I'm sorry, but I've given up on the Nets

[Kiddisanet]

I don't mean to make excuses, but these are humans, not machines. After a grueling OT game, and thenhaving to fly to Detroit and not getting there until 3 or 4 am, and then having to be ready for an early game, and then playing a team that's very hot right now (and healthy), are we really supposed to be overreacting and flipping out over that loss? It's possible that every other team in this league would havelost that game, too.</p>

We've played 17 games so far... 5 of them without 2 starters,17 of them without 1 starter (let's be real, that wasn't the real Krstic out there), and 17 of them without the backup PG. We're currently 1.5 games out of a top 4 seed in the east. I don't see that being enough to fire the coach, or to cause Rod to blow up the team and rebuild for the next 10 years. You've got to be crazy to believe that. How abouttrades that could make the team better right now? How about an RJ for Gasol deal, or something smaller? Why do you people want to rebuild for the next 10 years? I like going to the playoffs every year. Only 3 other NBA teams can say that they've made the playoffs every year for the past six years like we have. We are fortunate.</p>

 

[Dumpy]

I really believe the problem has been, and continues to be, the annual quick-fix approach for improving the bench. Each year, the team believes that if it can just find some adequate supplemental and complimentary players, the team could contend for a championship. I think that's correct. But the approach has been to sign free agent vets to one-year deals in the hope that they "mesh" and fill those missing roles. It has never worked; it will never work. It's partly because free agency is a sucker's game--the players available at mid-level prices are generally past their prime and are only availbale because they former team doesn't want them. It's partly because the better free agents get to choose what team to go to, and they aren't choosing the Nets for a variety of reasons. Instead, the Nets should have invested more in young players with potential, and given them a chance to develop. But that's what happens when you are continuously in a alleged "win now" mode and your nucleaus is only a half-dozen players deep.</p>

The team WANTS to have a defensive mentality, which you need to contend, but they end up with players like Magloire and Malik Allen (and Nachbar, if you want to include him, even though he wasnt' a free agency signing). You're only as strong as your weakest defender, and when the Nets put one or more of thes guys on the court they fall apart. The league is littered with players that can produce but will never be a part of a winning team--and these are some of them. Players who can score sometimes, and rebound sometimes, and play defense sometimes will end up with good highlight reels but will not contribute to a winning team. Players who continuously make mistakes--not just mistakes on defense, but they also take a lot of bad shots, and miss most of their good shots; commit too many turnovers; and don't force turnovers. Wright--now there's a player that can be part of a winning team. Boone--not so sure, but would continue to give him a chance to develop. Marcus Williams--a guy who will put up gaudy stats for a lottery team.</p>

You've still got a nice nucleus, but it just isn't deep enough. A contender should not be relying on Malik Allen, Nachbar, and (possibly) Magloire for the amount of time that the Nets do. There are teams like Charlotte and Atlanta that are just loaded with talent, but they suck every year. Why is that? Same reason.</p>

There's still hope, though. Magloire, Allen, and Nachbar all have expiring contracts, and could be moved for someone who could actually contribute. Marcus SHOULD be moved. It would be great if we could move all these players for Gasol. Who knows.</p>