Reasons for the Nets Success

ToddMacCulloch11 · Dec 11, 2008

When I sat down with Nets point guard Devin Harris during training camp, I asked him what he would consider a good season in New Jersey.

"Playoffs," Harris said.

Really, Devin? Even with eight fresh faces on the roster and seven players with two or fewer years of experience? Even with a superstar (Vince Carter) many expect to a) come down with a freakish-but-debilitating injury, b) demand to be traded or c) come down with a freakish-but-debilitating injury and demand to be traded? Even with a front office slashing payroll like it is going out of business?

The answers: Yes, yes and yes.

"This group, right now, is really good offensively," Harris said in October. "If we can get our defense right, we'll be pretty good."

The Nets aren't stopping people. New Jersey ranks 27th in defensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions), 24th in points allowed and 19th in field-goal-percentage defense. But it does have an offense (101.4 points, fifth in efficiency) that is bordering on being unstoppable, which is why New Jersey (11-8 through Tuesday) has emerged as one of the NBA's biggest surprises.

The credit for the Nets' success can be divided three ways:

• Lawrence Frank. After spending the last five seasons running a Princeton-based, read-and-react offense with Jason Kidd, the Nets' coach installed a new dribble-drive attack over the summer with an eye toward maximizing Harris' penetrating abilities. Out was the traditional passing and cutting; in was a green light for Harris and Carter to attack the basket at will.

"Coach wants me to attack the basket all day long," Harris said recently. "That's the No. 1 option."
Give Frank credit: He knows his roster. The only way an offense based on penetration can succeed is with a solid complement of sharpshooting big men. Rookies Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson and second-year forward Yi Jianlian fit the bill.

"Vince and Devin get a lot of the credit and they deserve it," Frank said. "But the ability of our guys to understand their role and realize how important it is has been critical."

• Harris. There is no question that the Nets realized they were getting an up-and-coming player when they made Harris the centerpiece of the deal for Kidd last February. But even they couldn't have expected this. With an explosive first step and an improving perimeter game, Harris is averaging 24.4 points (on 48.5 percent shooting) to go with 6.1 assists.

After spending the first three-and-a-half years of his career as a playmaker in Dallas, Harris has embraced his chance to be a primary scorer. It's a role he has long craved. While a freshman at Wisconsin, Harris marveled at the offensive freedom Badgers coach Bo Ryan gave senior guard Kirk Penney. In one practice, Penney took the ball to the basket on six consecutive possessions. During a break in the action, Harris approached Ryan.
"He said, 'Coach, let me get this straight. I get to do that next season?' " Ryan said.

It was in Ryan's offense that Harris broke Wisconsin's single-season scoring record his junior year.
"There weren't too many players that Devin couldn't beat off the bounce," Ryan said. "I still don't think there are."

• Carter. Ask Frank about each of his players and he will sing their praises. But ask him about Carter and he starts to downright gush. With good reason: On a team devoid of veteran leadership, Carter has been a leader. With the pressure on him to score, Carter is averaging 22.5 points in teaming with Harris to form the NBA's most prolific backcourt.

"Vince has been phenomenal," Frank said. "Here's an eight-time All-Star and a Hall of Famer playing for a team that has significantly changed from when he re-signed [in 2007]. He has totally embraced the role of being a leader. Vince is unique in that when some players have success, they get territorial. They get insecure. [But] he celebrates other people's success."
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/chris_mannix/12/10/nets.notes/index.html

DevinNets34 · Dec 11, 2008

losing to the knicks is really unacceptable.

killa kadafi191 · Dec 11, 2008

toooooo soon to even being saying playoffs

adisodes · Dec 11, 2008

killa kadafi191 said: ↑

toooooo soon to even being saying playoffs
Click to expand...

But not too early to talk about the championship parade!!!

C'mon, guys, should I wear a blue or white VC jersey to the festivities!?!

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Reasons for the Nets Success

ToddMacCulloch11 Who me?

DevinNets34 Member

killa kadafi191 A Realist

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Reasons for the Nets Success

ToddMacCulloch11 Who me?

DevinNets34 Member

killa kadafi191 A Realist

adisodes Member

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