Notable overall: CDR and Ryan Anderson can both play. Anderson's uncanny knack for boarding by using timing and anticipation was in clear evidence today. His shot looks very nice, even when it misses. Most impressive today were about 3-4 nice passes, not earth shattering just showing that he has excellent court awareness and basketball smarts. CDR is going to be able to score in this league. He knows how to get shots off from all over the floor with different release points and looks controlled doing it. Impressed me quite a lot defensively as well with his anticipation of passes. Sean's second half was better than his first, and that block on Wade was the kind of thing that can inspire a whole team for a stretch. Josh was unremarkable for 3 and a half quarters, but his play late in regulation and in overtime was the biggest factor in the Nets winning. He hit a nice baseline jumper in OT. I think it was the only one he took all game. If he can hit 2-4 of those per game to keep defenses honest and make free throws, the two areas he worked most on over the summer, he should be the starting center to begin the season.
Re: Team Hero: 10/9/08 (Postgame Discussion) Moved your post, FOMW. Made the thread after your post though.
Douglas Roberts was nice to watch, best player on the floor besides Wade. He was all over the place, I like this dude. Boone and Ryan Anderson had a good games on the boards but the Heat frontcourt is small so I want to see what they do against a big line-up. Sean Williams disappointed me, just looked lost again and bailed out the defense a lot.
Yeah, Sean Williams was disappointing, hearing so much raves about his offensive improvement, he is still pretty lost on the offensive if no one feed him with easy shot opportunity. Defensively he still try to get every block, sometimes I feel like he is letting his man blow by him on purpose so he can block them from the back. CDR, Boone, Harris was money. Gill looks like a solid 3rd string pg, totally outplayed Chalmers. Are the Nets playing the Heat again in England, or is it another team? Hope Yi and Lopez can get on the floor, but Frank is gonna go small is its the Heat again, who is going to go with a bunch of small forwards playing the 4 and 5.
So if CDR is the real thing, the smartest deal the Nets made this summer was signing him to a three year $2.03 million contract, with a team option in the third year, when he will be paid less than Ager is being paid this season, his third year.
As I figured, Frank wanted to give the bigs extended minutes in a game instead of chopped up short stretches where it's harder to establish rhythm and consistency. He told Yi and Lopez this morning they wouldn't play but that they would get their opportunity in London while two other bigs sit. I'm almost sure Swift will be on the bench. One of Boone or Swill will probably join him.
according to frank, yi and brook didn't play because he wanted to give everyone a fair chance at having minutes to show what they can do... he said some ppl aren't going to play on sunday and brook and yi will get a good amt of minutes... im guessing between 25-30. im guessing the 2nd unit today, gill, swift and hassell and ager aren't gonna play.. and hodge, hamilton, yi, lopez are. Sean williams still looks awkward to me and not strong enough to back down. he kept resorting to that turnaround jumper. harris had a really bad start aside from the first layup of the game. looked confused and had like 4 turnovers in the first half. played very well in the 4th tho and made up for it. ryan anderson looked solid and played like he deserves to be in the rotation either by hustling and rebounding or shooting the trey. Hassel and ager looked bad... hope they don't return. simmons didn't look too solid either... kept shooting the baseline 3. didnt really do much else besides get fouled on one play and made a free throw. gill had solid ball handling even with 2 turnovers.. made some contested jumpers which surprised me. his shot is more accurate than i thought it would be. stromile swift had some nice post moves but couldn't finish. beasley rejected his shots a couple of times even tho beasley is smaller. made a good % of free throws tho and went to the line quite often. boone had a great game... very solid on the offensive boards and was able to clean up on a couple of occasions. solid role player imo... but not a starter. he can't create on his own. Everyone has already mentioned CDR... who is nothing short but spectacular today. had dwyane wade like instincts in terms of stealing the ball on the passing lane and finishing on the breakaway. the 12 point spurt he had he made a couple of floaters and had a knack of getting the ball in the basket. amazing pickup at #40.
