Carter key to best/worst for the Nets

[Claud]

Source

NBA training camps start up in a couple weeks. In the meantime, we’re going team-by-team, from 1 to 30, exploring what each team’s ceiling is for the upcoming season and where their basement is. In other words, what are the realistic best-case and worst-case scenarios for each squad?

Additions: PF Yi Jianlian, C Brook Lopez, PG Keyon Dooling, SF Bobby Simmons, SG Chris Douglas-Roberts, PF Ryan Anderson, PF Eduardo Najera, SF Jarvis Hayes.

Losses: SF Richard Jefferson, PG Marcus Williams, C DeSagana Diop, SF Bostjan Nachbar, C Nenad Krstic.

Ceiling: 8th seed in the East
The youth movement is in full effect, even though New Jersey’s “rebuilding” plans are strictly geared toward the 2010 Summer of LeBron (and D-Wade and Bosh) more than developing the young nucleus they current have. Over the last eight months, the Nets jettisoned Jason Kidd, Jefferson and Krstic, basically replacing those three starters with Devin Harris (25), Yi Jianlian (20) and Brook Lopez (20). Is it an improvement? Talent-wise, no. So why is it possible that NJ could finish with a better record this year than last year — when they were 14 games under .500 and landed two slots out of the playoff bracket — in an Eastern Conference that’s gotten tougher? Because whenever you have one of the 15 best players in the League, you always have a chance at sniffing the postseason. And say what you want about Vince Carter, but he is that caliber talent. If Vince plays at the top of his game, NJ is still a threat.

Basement: Last place in the Atlantic Division
Jersey finished nine games ahead of Atlantic cellar-dweller New York, but if new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is worth what they’re paying him, that gap could close. Vince has the talent to carry the Nets to a playoff spot, but as always, the questions surround his motivation and toughness. It’s not like he’s in a contract year, and if Vince can read the writing on the wall, he knows this team wasn’t built to win now and that he would be traded in a second if the Nets thought it gave them a better chance at landing a big-fish free agent in 2010. So while Vince can go through the motions and still drop 23-24 points a night, the Nets’ season rests on the performance of Harris and a young frontcourt. Yi has offensive talent, but his disappearing act during the Olympics and the way he hit the rookie wall hard in Milwaukee doesn’t have anyone too excited about him. First-round picks Lopez and Anderson ideally help fortify the front line a little more, but you’re still in a situation where your “go-to” big man is Josh Boone.

Thoughts?

 

[Petey]

That's a pretty high ceiling, or I think. Hopefully some of the rookies show something and helps Carter and Harris push this team to some type of playoff experience.

The biggest thing I hope they show some consistency where they beat the teams they should. The Nets teams of the past few years was very bad at that.

-Petey

 

[Dumpy]

Their ceiling is slightly higher.
Their floor is correct, though.
We'll find out more about the team in training camp. As I've said before, from #5-#13 on the roster, they are deeper than every before, and that isn't nothing. Those players will play, and they'll contribute. Whoever plays SF will contribute as much as RJ did. I have high hopes for Devin Harris. As usual, it will come down to the inexperienced frontcourt, which at least has some potential now.

 

[r3drumNYNJ]

pretty good article. I believe if healthy, Nets are a talented anough team to make it to the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. Carter and Harris are the stars on this team but everyone must step up like Yi, Simmons, Lopez, Dooling, CDR, Hayes and Najera. I think those were all good pickups..good role players who play defense. And we still have Sean Williams, Boone, Anderson, Swift and Hassel too...not bad depth at all. It definitely wont be easy with a much improved conference but so what...I think the Nets are up for the challenge. Cant wait til the season starts!

 

[Petey]

Their ceiling is slightly higher.
Their floor is correct, though.
We'll find out more about the team in training camp. As I've said before, from #5-#13 on the roster, they are deeper than every before, and that isn't nothing. Those players will play, and they'll contribute. Whoever plays SF will contribute as much as RJ did. I have high hopes for Devin Harris. As usual, it will come down to the inexperienced frontcourt, which at least has some potential now.

An injury to Carter or Harris and they are the worst team in the NBA. Carter and Harris (more so) missed games last year. I think the floor could be lower.

-Petey

 

[Dumpy]

An injury to Carter or Harris and they are the worst team in the NBA. Carter and Harris (more so) missed games last year. I think the floor could be lower.

-Petey

How can their floor be lower than the worst team in the conference?

Don't underestimate their depth (just as I hope I'm not overestimating the skills of Najera, Dooling, Simmons, and Hayes). As other teams start to experience injures, the Nets will start to get better comparatively. Their front court is a big question mark, of course, but I think they'll be OK.

 

[Petey]

How can their floor be lower than the worst team in the conference?

Don't underestimate their depth (just as I hope I'm not overestimating the skills of Najera, Dooling, Simmons, and Hayes). As other teams start to experience injures, the Nets will start to get better comparatively. Their front court is a big question mark, of course, but I think they'll be OK.

They don't have it as conference, but division.

-Petey

 

[Dumpy]

They don't have it as conference, but division.

-Petey

Doesn't finishing lower than the Knicks ensure last place in the conference?

 

[ghoti]

Ceiling: 8th seed in the East
The youth movement is in full effect, even though New Jersey’s “rebuilding” plans are strictly geared toward the 2010 Summer of LeBron (and D-Wade and Bosh) more than developing the young nucleus they current have. Over the last eight months, the Nets jettisoned Jason Kidd, Jefferson and Krstic, basically replacing those three starters with Devin Harris (25), Yi Jianlian (20) and Brook Lopez (20). Is it an improvement? Talent-wise, no. So why is it possible that NJ could finish with a better record this year than last year — when they were 14 games under .500 and landed two slots out of the playoff bracket — in an Eastern Conference that’s gotten tougher? Because whenever you have one of the 15 best players in the League, you always have a chance at sniffing the postseason. And say what you want about Vince Carter, but he is that caliber talent. If Vince plays at the top of his game, NJ is still a threat.

Basement: Last place in the Atlantic Division
Jersey finished nine games ahead of Atlantic cellar-dweller New York, but if new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is worth what they’re paying him, that gap could close. Vince has the talent to carry the Nets to a playoff spot, but as always, the questions surround his motivation and toughness. It’s not like he’s in a contract year, and if Vince can read the writing on the wall, he knows this team wasn’t built to win now and that he would be traded in a second if the Nets thought it gave them a better chance at landing a big-fish free agent in 2010. So while Vince can go through the motions and still drop 23-24 points a night, the Nets’ season rests on the performance of Harris and a young frontcourt. Yi has offensive talent, but his disappearing act during the Olympics and the way he hit the rookie wall hard in Milwaukee doesn’t have anyone too excited about him. First-round picks Lopez and Anderson ideally help fortify the front line a little more, but you’re still in a situation where your “go-to” big man is Josh Boone.

Bolded statements are garbage. Dime magazine is about as credible as FOX News and CNN. You might get some facts, but you have to filter out the slant to get to them.

 

[zєяσ]

I'd say honestly that our ceiling is pretty much borderline 8th or 9th in the conference.
I doubt the Nets will be worse than the Knicks. Biggest x-factors thus far imo are how the rookies adapt to the NBA and Yi's game with the Nets.

 

[kdub]

Bolded statements are garbage. Dime magazine is about as credible as FOX News and CNN. You might get some facts, but you have to filter out the slant to get to them.

Hmmm, Vince top 15?

If he plays to the very best of his ability I think he can be considered in that group next season.

 

[MisterMontross]

Hmmm, Vince top 15?

If he plays to the very best of his ability I think he can be considered in that group next season.

Top 15 'talent'. Certainly not top 15 player.

It would be very nice if Vince turned into a top 15 'player' this coming season. Nets might actually make the playoffs,