I was a Celtics fan and Bird, McHale, and Parish were the frontline and youngsters Dee Brown, Brian Shaw, and Reggie Lewis comprised the backcourt. Obviously I don't have anywhere near the same expectations of wins, but I truly believe this is going to be a fun team to watch, one that will reward you for being loyal to them by displaying first rate competitiveness, chemistry, and character. I'm quite sure that they will win some games that no one thinks they have any right winning, and it won't be because the other team was a pushover. They will also lose some heartbreaking games because they made a key mistake or three late. But my expectation is that they will rally quickly and be ready to go again next game. The most telling game early, IMO, will be the game at Indiana on November 8. It's the first back-to-back of the season, is on the road, and follows a home game against a tough opponent (Detroit). It's exactly the kind of game the Nets of the last few years would likely blow (if they even showed up) at such an early point in the season. As much as I wanted to believe the Nets could be a top team the last few years, I never felt genuine confidence that they would get there because they could never address their glaring frontcourt and depth weaknesses, the mismatch in skillsets of their two best players, and because the culture of the team did not fit the coach. That's all changed, and I have a feeling that one of the real breakout performances of this season will be by Lawrence Frank. I remember an exchange I had with ghoti a couple of years ago where I said (paraphrasing from memory here) that I didn't think Frank was the right coach for that Nets team, that I thought he would be best coaching a relatively young team with blue-collar vets, players without the kinds of inflated reputations or fragile egos that would make Frank fearful of holding them to universal standards or of whom he himself is in awe. I remember ghoti presciently remarking that he would rather have a team full of the kinds of players Frank could coach than to fire him in effort to preserve the "big three". The two players least suited (for different reasons) to Frank's authority as a coach were traded over the past 8 months. You could argue that Carter is the third of that trio, but the fact is that Carter demonstrates less ego than any NBA player who even begins to approach his talent level. Can you imagine Kobe Bryant's attitude if Phil Jackson decided to bring him off the bench for several games after an ankle sprain? (And, yes, Carter is certainly in the same league as Bryant in terms of basketball skills and talent, if not close in terms of competitiveness and accomplishments.) Remember when Scottie Pippen (post-Jordan) defiantly sat on the bench rather than participate in a last second offensive possession designed to get Kukoc the game-winning shot (which he hit)? Over the last few years, Vince went through a few such such scenarios where Jefferson was the go to guy and was nothing but supportive of his teammate and cooperative with his coach's wishes. His fear of stepping on Jefferson's toes was partly responsible for Carter's slow start to the 05-06 season, which he snapped out of after Jefferson talked to him and told him to "be who you are and don't worry about my touches or points". And what other flamboyant offensive talent and scorer has ever been so comfortable letting a lesser player assume the role of leading scorer, as Carter did with Jefferson last year? Carter is sensitive to criticism, reportedly in a very introverted way . . . i.e., he is likely to get very quiet when singled out by a coach for negative criticism but will soon bounce back to gregarious. However that trait apparently stems more from his patent desire to please, to be liked and likeable, than to any innate sense that he is too good for criticism. Frank, who has often praised what a good person he judges Carter to be (something he never offered about Kidd or Jefferson), seems able to therefore navigate Vince's ego better than Jefferson's. And though he seems in awe of Carter's talent, Frank has never seemed in awe of Carter's persona the way he was with Kidd. All around a healthier match. And, speaking of Carter, let's face it. No athlete has been more unfairly villanized in recent years (if ever). He's been served heaping helpings of negativity and hyperbolic insults from mainstream sports press since he committed the unforgivable sin of attending his college graduation. Every now and then, that unfairness and the related but distinct pronouncements (however valid or invalid) of his peers about his true value as a player get under his skin, and he shows his hurt by playing a long stretch of brilliant basketball. It happened last spring after Kidd asked for a trade, subtextually calling the whole team, and Carter especially, a bunch of losers. Phil Jackson had already added a few coals to the fire with his unsolicited callout, and Magic Johnson got in on the act with some truly stupid, ignorant criticisms. Carter responded by playing 28 games of terrific all-round basketball on one ankle. The good news is that Carter appears to have carried that essential personal hurt, if you will, forward to this season and (knock on wood) should be able to exploit it with good health. After following his entire career as closely as anyone, I feel like I read him pretty well. And I genuinely expect that he is about to put together the most consistently focused, and quite possibly the finest, full season of basketball of his career so long as he avoids major health issues. His motivation will not be unlike what it was in early 2005, post Toronto trade, when several local writers had the audacity to proclaim him the most electrifying and valuable player in the league for the last 3 months of that season. He may have lost a touch of athleticism since then, but he has gained some judgment and maturity and is, I believe, concerned for the first time in a real and immediate way about the legacy he will leave in the sport. For other reasons, Devin Harris is about to have by far his most productive year (again, health permitting). It's essentially a given, something that almost everyone knows and expects no matter what they think about the team as a whole. Before Harris stepped on the court for the Nets, some doyens of these parts said he had terrific speed and slashing ability but limited point guard skills. I do not agree with the latter assessment at all after watching him for 25 games or so with the Nets. His vision is fine and he shows to me a very nice balance between scoring and playmaking. What really stands out about his passing is his ability to anticipate and execute alleyoop and lob passes, which would seem to me to be difficult from a timing perspective with new teammates. That he did it so well in that area on the fly speaks to his overall feel for the game. With the confidence boost, offensive gameplan shifts, and freedom he is getting from Frank and from the whole organization, he is going to have a BIG year. Notably, having inexperienced youth up front is very different from having inexperienced youth in the backcourt and among your playmakers. Judgment, clock management, playcalling, tempo control, managing execution, all these are the domain of the Nets best/most experienced players in Carter, Harris, and Dooling. That will automatically mean less of the kinds of mistakes that doom teams with inexperienced and ineffective guards. So while the Nets big men will undoubtedly have their growing pains, they should see faster growth than should a team of rookie guards paired with excellent veteran bigs. Sure, the Nets young bigs will ultimately determine the Nets record this season. And while I wouldn't be surprised at a record of 30-52, I also wouldn't be shocked if they finish with over 40 wins and make the playoffs. Their intangibles are extremely good, and that leaves plenty of room for optimism.
are you serious? u realize this team is going to struggle right? It's a rebuilding year... plz dont have ur hopes too high.
excellent post, very well thought out and well written. I'm very excited. can't wait to catch a glimpse of this new team at the open practice tomorrow! tickets I ordered for this season came today too!!
Cool! Are you going to take some pictures or video? Please give a report when you get back. Can't wait to get some broader perspectives on the team.
BTW, Dave D's latest report (with more to come in his next post) gives even more substance to the notion of Sean making strides this year. http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2008/10/nj_nets_sean_chronicles_part_i.html Just adds to the feeling of optimism.
I'm not the kind of fan who will be discouraged by a poor record with this kind of team. Unless I'm misreading the entire vibe about this collection of people in this particular circumstance, I just know that I'm going to enjoy rooting for them. And that's all I demand of my viewer experience.
You just bought some games right not a season ticket package? Because I'm a full season ticket holder and I only got my pre season tickets because the ticket company they use went on strike to print the tickets. They said I should receive them by October 26th. Just out of curiosity were your tickets printed with like the Nets logo on it and the players pictures, or were they like the generic ones you get that just say Ticketmaster and what not. Cause if they have pics on them maybe the strike is over or something. I'm just curious cause if they are arriving sometime this week I want to make sure someone is home to sign for the package, don't want them to get sent to the UPS offices or wait for a return trip. Pet peeve of mine. By the way great post Im really excited for this season as well. Counting down the days.
Wow, I haven't heard of a strike, that stinks, hope you get the tickets soon. I don't have season tickets, just tickets to 7 games. The tickets have Devin Harris on it, with the Nets logo and topps on it.
If they have the Nets pictures on them it could mean the strike is over, or they got a new agency to print the tickets. Yeah I wasn't aware of a strike either until I got a letter with my preseason tickets. Hope they come soon cant wait. For anyone who has had season tickets before do you know if they come in like any sort of case or anything like that? My friend got season tixs last year and it came in a cool leather box. Just wondering.....so freakin excited for this season.
I'm pretty excited too, for those and other reasns that I've articulated in pieces over the past few months. I hope to write an article about it, but unfortunately work is getting in the way. :-(
Screw work! What's more important than hyping the new season? BTW, how in the heck did ghoti get his own smily? Next thing you know, he'll be on the presidential ballot (and I'd probably vote for him, given the choices this year!)
