Boone. Then in my second post i suggested that the nets need to trade for a post player like JO. He had a shitty year this year because of injuries and stuff, and furthermore, i think hes doing what Vince did in his last year in Toronto. Jermaine can easily get back to all star shape if hes motivated. Definatley a gamble i think is worth taking for the nets.
no way we trade for JO... im sorry not a fan of him at all... and it would slow down the progression of SWAT, BOONE, and DIOP... NO thanks! i want elton brand if we trade for anyone!
Well, then the choice is win now by making a trade, or completely rebuilding. It would be a mistake for the nets to be stuck in the middle, or they're going to be like the sixers for the past five years and be a high lottery/7-8 playoff seed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 27 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>'m very confused by your post. You first talk about the Nets needing to trade to get an elite post player and then you start talking about trading for JON. That is like saying, you need to buy an ice cream cone, here let me sell you a lump of coal.</div> ??? you just said my post was confusing and then just said that???? I started off in my first post by talking about why the nets were starting Boone. Then in my second post i suggested that the nets need to trade for a post player like JO. He had a shitty year this year because of injuries and stuff, and furthermore, i think hes doing what Vince did in his last year in Toronto. Jermaine can easily get back to all star shape if hes motivated. Definatley a gamble i think is worth taking for the nets. </div> JON sucks and doesn't help a team win. He is also mentally weak. JON isn't a post player. He is a soft, fade away shooting tall guy. So again, why in the hell talk about the Nets adding a post player and then talk about JON?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 27 2008, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>because he has the ability to average 20/10/2.5 and no one on the nets can even come close to that</div> Pretty stats in a vacuum mean nothing. Zach Randolph puts up pretty stats too. JON does not fit with the Nets and he doesn't help teams win.
Dude is 23 years old in his second season averaging 9.9 points and 8.3 rebounds as a starter...he's a very solid defensive player who is more physical defensively than any big man on the team...he makes opposing players work offensively. While not a shotblocker, he still manages to get one a game while altering shots with his length. He is a superb rebounder especially on the offensive glass. Offensively he sets screens and looks to cut to the basket...he's an underrated finisher. He doesn't have a great jumper but it's improving...and he is a solid passer. The kid has the talent and abilty to get better...and he seems to have found the hunger to work and improve. He's a starter. He's also a center...which is the only downside.
the points and rebounds are pretty stats. the double teams he draws and the blocks he gets also help teams win. not to mention, he does play post D better than anyone the nets currently have. Before the pacers became a modern day jailblazer team, they were the second best team in the east after detroit. however, now the pacers are in a rebuilding stage, and JO is being shopped. they aren't in a position to win no matter what all star post player they have.
JON cannot average 20/10 at this point. Hell, I don't think he can average anything unless he starts playing in the league (injury reference).
remember the talks about VC for JO... ? damn tht wasnt a good trade at all... carter can average.. (now, with injury) around 20.9 5.9 5 JO is averaging (with injury) 16 7 ??? and the trade was CARTER and MARCUS for JO.... thts not a fair trade...
Don't say he CANT average 20 and 10 because he probably will next year, especially in the east. Carter is not helping this team at all. Sure he gets stats, but he plays with no heart and no motivation. I admit JO might not be the best replacement but i would honestly take a gamble on JO then have VC on a losing team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 28 2008, 02:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><s>Carter</s> Jermaine O'Neal is not helping this team at all. Sure he gets stats, but he plays with no heart and no motivation.</div> Fixed it for you. Really, insert O'Neal like that, and that statement would become 100% true. (While, I believe it's only 60ish% true for Carter.) Also, I do believe that right now, Carter is playing with the most heart on the Nets. He wants this team to make the playoffs, and right now, he's putting this team on his back and attempting to carry this team the rest of the season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 28 2008, 01:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Don't say he CANT average 20 and 10 because he probably will next year, especially in the east. Carter is not helping this team at all. Sure he gets stats, but he plays with no heart and no motivation. I admit JO might not be the best replacement but i would honestly take a gamble on JO then have VC on a losing team.</div> True if you said it at the beginning of the year. Since then two things have happened 1) Carter is leading this team (not just in scoring, well, maybe Boone is now? ) with heart, motivation, intensity, and excellent effort on the defensive end. 2) When was the last time Jermaine played without serious concerns about his injuries? Plus we've got enough big men. I'll give you this though, Jermaine is more cap-friendly, since his contract is with less years. But if you want to talk money then lets also talk about who sells more tickets; now, and in Brooklyn.
Like i said, it would really be a gamble, but do you really see the nets winning anything with Carter?? ya, neither do I. Also, JO isn't the only big out there that they could trade for, hes just the first player that came to mind thats on the trading block, plus i really think that after he gets healthy he'll be motivated, and physically back to where he was a couple years ago.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 28 2008, 02:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Like i said, it would really be a gamble, but do you really see the nets winning anything with Carter?? ya, neither do I. Also, JO isn't the only big out there that they could trade for, hes just the first player that came to mind thats on the trading block, plus i really think that after he gets healthy he'll be motivated, and physically back to where he was a couple years ago.</div> The only person that could get JO motivated was Reggie. And I don't see a player like him on the Nets. I'm not sure about the future of the Nets with Carter. I mean, we could be a winning team....this IS the East, after all. On the other hand, I definitely do not see the Nets winning with JO. Hell, I'm not even sure I could see JO playing with the Nets. Is he ever not injured? Oh, and you talk about him not being the only big we could trade for. What other players come to mind that are on the trading block?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dino33 @ Mar 28 2008, 12:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>remember the talks about VC for JO... ? damn tht wasnt a good trade at all... carter can average.. (now, with injury) around 20.9 5.9 5 JO is averaging (with injury) 16 7 ??? and the trade was CARTER and MARCUS for JO.... thts not a fair trade...</div> Carter for O'neal is a fair trade...problem is that the Pacers would want Carter, Marcus and Boone...that sucks.
