Developing Bench A Must For Nets

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It was exactly one year ago this week that Rod Thorn crowed about how he had put together "probably the deepest team we've had since 2001-02," and that turned out to be one of the least-favorite predictions of his illustrious executive career.

The Nets president is not going to jump to such conclusions about the team he has assembled this season -- which takes its first baby steps in five days, when camp opens -- but he knows that depth cannot be a recurring issue again, unless the Nets are satisfied with spinning their wheels.

"On paper, last year our bench looked very strong. The reality was that it didn't play as well as anticipated or that we needed it to play," Thorn said yesterday in his annual preseason media address. "Until you did it on the court, you haven't done it. We're hopeful that we'll get good play from our bench this year. If we do, we could be a very strong team."

There are enough veterans on the reserve unit to get by, namely Cliff Robinson, Mikki Moore and Eddie House. But that won't be enough to get through 82 games and another month or two of postseason competition, Thorn knows, which is why his reputation is riding on the developments of Antoine Wright, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, and perhaps even Hassan Adams and Mile Ilic.

In short, one third of this Nets team comprises children. Ordinarily that makes GMs hide in their offices until the All-Star break.

"In a perfect world, you'd always like to have players who are experienced because you have more of a feel for what they're liable to do," Thorn conceded. "Five years ago we played Richard (Jefferson) and Jason Collins extensively as rookies, and they both did well. They weren't perfect every time, but they played well. Hopefully it will be a repeat of that. But until you do it, you haven't done it.

"Again, paper doesn't play, but we're very strong in the starting lineup -- one of the stronger teams in the league. We've got a lot of different players coming off our bench this year, and we'll need to get production from them on a consistent basis. If we do, I think we'll be a very good team." </div>

Source

 

[NJNetz]

Our bench is young but it looks really solid. Of course last year was a perfect example, that we shouldn't just assume our bench will be perfect. In my opinion the bench will do really well, but as time passes things could change. Time will tell.

 

[Legacy]

Our bench is good right now. We picked up key free agents and rookies from the offseason. They will be a big part of determining how far we make it this year.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

I'm going to be a little bit pessimistic. I think that the bench is better, but not good enough. Maybe if Illic was more developed or Cliff younger, I would think differently, but I think that the Nets do not have good enough back-up bigmen. The recovery of Boone, should be very positive, but as far as bigmen off of the bench right now, I think the Nets are lacking.

 

[XSV]

^Agreed, if we sustain just one injury, we're in trouble. We need to pick up another serviceable bigman through trade. Damn we should have tried harder to get Gooden.

 

[The One & Only]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ma3oxuct:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm going to be a little bit pessimistic. I think that the bench is better, but not good enough. Maybe if Illic was more developed or Cliff younger, I would think differently, but I think that the Nets do not have good enough back-up bigmen. The recovery of Boone, should be very positive, but as far as bigmen off of the bench right now, I think the Nets are lacking.</div>

What about Mikki Moore, Bostjan Nachbar, and Jason Collins? They are pretty good servicable big men imo.

 

[XSV]

^Collins is a starter who does little else than play D. Moore might be alright for us, but he barely player for Seattle so I'm not too optimistic there, and Nachbar is far from what I'd call "serviceable" at this point. Denver on the other hand has a glut of pfs, do perhaps we can make a run at Joe Smith or Reggie Evans.

 

[The One & Only]

Well I don't think Nachbar got enough time to actually have an effect much less get judged. He is a 6-9 guy who can hit the 3, that's pretty good imo.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

^That's the thing, we don't really need another scoring big like Nachbar. We need a defensive-rebounding big. Other than Collins, I don't think we have one off of the bench at the moment. If Boone does not turn out to be one, then we are in trouble.

 

[og15]

Let's just say the bench is MUCH better than last season. Right now it's:

<font color=""Navy"">G - Eddie House
G - Marcus Williams
F/C - Cliff Robinson
G/F - Antoine Wright
C - Mikki Moore
C - Mile Ilic
G - Hassan Adams
F/C - Josh Booner when he returns
F - Bostjan Nachbar
</font>

A lot of young guys, but compared to last seasons:
<font color=""Indigo"">G - Jacque Vaughn
F/C - Cliff Robinson
G/F - Zoran Planinic
F/G - Lammond Murray
G/F - Rookie Antoine Wright
F - Bostjan Nachbar (who is still around)
F - Scott Padgett
F/C - Marc Jackson and G - Jeff McInnis for a couple of games</font>

I'd take this year's bench.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We need a defensive-rebounding big</div>
Problem is that Collins is one of the worst rebounding bigs in the league. Kidd had a better rebound rate than him, and he only beat Jefferson by 0.4 in Rbr. Even Vince was close to him in rebound rate. New Jersey in general has some of the worst rebounding bigs in the league by far. Krstic is the best one, and he's not a good rebounder, Cliff rebounds worse than the starting 1-3, and Collins is barely better than RJ and Vince on the glass. Last season Lammond Murray and Scott Padgett had the best rebound rates on the team. Padgett can atually rebound though he never plays enough minutes for people to know that, and Lammond is a good rebounding F, but was boosted by the teams crappy rebounding bigs. I know that Boone should at least be able to rebound for you guys.

Till Boone returns, Mikki Moore will be the teams best rebounding big, and he's even a little below average for a big man.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Denver on the other hand has a glut of pfs, do perhaps we can make a run at Joe Smith or Reggie Evans.</div>
I doubt they signed Reggie to just trade him right away. Also Joe Smith is expiring, so unless you can match with an expiring contract, they aren't likely to do that either.