From first glance it may seem like all the injuries the Nets have suffered so far this year has been a complete disaster, Kidd starting the year on IR, Ron Mercer heading there shorty after the start of the year. Then Zoran goes to IR. And now Zo is out. It has all added up to a 7-13 start. But there might be a bright cloud under this gray sky. This time period has allowed us to discover, some guys we werent expecting much from at the start of the season. I mean with all the injuries in the backcourt, Travis Best a guy, who's career was projected to be over by his last years in Dallas. And was only brought here to be a third string insurance policy behind Planninic & Vaughn, has been forced into the starting lineup(ie Kidd starting to take the job back even tho he didnt last game). And produce very solid #. So now we have a legitimate backup for Kidd to the point that when Kidd does get completely healthy, he still wont have to play those 40+ minute games anymore. The Nets can keep his minutes in the 35mpg range for the entire season. And still feel confident with T.Best in there playing 13-15mpg. And Kidd chances of staying strong & healthy for the entire year, will be greatly increased. Also due to injury the Nets have been forced to speed up the development process of Nenad Krstic. Krstic was expected to come & sit at the end of New Jersey's bench this year, like many of his overseas counterpart bigman have done in their 1st season. But Coach frank gave him a chance a couple weeks ago. And now with Zo out, his minutes have raised even more. And Krstic has produced, not nessacarally stats wise. But he has done alot off little things to insert himself as a pressence down low. Working on the backboard, keeping shots alive, also changing a few shots on D. And I think those are the thing we where looking to see if he could do. We all know the knock on bigs that come from overseas, they are afraid to be phyiscal, scared of contact etc. But Krstic hasnt shown such. And with that Coach Frank is gaining more & more trust in him with every passing game. Thus Krstic is turning into a legit backup off the bench. So might out look as that these discoveries will contribute to us having solid depth once everyone gets heathly. Kidd is coming along slowly. It is said Ron Marcer will be back at the top of the year in January. And Zo should be back by then as well. Our roster & depth will look solid for an east team..... PG: Jason Kidd/ Travis Best SG: RJ/Ron Mercer SF: Eric Williams/ RJ( probably moves to small forward when Mercer checks in) PF: Jason Collins/Scalabrine C: Alonzo Mourning/Nenad Krstic Others: Guard(s) Rodney Buford, Zoran Planinic, Jacque Vaughn: F/C Aaron Williams So the parts are there imo for the Nets to really hit a solid stride coming out of the all-star break. And for the 2nd half of the season. Granted health will be a major concern all season. But healthy the team looks alot better then many figured at the start of the season Whats your thoughts on this?
If this team was health from the beginning the nets would be an above .500 team. but they werent so they have a are going to have a harder time trying to climb that mountain
I still believe that the Nets will get to the playoffs if Kidd gets healthy (or don't get traded)...I don't care if only RJ is left on the receiving end of his assists, but I expect RJ and Kidd to pick up their game. Twin is doing what he does best and that is to get out of the way while setting those picks and box outs. The Nets team are a jumper away from being a decent team. Plus this is the East so anything can happen.
Kidd is limited to 20 minutes, although he perfroms well these days, he coudln't get more time on the court. I don't know how long will kidd to get the normal time on the court to play more. But I have a question, when Mercer is back, what should we do in the starting lineup? PG:Kidd. SG:Mercer, SF: RJ or E.Williams?? PF:Collins C:Mourning... or PG:Kidd, SG:Mercer, SF:RJ, PF:E.Williams, C:Mourning but E.Willaims is small in no.4 position, and Collins can't get in. what should Frank do ? If Collins in PF, then nets are lack of the scoring of E.Williams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DragonKid:</div><div class="quote_post">Kidd is limited to 20 minutes, although he perfroms well these days, he coudln't get more time on the court. I don't know how long will kidd to get the normal time on the court to play more. But I have a question, when Mercer is back, what should we do in the starting lineup? PG:Kidd. SG:Mercer, SF: RJ or E.Williams?? PF:Collins C:Mourning... or PG:Kidd, SG:Mercer, SF:RJ, PF:E.Williams, C:Mourning but E.Willaims is small in no.4 position, and Collins can't get in. what should Frank do ? If Collins in PF, then nets are lack of the scoring of E.Williams.</div> We should keep the same exact starting lineup we have had for the last couple of weeks before Zo got hurt of course just switch Best with Kidd at the point which is already happing slowly. I like Eric Williams at his natural Small Forward spot, he is able to post up against smaller forwards, something he wouldnt be able to do if we shift him back to the Power Forward spot because he is undersized every night. And as we seen before he moved to the small forward, he had a serious problem getting his shot off. Mercer would be best suited coming off the bench. With Mercer, Best, Scalabrine & Krstic we have set up a pretty solid 2nd unit once everyone is heathly.
ya, Mercer be our backup would be great. But now what i am worry about is when Zo and Mercer back, is January. It's a little late for us, because our PF&C are short of scoring(Scalabrine&Collins), we lost to New York yesterday. Kidd&RJ&E.Williams play very well, but we can't get more support fire in the painted area. We need to pull us together in order to get in playoffs. I do agree the roster hen you say. Our roster is solid, but we can't get a instant wining streak. And many people always can't discover that our team is not bad they think about. Very pity.
I dont think it will be to late, honestly we can hang around in the atlantic division until everyone gets healthy. The Knicks are solid but they arent going to run away with the division, they will be playing .500 ball most of the season. So if we continue to beat the teams we should beat( like us being 5-0 against Charlotte, New Orleans, Atlanta(2 wins), Chicago), then we should be ok for awhile. It might not seen like a big deal getting those victories but when you have as many injuries as we had during the season so far, you dont really want to look at records. You just want to make sure you win the games your surpose to win. And try to steal a game or two, here & there against the league's better teams. So once you get completely healthy, you will still be in position to have a shot at making a move. And that is what the Nets have at least done up until this point.
It really doesn't make any difference to have Mercer starting or coming off the bench except that we'll have a scorer off the bench, I just want him and Kidd in at the same time so Kidd can cover up his sucky perimeter D.
