No vince carter happened. I would be more worried about defense and rebounding than offense. Looks like Yi just isn't there yet as far as rebounding and the whole team is confused on rotations. Good thing we got 4 more games to get better before real season starts.
Just getting back to this thread as I couldn't check in during or right after the game. Pretty ugly game in all respects. Most troubling: 1) Harris continuing to look unsure of what he's supposed to be doing on offense, making poor decisions, failing to really create any shots for teammates; 2) total lack of productivity from anyone playing the 3. Simmons is NOT getting it done. Frank needs to subordinate size/quickness considerations and think more about who on his roster can actually play the game and space the floor. Unless Hayes or Najera comes in at the last minute to stake a claim, Anderson, CDR, and even Ager need to seriously be considered for Simmons' spot with defensive switches as necessary. There's little doubt that the Nets' best lineup -- early in the season, anyway -- will include all of Harris, VC, and Dooling. Dooling was the brightest spot of this game, showing some nice playmaking in the lane for Williams that actually helped Williams get in the scoring column, which probably boosted Sean's game all around today. Dooling is one of the few on the team that actually seems to be able to get in the paint with all this perimeter oriented dribbling, and for that alone he needs to see a lot of minutes. Besides Dooling and Sean, Ryan was the other bright spot of the day. He seems to me to be the most "NBA ready" of the young players in terms of knowledge of the game. He knows where to be on both ends of the floor. Does the best of any of the bigs so far on pick and roll defense recovery. Absolutely has the best timing on rebounds of anyone on the team. He doesn't hold onto the ball pointlessly if he's not going to do something with it. He's not afraid of contact or going inside against heralded players (first play in the game he drove the baseline on Garnett, through him two fakes and an up and under move and drew a foul.) I'm still troubled that he's not hitting a higher percentage of 3s, but I trust that that will come, given his college career, shooting reputation, and effortless form on the long range J.
The team is as disorganized on offense as I would expect for new personnel and a new system. This is going to take time to get some stability with the starting lineup and the rotation guys. Simmons is not getting it done because he is not a 1on1 player. The guards need to learn where he is effective, and feed him for open shots. When VC is not in the game that is not going to happen. The offense will fall into place because the bigs will do their part. Anderson today, Lopez tomorrow, Yi the next day. I'm not worried there. What's more troubling is the breakdowns on defense. Team defense has to come first.
the way i see it... we played the best defensive team in the league (last year) and we didn't have Vince Carter. I don't think we can be overly critical of our offense today. Plus we did manage to contain the big 3 somewhat. It was just the role players that killed us. That said, our offense and defense just isn't where it can be. The chemistry isn't there yet. We're a young team thats just starting to gel. Theres still 3 more preseason games to be played and a lot of improving to be done. The main point is that this team hasn't nearly reached its max potiential yet and I think when we get there we'll be dangerous every night. Theres a lot of young talented players on this team thats trying to learn and adjust to the game as fast as they can. Be patient. At least we know we have a coach in Frank thats going to teach 110% of the time and players that listen.I loved it when coach mass subed like 3 ppl in the 1st quarter and just kept the folks that he took out and talked to them for about 1 minute to get them to understand. It'll be a struggle, but this is a young team and its not about 08-09. I still believe we can be dangerous, but judge this season by the growth of the players and not by the record.
Even though this is preseason, how did the knicks beat them the other night? They dont have Carter either.
fluke? iono.Thers always the 36 million dollar salary difference. They have Q, Randolph, and Crawford. The only person we really had to count on to get his own shot was Harris and he had a bad game. Give it time.
I dont think so. The difference is their coach played the game as if it was a regular season game. No BS preplanned stupid rotations. Lets see how this works. Sub 3 players at a time BS. If u get 2 fouls in the 1st Quarter, you are subbed out. Not left in to get 2 more fouls. As far as having Q, Randolph and Crawford, they are the f'en Knicks. They are learning a new system too. The big 3 didnt even play in that first game against the Celtics. They did with the knicks. Like I said I dont want to start the Frank bashing but I hope he doesnt think he has a pass because it is a young team with new personnel.
Even though I agree with your quote and even though it is preseason, Are actually giving the knicks credit? STOP!!!! Go back to your board and enjoy the championship.
The Knicks will have a better season than the Nets, you shouldn't be mad about it. At least you'll get a top 5 player in the draft next year. Plus Bron in 2010. Can't get better than that. And yes I'm enjoying the championship.
On the Knicks having a better season than the Nets? lol I won't but I'm 85% sure that they will, especially now that they have D'Antoni.
If it seems like I'm impatient or panicking, I'm not. I was really directing my two criticisms (Harris and the SF spot) towards ongoing concerns expressed by others in those areas after the first game or two. I'm not bailing on Harris yet, as I refuse to believe, at this point, that what I saw over 25 games last year was a fluke. He CAN create shots for others, he can get in the lane and draw fouls, and he can find a good balance between scoring and distribution. I only wish that I could see some progress in those areas between game 1 and game 4 of the preseason. There's been none. He has cut down on the horrific turnovers, so I guess that counts as progress. The other criticism, regarding the lack of productivity at the 3, was a realistic concern for this team the moment the trades and draft day were over. I'm willing to be patient there as well, but it doesn't look good so far for Bobby Simmons (not hitting nearly the percentage of open shots he should to be effective), and he has absolutely no skills to penetrate the ball in this dribble drive offense. Shooting is where his contribution is going to have to come on the offensive end, and he's simply not panning out as a shooter so far. I still have hopes for Hayes in that regard, but we'll have to see.
I'm 99.99% sure the Nets will have a better record at year's end. 10+ years of horrid mismanagement and personnel decisions can't be cured with one splashy signing of a new coach.
I see Larry Brown trying to force Jordan out by tanking the whole season only to leave next year to coach OKC.
