The Nets are still a half-game behind the Hawks in the race for the final playoff spot in the East. But they've won five of their last eight games and are starting to resemble the kind of team everyone thought they'd be this season, even if it may be too late. So how over the first 3-1/2 months of the season did the Nets end up in a hole they may not be able to dig themselves out of? As far as Richard Jefferson is concerned, the team was distracted by the situation surrounding a certain former teammate. "I'm not going to lie," Jefferson said Thursday, "we were dead men walking with the Jason Kidd situation." Jefferson was referring to Kidd's desire to be traded from the team, which the future Hall of Fame point guard made public in late January, the day after the Nets had lost a ninth straight game. However, Jefferson confirmed yesterday what many had already known, that Kidd's unhappiness with the team was a not-so-well-kept secret inside the locker room. Jefferson said that made it difficult for the Nets to concentrate on priority No.1 - advancing to the playoffs for the seventh straight year. Now the team's postseason streak is in jeopardy, as they have just 10 games left to leap over Atlanta, starting with tonight's game in Indianapolis. Considering the margin between the Nets and Hawks, that may not seem like such a tough task, but Atlanta has a more favorable schedule than the Nets, who play the Suns at home on Saturday and still have five road games left after tonight. "Everybody knew it was time and that he needed a change and that he wanted a change," Jefferson said of Kidd, who was granted his wish when he was traded to the Mavericks on Feb. 19. "People made it seem like it was only like that when he went public. No, that situation had been going on all season, but it was behind closed doors." The Nets have gone 8-11 since the Kidd trade, which also sent Antoine Wright and Malik Allen to New Jersey in exchange for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager and Keith Van Horn (who is inactive after coming out of semi-retirement to make the deal work financially). But after a six-game losing streak that threatened to sink the Nets, they've gone 5-3 to stay in the thick of the race. With Harris playing point guard, they've scored more than 100 points six times in the last eight games - including 117 against Utah, 125 against Cleveland and 124 on Wednesday against Indiana, all home victories. Jefferson's only regret is that he, Harris and Vince Carter couldn't have been hooked up sooner so that the transition period didn't conflict so much with the final playoff push. Jefferson explained that the early-season struggles also had to do with the fact that the Nets just weren't "clicking" like the team that had made it to a pair of NBA Finals and was consistently in contention for a division title. "That didn't happen this year just because we didn't have that resolve," Jefferson said. "And now that we're starting to get it I just hope that we have enough time."
I'm very happy to see RJ speak out like this. He seems to be acting like a leader, which is perfect for the Nets since he is such a hard worker.
I have to give Rod Thorn a lot of credit. If he had just come out and said (and I'm sure he wanted to soooo bad) "Kidd is a piece of shit that is poisoning our team. He didn't have any migraine. He's sabotaging us so I'll trade him quicker." the Nets would not have Devin Harris and first round draft picks. They would have a lot of garbage. That takes a lot of self control and a good amount of bald-faced lying. As for RJ making excuses - that doesn't surprise me at all. He's as mentally weak as the rest of the team. They just aren't that competitive. They need a forceful floor leader to bring that out of them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to give Rod Thorn a lot of credit. If he had just come out and said (and I'm sure he wanted to soooo bad) "Kidd is a piece of shit that is poisoning our team. He didn't have any migraine. He's sabotaging us so I'll trade him quicker." the Nets would not have Devin Harris and first round draft picks. They would have a lot of garbage. That takes a lot of self control and a good amount of bald-faced lying. As for RJ making excuses - that doesn't surprise me at all. He's as mentally weak as the rest of the team. They just aren't that competitive. They need a forceful floor leader to bring that out of them.</div> im sure things like that were said behind doors
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy @ Mar 28 2008, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to give Rod Thorn a lot of credit. If he had just come out and said (and I'm sure he wanted to soooo bad) "Kidd is a piece of shit that is poisoning our team. He didn't have any migraine. He's sabotaging us so I'll trade him quicker." the Nets would not have Devin Harris and first round draft picks. They would have a lot of garbage. That takes a lot of self control and a good amount of bald-faced lying. As for RJ making excuses - that doesn't surprise me at all. He's as mentally weak as the rest of the team. They just aren't that competitive. They need a forceful floor leader to bring that out of them.</div> im sure things like that were said behind doors </div> They definitely were. But he got the entire organization to lie so they could trade Kidd for good value as soon as possible. That was a great effort. All it takes is one pissed off dude to blab to the media.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy @ Mar 28 2008, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>if only more players were like rj and told the truth</div> If only less players were like RJ and cared more about winning than running their mouths.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy @ Mar 28 2008, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>if only more players were like rj and told the truth</div> If only less players were like RJ and cared more about winning than running their mouths. </div> I take it you prefer the quiet leaders like Kidd? RJ likes to joke around and has a dry sense of humor... I don't expect that to change. I don't think he'll ever keep his mouth shut, but by the sound of this comment he's learning how to say things without demeaning his teammates and looking like as ass.
I love RJ's interviews. Easily one of a very few athletes that provides interesting, candid commentaries from time to time and with a great sense of humor, usually.
RJ and the Nets deserve a free pass for their lackluster play this season, obviously. The fact that it took them seventy some odd games to start playing the way they were supposed to isn't relevant.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to give Rod Thorn a lot of credit. If he had just come out and said (and I'm sure he wanted to soooo bad) "Kidd is a piece of shit that is poisoning our team. He didn't have any migraine. He's sabotaging us so I'll trade him quicker." the Nets would not have Devin Harris and first round draft picks. They would have a lot of garbage. That takes a lot of self control and a good amount of bald-faced lying. As for RJ making excuses - that doesn't surprise me at all. He's as mentally weak as the rest of the team. They just aren't that competitive. They need a forceful floor leader to bring that out of them.</div> Actually, you should give Kidd a lot of credit, too. Why? 1. Even before the trade demands went public, it was in the Nets best interest to do a deal ala Kidd-for-Harris. There is no doubt in my mind that Thorn would've demanded too much and just sat on his hands until he heard an offer that blew him away - it happened in 2007 and 2006. By going public with the trade demand, it lowered Kidd's value to a more reasonable level (Harris instead of Bynum) and forced Rod to settle (taking Hassell/KVH instead of Stack/George). 2. Thorn had (by accounts, not necessarily verified) a deal in place that would've sent Kidd to Portland for LaFrentz and Jack. IMO, This really would've killed all enthusiasm for the Nets. Fortunately, Kidd was "selfish" enough to demand to be traded to a "championship contender", and the trade was nixed. So, yeah, Kidd led the Nets to their six most successful seasons, with 4 division championships and 2 conference championships, then, when he realized he can no longer help NJ win anymore, forced a trade that helped the Nets get several solid building blocks for the future. The man deserves a standing ovation when he returns.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rory @ Mar 28 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The man deserves a standing ovation when he returns.</div> lol, I hope you're kidding! how about "the only one of value", "played on the wrong side of the river", "will go to HOF as a maverick"..? standing ovation for that also?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy @ Mar 28 2008, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to give Rod Thorn a lot of credit. If he had just come out and said (and I'm sure he wanted to soooo bad) "Kidd is a piece of shit that is poisoning our team. He didn't have any migraine. He's sabotaging us so I'll trade him quicker." the Nets would not have Devin Harris and first round draft picks. They would have a lot of garbage. That takes a lot of self control and a good amount of bald-faced lying. As for RJ making excuses - that doesn't surprise me at all. He's as mentally weak as the rest of the team. They just aren't that competitive. They need a forceful floor leader to bring that out of them.</div> im sure things like that were said behind doors </div> They definitely were. But he got the entire organization to lie so they could trade Kidd for good value as soon as possible. That was a great effort. All it takes is one pissed off dude to blab to the media. </div> But, but, but someone once told us that Thorn doesn't lie to the media
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Belarus @ Mar 28 2008, 11:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rory @ Mar 28 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The man deserves a standing ovation when he returns.</div> lol, I hope you're kidding! how about "the only one of value", "played on the wrong side of the river", "will go to HOF as a maverick"..? standing ovation for that also? </div> Well, my "giving Kidd credit" was kinda tongue-in-cheek, but I think he deserves cheer when he returns (although this will probably be discussed a lot more between now and his NJ return). His positive contributions to the Nets strongly outweigh his negative ones, and that's an understatement. He made New Jersey pro basketball relevant for the first time, and the Nets franchise relevant for the first time since the ABA.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> Clearing the Air March 28, 2008, 5:45 am Richard Jefferson, in looking back at the season so far, says that Jason Kidd’s unhappiness in New Jersey, which “had been going on all season”, was an issue and that the Nets would never have lost so many games if they were “all of the right mind.” Now, they’re able to move on, but he just wishes they had more time with their new group … but time is at a premium right now. Jefferson Talks Season, Stretch Run - Matt McQueeny - New Jersey Nets RJ loses Kidd gloves - David Waldstein - Star-Ledger Kidd saga was thorn in Nets' side - Mike Puma - New York Post Richard Jefferson: Kidd held us back - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News RJ admits: Kidd stuff took toll - Al Iannazzone - The Record Isn't It Ironic? - Mike Moreau - Hoopsworld Posted in Carter, Vince; Kidd, Jason; Jefferson, R</div> Relevent link courtesy of Nets Daily
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Belarus @ Mar 28 2008, 11:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rory @ Mar 28 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The man deserves a standing ovation when he returns.</div> lol, I hope you're kidding! how about "the only one of value", "played on the wrong side of the river", "will go to HOF as a maverick"..? standing ovation for that also? </div> I don't agree with the things Kidd said, but the man did a lot for the franchise. Let's not look at his words, but rather his actions. Things haven't ended the way we wanted, but Kidd still deserves to be thanked for what he has done.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Joker @ Mar 28 2008, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>but rather his actions.</div> One word: migrane. I'll cheer Kidd when he comes back, but I think its absolutely fair for people to feel bitter.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Mar 28 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy @ Mar 28 2008, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>if only more players were like rj and told the truth</div> If only less players were like RJ and cared more about winning than running their mouths. </div> i think u should say if only less players were like Kidd.... Kidd described the nets as "there is no light at the end of the tunnel", so compare to what kidd, what RJ said was nothing.
