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Krstic and Boone would seem to have the potential to be a good combination, as would Boone and Nachbar. In fact, the Nets DID use a Marcus-[SG]-Nachbar-Boone-
lineup quite frequently last year, and they DID play well--as they did as the PF and center alongside the big three. Their worst performances appear to have come when the overrated Hassan Adams was also on the court (that trio was minus-25 in 25 minutes, according to 82games.com); if you take those out, the Boone-Nachbar combo was QUITE effective. Don't feel like adding together all the numbers from the non-intuitive, poorly designed 82games.com, but if you check out Boone's top five-man combos you'll see that this is the case.</p>
I question whether Krstic and Nachbar would work together, however, although maybe it would work if Boone is the PF in such a lineup, since he has the skills to grab offensive rebounds and score from underneath the basket. I'm really wary of placing too many jump-shooters in the game at the same time. Also, Krstic and Boki are probably two of the bottom-half defenders on the team. Boki claims that he is focusing on improving his defense in the offseason, and I guess we'll see; that may make a difference to Frank as to how often to play them together.</p>
This may not be the best thread to bring this up, but there was a quote from Frank the other day that seemed to escape everyone's attention. I'll never find it again, but it suggested that one of his preseason goals is to try to implement more of a running game this year. If that's the case, then we might see a lot more of Boki and Boone on the court together, maybe as the 4 and 5. Maybe we'll see something like [PG]-Wright-RJ-Boki-Boone, or maybe use a similar lineup to gradually work Smokey into the game.</p>
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I just think people are underrating the Nets' possibilities once they are healthy. There are multiple scenarios upfront...we haven't even discussed the possibilities of adding Magloire and Williams to the mix (although neither are good passers, both CAN be good defenders in short stretches). As for a running game, that would seem to require bigger minutes for Boone, for Nachbar, for Williams as well as a belief someone is going to be able to get the ball off the boards and down. And I agree about Adams. As soon as I hear someone at the end of a bench described as an "energy player", I begin to think "limited skills...limited BBIQ". Rod Benson is described as an "energy player" by the way.</p>
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There's no question that Nets fans, as a whole, are among the most pessimistic bunches I've ever come across. As for reporters underestimating the Nets . . .no offense, but who cares. I do worry, though, that Boki will not last the season, especially if he doesn't show drastic improvement on the defensive side. And that will just put more pressure on Antoine Wright. As for Benson, I think I'd rather have someone like him around that some veteran that scored six PPG for a playoff-bound team eight years ago, or a 36-year-old who has played sparingly (if at all) for the past few years. Linton Johnson may not have worked out, but Mikki Moore did.</p>
I'm looking forward to seeing if Boone can take the next leap forward. He's still exactly they type of player the Nets need, and can fill a big role. What was disheartening was that, despite his reputation as being advanced defensively, he often looked lost and seemed to give up on his man. Hopefully that will change . . . being smart can be a big help, and overcome certain lack of skiills, but it can also hurt, if he overthinks and gets down on himself if he makes one or two mistakes.</div></p>
Boki better play defense because the three point specialists after him on the roster are named and, and, and and...never mind. Even if Marcus Williams, Antoine Wright, Robert Hite and Krstic improved dramatically in that regard, they're not getting to 42% and 112 three pointers. I was not crazy about Posey, but if Nachbar has to sit for whatever reason, the Nets will have issues. Boone is nice but I note that he may be the worst jump shooter in the NBA...outside of Shaq. Malik Allen (who was supposed to sign non guaranteed contract Friday...but no word) would be a nice pick up...and only 29. I have to think the Nets see SOMETHING in Benson considering the other non-roster guys coming into camp other than him are all vets. Hite has one year, Cleaves four years and Allen seven years NBA experience. I suspect there are probably one or two others out there we dont know about yet. </p>
Also, among young Nets big men, I now believe that Boone have only the third highest SAT scores, after Williams and probably Benson. Boone had 1200, Williams 1280 and Benson was a California Governors Scholar with enough smarts to graduate from Berkeley. </p>
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