Last season, Vince Carter received a lot of criticism. He played on a bum ankle, regressed defensively, and just looked like he didn't care about the struggles of the Nets. Jason Kidd was frustrated, demanded a trade, got his divorce from Carter, and moved on to Dallas on his quest to win a championship ring. Another one of the Carter's critics was the great Magic Johnson. During a TNT halftime show, Magic said that Vince Carter had gone from a superstar to a regular player. Carter was not selected to the All-Star game for the first time in seven seasons. During the All-Star weekend, he got his mind together and finally got some much needed rest on his ankle. After the break was over, the young Nets team struggled without Jason Kidd. Vince stepped up and took over the Nets, and became the leader of the team. He showed tons of energy and passion, and looked like the younger Vince. He was the vocal leader and showed effort for the game. He played every game of the second half of the season, and even looked angry during the team's losses. Vince was one of three players in the league to average 20 points, grab six boards, and dish out five dimes. The other two? LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Despite his great play, the rest of the team did not step up, and the Nets fell short of the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. This year, the Nets will be without the other leading scorer of the team, Richard Jefferson. Carter will have to increase his scoring load, and look to set an example for all of his younger teammates. Carter underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery during the offseason to fix up his ankle, and will come into training camp healthier than before. You may not see Vince Carter jumping over seven-footers this upcoming season, but you will see a veteran leader, who makes his teammates better while managing to score over 20 points a game. I'm expecting 25 points, six rebounds, and six assists from Carter this season, and think that it is possible with the new faces on this Nets team. The Nets may not look like a playoffs team, but if Vince Carter plays like he did at the second half of last season, you never know what is possible. He led a Toronto Raptors team to the Eastern Conference Semi Finals, and if he plays like he did then, the Nets will contend for a playoff spot, led by half-man, half-amazing.
Before anyone says anything, I don't think the Nets will make the playoffs. I think they will surprise a lot of people though and make a little run to be close to the 8th seed.
nice analysis man. you all know im as big of fan of vince out there as anyone. ive followed him since the days when it was cool to be a fan of vince and stuck by him and always will. i am stoked for this season and i am getting chills just thinking about him playing like he did the 2nd half of last year for the whole year. we all can agree, vince was at his best with the nets WITHOUT JEFFERSON IN 2005. he was unstoppable 27ppg with infinite agressiveness and he played like that pretty much his entire 1st year with the nets. imagine if he can do that this year with no kidd and no jefferson to hold him back. the best part of thinking that is that HE DID DO IT LAST YEAR WITHOUT THEM. so im just totally pumped and looking forward to this season. we take for granted, yes, even i do, how good vince is and how good he can be. i just cancel him out when i think about the nets and sometimes forget that if he plays like a superstar for most of the season, the nets could get in the playoffs. and vince is proven to be a good 1st round playoff player. he can get a team single handedly into the 2nd round. and once in the 2nd round, he can get you to a game 6 or 7. and maybe finally he will be tired of losing in the 2nd round and play like he does in the 1st. so anything can happen. i see no reason to doubt vince and his ability. he still has it, and to those who actually watch him on a nightly basis *COUGH NOT YOU MAGIC COUGH*...they know he is a 25, 6 and 5 at least. cant wait!~
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy @ Aug 4 2008, 12:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He led a Toronto Raptors team to the Eastern Conference Finals</div> He was one shot short of the eastern conference finals....anyway, I think that Vince will have a great year, nothing less than 25, 5, 5. I think they will be anywhere from the 4th-7th seed in the east. I know that seems a little optimistic, but trust me I can feel it, that Vince will be great and I personally think the team's talent is underrated. Let's just hope that Frank can bring the talent out and use it in the gameplay.
I like how you just jacked this post from Bleacher Report without any reference and made it seem like you wrote it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (purplehaze89 @ Aug 4 2008, 01:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like how you just jacked this post from Bleacher Report without any reference and made it seem like you wrote it.</div> It is my article from BR.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy @ Aug 4 2008, 01:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (purplehaze89 @ Aug 4 2008, 01:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like how you just jacked this post from Bleacher Report without any reference and made it seem like you wrote it.</div> It is my article from BR. </div> Purplehaze just got OWNED!
Haha, I thought it would look cleaner without a link and quote box. I used them last time though when I posted my work from BR on S2.
Good stuff Legacy. I agree that Vince Carter will surprise a lot of people next season. I also cannot wait for this season to start!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy @ Aug 4 2008, 01:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (purplehaze89 @ Aug 4 2008, 01:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like how you just jacked this post from Bleacher Report without any reference and made it seem like you wrote it.</div> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">It is my article from BR. </div></span> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"> </span> Also I'd like to add if Vince drops 25/6/5 for the entire season and doesnt get hurt we are in the playoffs baby
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MaxaMillion711 @ Aug 4 2008, 12:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>nice analysis man. you all know im as big of fan of vince out there as anyone. ive followed him since the days when it was cool to be a fan of vince and stuck by him and always will. i am stoked for this season and i am getting chills just thinking about him playing like he did the 2nd half of last year for the whole year. we all can agree, vince was at his best with the nets WITHOUT JEFFERSON IN 2005. he was unstoppable 27ppg with infinite agressiveness and he played like that pretty much his entire 1st year with the nets. imagine if he can do that this year with no kidd and no jefferson to hold him back. the best part of thinking that is that HE DID DO IT LAST YEAR WITHOUT THEM. so im just totally pumped and looking forward to this season. we take for granted, yes, even i do, how good vince is and how good he can be. i just cancel him out when i think about the nets and sometimes forget that if he plays like a superstar for most of the season, the nets could get in the playoffs. and vince is proven to be a good 1st round playoff player. he can get a team single handedly into the 2nd round. and once in the 2nd round, he can get you to a game 6 or 7. and maybe finally he will be tired of losing in the 2nd round and play like he does in the 1st. so anything can happen. i see no reason to doubt vince and his ability. he still has it, and to those who actually watch him on a nightly basis *COUGH NOT YOU MAGIC COUGH*...they know he is a 25, 6 and 5 at least. cant wait!~</div> I would never doubt vince's ablility, I doubt the rest of the team.
I like how Vince is clearly the leader of the team and it will be interesting as hell to watch him lead this young team and fight for a playoff spot. Hope he doesnt get hurt!
Well I think the performance and numbers put up by VC are dependent on two factors; 1. How well he gels with Devin Harris over a 82 game season, whether Devin's slash and burn works well with the imminent iso-fest... 2. Whether we can get solid production at the 3. If the committee of Yi/Simmons/Najera/CDR/Anderson cant produce consistent offense at the 3, VC will be doubled a lot and unless he can draw fouls like some sort of machine, its going to be a very tiring and frustrating year for him chucking up 28 shots a night since nobody else wants the ball...
