http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2008/09/nj_nets_bigs_on_bigs_part_ii.html I like what he says about VC, other than that it's just about Najera being a Mama's boy
It's increasingly evident that the Nets want to start Lopez if not on Day 1 then soon after. And they REALLY want to start Yi. It's no accident that the first thing you see when you enter the Nets' practice facility (and team HQ) are the framed jerseys of Carter, Harris and Yi. I went back and took a look at Kiki's statements to ESPN the night of the draft and to YES the day of the rookie press conference...what he had to say about big men and shooting. It was meant to justify the trade for Yi, the drafting of Anderson and to a lesser extent the drafting of Lopez (who he noted is a better outside shooter than people think). But it could also have been a warning to Boone and Williams...start practicing those jump shots. "If you look statistically at what is extremely valuable, bigs who can shoot from the outside and stretch the defense have really become a big part of our game. The NBA has changed in recent history and if you can get big players who can shoot from the outside, they're extremely effective." The Nets have two very tall big men who have real offensive potential. Lopez and Yi could both be listed at 7' 1". They have been measured officially at 6' 11.25" in bare feet and 7 '0.5" in sneakers. (Kerber has also suggested, by the way, that Anderson may not be finished growing...remember he turned 20 in May.) If you're going to attract any of the big free agents in 2010, you would like to point to two developing 7-foot 22-year-olds. And to me, making sure those two guys have every opportunity to develop is far, far more important than clearing cap space.
What Kiki said is both interesting and puzzling. To me, it just sounds like pr bs for ddm. It HAS to make more bb sense to have the big man roam around the paint looking for jams and putbacks, even if he shoots .40+ from 3.
Yeah, it really sucked that Karl Malone didn't spend his career roaming around the paint looking for jams and putbacks.
He did. He was always around the paint, midrange, and not out looking for 3's. That's exactly what I want. Malone had a big man taking up space down low, and a guard who could shoot 3's with his eyes closed.
As nice as it is to have a big with a jumpshot, he needs to have a solid inside as well as outside game so we are not depending on a big who will bang and get the boards that the jump shooting big is taking. The only big we have now that's shown his worth on the boards has been Josh and he's more of a good positioning guy than a banger. More than ever, this year rebounding is going to have to come from everybody on the court this season for any chance at winning. The sooner Yi, Swat, Ryan, and Brook show some hustle on the boards the better.
Clearly you didn't watch him play. Malone made his living off the pick and roll and wasn't always around the paint on offense. Most big men don't have even a mid-range game and Kiki isn't talking about bigs just jacking up 3's.
we're saying the same thing. AROUND the paint is not in the paint. It's around the outside, say at high post or on the baseline a step away. I want Yi, Najera, Anderson to play exactly where Malone played. They can move around to spots where they create an opening, or just pick and pop/roll. What I don't want is big men parked out in the corner shooting 3's which is what the Nets appear to be talking about in all those press interviews. If Lopez goes to the weak side where the PF's midrange game is normally the strongest, where is the PF going? The 3 pt line. Then both young bigs are playing out of position. Just great.
I can't wait for the season to start! I'm hoping that the young bigs can pull through. It was a smart move getting a veteran like Najera to help teach and motivate these kids.
