The way things currently look, New Jersey is perhaps the 3RD best team in The Eastern Conference. Although they are a solid team, I don't believe they have what it takes to compete with The Pacers or Detroit in a 7 game series, so when is it time to make some moves? What else can New Jersey do? Their too good a team to get a lottery pick to instantly improve their team, perhaps they could get lucky like Dallas did with Daniels and Howard but I still don't believe that could get them over the hump. They can't sign additional help through free agency, their well over the cap with Dikembe's 17 million dollar salary still being paid, and Alonzo's 5 million per season for the next 4 years. Not to mention Kenyon Martin wants a maximum extension, and Richard Jefferson is entering a contract year next season. You can't really bank on development either. Besides Jefferson what you see, for the most part, is what you get with New Jersey. Kidd and Kenyon Martin can't possibly give you anymore, your other KEY Veterans (Rogers, Harris, etc.) are growing older and when coming off the bench rarely show up. Your key role players (Williams, Collins, Kittles, etc.) aren't making an impact either. Perhaps Jefferson could improve and give this team a boost, but I think what your seeing now proves otherwise. For Jefferson to be that "star" player he needs to handle the ball ALOT more often. He needs to be that number one option to be that 20 plus point scorer, a similar situation to Ricky Davis in Cleveland last season. However that just simply isn't possibly, more touches and shots for Jefferson means less for Kidd and K-Mart which wouldn't be a wise idea. So is it time for New Jersey to make a move? I personally believe it's the only way New Jersey will ever get over the hump and seriously compete for a championship against The West. Nets need to think fast because time is ticking away with their franchise player, Jason Kidd, becoming increasingly more injuried and growing increasingly older.
I disagree with your 1st statement. Not to take nothing away from the Pistons & Pacers but they put no fear what so ever in the Nets. The Pistons & Pacers have had great regular seasons the last 2 years, but come playoff time they seem to fold. They still havent proven anything to me when it comes to playoff basketball. Yes the Pistons added Rasheed Wallace, But what has he done in the Playoffs lately? thats so special where the Nets need to fear that addition. And if I do recall correctly the Nets Swept the Pistons last year in the eastern conference finals. So the Pistons need to worry more about what it will take to beat the Nets than the other way around. The Nets struggled thru the whole 2nd half of the season in 2003, yet they steam rolled thru teams like the Pistons who had better records. Regular season its great to have a top notch record. But come playoff time it takes a different mental toughness to win. Key example the Pacers. Did anybody fold harder than the Pacers last year in the playoffs? no. I like Ron Artest, Jermaine Oneal & some off the other Pacers, but they havent even proven they have what it takes mentally to win a playoff series. I mean last season Artest& Oneal put up some great # in the 1st round. But they made alot of mental mistakes.And took an L to Boston. And in 2002, after the 1st game against the the Nets when J Oneal dropped 33 pts, he was a non factor for the rest of the series. K-mart put him on lock. Its was like Reggie was trying to beat the Nets all by himself because Artest & Oneal were no where to be found when it counted. So as far as being a contender in the Playoffs, the pacers still have alot to prove imo. The thing the Nets need to worry about is getting Kidd & K-mart as healthy as possible come playofff time. if they are healthy(nobody is 100% come playoff time) I like the Nets chances just as much as anybody else. I mean even tho the Nets arent winning games right now, (if Kidd & Martin come back for the playoffs) the time Kidd & Martin are missing might be a blessing. Lucious Harris has regained his shooting touch he hasnt had all season due to his extended playing time. The Nets need a second perimeter shooter after kittles, & Lucious is proven that he will once again be able to do that for the Nets like he has done in the past. Rodney Rogers confidence has expanded with him being on the court late in the game. And him & Lucious are hopefully ready to provide that bench scoring that the Nets havent had all season once everybody gets back. And I mean who has noticed the growth in RJ Half-Court game. I mean he isnt just scoring in the open court anymore. He using the penetration in the half court to set up the mid-range jumper(A jumper which he is becoming extremely comfortable at making). So when you have those two things the penetration off the dribble & the ablity to knock down the jumper like RJ is doing. That makes you a legit Half-court scoring option which RJ hast been until this season. A mean all last year in the playoffs teams where playing him for the drive backing off giving him the mid-range jumper(especially the Spurs). If teams do that this year he is going to burry that mid-range jumper all day. I mean the Nets havent had that weapon (in any of their playoff runs) that you had to play them for the jumper & the drive. RJ is a totally different weapon going into this years playoffs then he has been in 2002 & 2003 playoffs. He is no longer a one dimensenal player. So like I said the Nets healthy have just as much chance as those 2 other teams. Of course the Nets need to improve to become a better team & get over the hump in the finals against the West. They need a legit backup point guard. Kidd plays to may minutes during the regular season, he worn out by the time the Nets get to the finals. They need to sign a backup who can stay with the team all season. But I cant really knock the Nets mangement for that because they brung in Chris Childs after his excellent 2002 playoff run with the Raptors. But for some reason Childs came in out of shape & full of injuries. So it just didnt work out. But I think every Nets fan agreed with the move before the 2003 season. I didnt agree with Thorn bringing in Robert Pack tho, I knew he wouldnt be able to be productive. But their really wasnt alot available as far as backup PG's this off season. But he did draftZoran Planinic who was one of the top foriegn PG's but he just hasnt adjusted well. Maybe he will be that backup guard for the Nets next season. The Nets also need a little more post pressence. Rod Thorn has tried to make moves to add some post pressence as well. Like bring in Zo this season & Mutombo in 2002. He was trying to add a veteran low post pressence to go with the youth of K-mart & Jason Collins. But adding the older play hasnt worked, so hopefully Rod with find away to bring in a younger option this offseason. The Nets could also use another perimeter shooter or at least an up grade from Kittles/Harris. But I mean their arent that many shooters left in the NBA. If you look at what most perimeter shooters in the league shoot now a days its like less than 40% from 3pt land. And less than 45% from the field, so finding that guy to stretch defense on a constent bases is extremely hard. They are going to have to get luckly in the draft more than likely. But I think the Nets will more than likely be making a few changes once they establish that Lawerence Frank will be the coach for the next couple of seasons. And we sign K-mart to his deal. I mean I am pretty sure Rodney Rodgers wont be wearing a Nets jersey next year unless he really steps up in the playoffs. He will be traded or just released. And we can drop alot of dead wieght like Tamar Slay & Brendan Armstrong, who are free agrents. And I think the league might give them some type of exemption for the Zo contact. Or we could move that in a package deal with a player, like the Wolves did with the Terrell Brandon contact. So hopefully the Nets will have some room to make a few moves this offseason. But for right now if everbody healthy the Nets have plenty to get out the East.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">Tsk tsk Henacy. You did it again. hahaha. You said everything there is to say.</div> Yeah, I just needed to break it down real quick. I mean I dont wont it to seem like Iam coming at King Jamesx3, but it seems like alot of people (like Espn, inside the NBA, etc) have already wrote off the Nets. If Kidd doesnt come back then we more than likely dont get past the 1st round against the Knicks. But If him & k-mart are in the lineup then I see no reason why we wont be able to defend the eastern conference crown. K-mart tried to come back last night against the Wizards but he couldnt go in the 2nd half. He needs to sit out a few more games just to be safe. But I expect him to be back in the lineup before the end of the season. And Kidd was clear to practice, which is a sign that he should be back, more than likely a game or two before the playoffs start. So the Nets playoff chances are looking alot brighter than they were a week ago, when reporters was talking about Kidd missing the Playoffs.
As for what they need to do next season, Nenad Krstic has reached a contract buyout agreement with Partizan Belgrade so hopefully we'll get a glimpse of him this summer. Hopefully, he'll help us in the F/C position.
