Meet the Other New Guys

[ZAE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>There has been a lot of coverage of the arrival of Devin Harris in the deal that the Nets struck with the Dallas Mavericks a few days ago. Now NJNets.com went and caught up with three of the other players who came to New Jersey in the trade: guards Trenton Hassell and Maurice Ager, and center DeSagana Diop. Those three - along with Harris - took part in their Nets photo shoot today.

Trenton Hassell: Transcript | Audio Interview
DeSagana Diop: Transcript | Audio Interview
Maurice Ager: Transcript | Audio Interview</div>



http://www.nba.com/nets/news/Hassell_Ager_Diop_2_21_08.html

 

[Jizzy]

i want ager to get minutes and boki to sit, i'd also like diop resigned

 

[Real]

I had no idea Diop stayed in Cherry Hill during the summer.

 

[Boki3]

Yeah I did, his agent Leon Rose is stationed there. He is quietly one of the top NBA Agents with clients such as Lebron and AI

 

[ly_yng]

Hassell seems like a real nice guy. It's funny how I'll sometimes associate a bad contract with a bad personality.

We really, really need to re-sign Diop. The guy was a HUGE part of getting the Mavs into the Finals.

You know, I think there's a decent chance we got better with this trade. Outside of Carter and Krstic, everyone else on the team is defense-first. It's the Lawrence Frank all-stars - he's finally got a roster made for him.

The team hasn't had an identity for 3 years. Maybe the trade changed that.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Feb 22 2008, 02:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hassell seems like a real nice guy. It's funny how I'll sometimes associate a bad contract with a bad personality.

We really, really need to re-sign Diop. The guy was a HUGE part of getting the Mavs into the Finals.

You know, I think there's a decent chance we got better with this trade. Outside of Carter and Krstic, everyone else on the team is defense-first. It's the Lawrence Frank all-stars - he's finally got a roster made for him.

The team hasn't had an identity for 3 years. Maybe the trade changed that.</div>

I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.</div>

I've always considered RJ quite defense-first, considering how much he gets paid. You don't see that many stars, especially wings, as focused on defense as he is. I imagine Boki will get less and less court time as the new guys and Krstic settle in, so in some sense the trade reduced his role (unless he suddenly starts shooting the lights out again, which I don't see happening).

Forgot about Marcus. He's a terrible defender. At least this gives him a chance to specialize - I could see Marcus being a decent matchup against some of the bulkier point guards that Harris struggles against, if he just put some work in. Hit the weight room, kid!

 

[Universe]

Ager seems really excited considering he was stuck behind Stackhouse, George and Jones. He even just seemed happy to be on the bench.

 

[Netted]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Feb 22 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.</div>

I've always considered RJ quite defense-first, considering how much he gets paid. You don't see that many stars, especially wings, as focused on defense as he is. I imagine Boki will get less and less court time as the new guys and Krstic settle in, so in some sense the trade reduced his role (unless he suddenly starts shooting the lights out again, which I don't see happening).

Forgot about Marcus. He's a terrible defender. At least this gives him a chance to specialize - I could see Marcus being a decent matchup against some of the bulkier point guards that Harris struggles against, if he just put some work in. Hit the weight room, kid!
</div>
Once Harris is back I'd like to see only 2 bad/mediocre defenders on the court at any one time. Starters would be Carter and Krstic, but when you come in with Marcus you sub Sean for Nenad. When Boki comes in you sub in Diop or Williams/Hassell backcourt instead on Harris/Carter. Or even Williams/Harris.

So many more options now when you know you put a Boki or Marcus in and you don't have to worry about the opposition going on a huge run and falling behind by double digits.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Feb 22 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.</div>

I've always considered RJ quite defense-first, considering how much he gets paid. You don't see that many stars, especially wings, as focused on defense as he is. I imagine Boki will get less and less court time as the new guys and Krstic settle in, so in some sense the trade reduced his role (unless he suddenly starts shooting the lights out again, which I don't see happening).

Forgot about Marcus. He's a terrible defender. At least this gives him a chance to specialize - I could see Marcus being a decent matchup against some of the bulkier point guards that Harris struggles against, if he just put some work in. Hit the weight room, kid!
</div>

In past seasons, that is definitely true. But have you seen RJ lately? In all games that I've been able to catch (about 75%), I've seen over again how RJ doesn't cover his man, how he gets beat on defense, and how he seemingly just gives up on some plays on defense. IMO this is a different RJ than what we've seen in past seasons.

However, the Dallas game and the Chicago game were a couple of the few games where RJ actually tried on defense. It's something I've rarely seen from him this season...and he's disappointed me, alot.

 

[Joey FistPump]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Feb 22 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.</div>
Forgot about Marcus. He's a terrible defender. At least this gives him a chance to specialize - I could see Marcus being a decent matchup against some of the bulkier point guards that Harris struggles against, if he just put some work in. Hit the weight room, kid!
</div>
Now it was only one game but against Chicago Marcus actually played pretty good defense...

 

[Netted]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 02:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng @ Feb 22 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 22 2008, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know, and I love that. I'm hoping we'll just stick with the pick-and-roll throughout the season, because I don't mind it at all. Oh, and you forgot about RJ, Boki and Marcus...not exactly defense-first, either.

I want to see what Frank does with this roster. If we get to the playoffs, and at/above .500, give this dude and Thronki some props.</div>

I've always considered RJ quite defense-first, considering how much he gets paid. You don't see that many stars, especially wings, as focused on defense as he is. I imagine Boki will get less and less court time as the new guys and Krstic settle in, so in some sense the trade reduced his role (unless he suddenly starts shooting the lights out again, which I don't see happening).

Forgot about Marcus. He's a terrible defender. At least this gives him a chance to specialize - I could see Marcus being a decent matchup against some of the bulkier point guards that Harris struggles against, if he just put some work in. Hit the weight room, kid!
</div>

In past seasons, that is definitely true. But have you seen RJ lately? In all games that I've been able to catch (about 75%), I've seen over again how RJ doesn't cover his man, how he gets beat on defense, and how he seemingly just gives up on some plays on defense. IMO this is a different RJ than what we've seen in past seasons.

However, the Dallas game and the Chicago game were a couple of the few games where RJ actually tried on defense. It's something I've rarely seen from him this season...and he's disappointed me, alot.
</div>
I think we all have to admit that there has been extenuating circumstances this season that impacted everyone as a whole. And I also think RJ is exerting a lot more energy on the offensive end this season, which is impacting his defense. But he has shown he is a very capable defender in the past.

Now with the soap opera behind them I see RJ settling into a 18-20 ppg role and playing better defense as a result of having more teammates commited to it as well.