Nets Still Lack 'D'

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is no disputing Jason Kidd's abilities as a playmaker. As none other than Larry Brown happily would tell you, at least there's one superstar point guard around these parts who plays the game the right way, makes his teammates better and gets his team a bunch of wins.
But as brilliant as Kidd is at finding the open man, he hasn't had the same court vision when it comes to locating the best big men. Remember how he demanded that the Nets sign Alonzo Mourning? Even if the Nets parlayed that Kidd turnover into Vince Carter, it didn't solve their big-man problem.

So they will try to get it right this week when they sign another Kidd recruit, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a much-needed low-post threat who should be able to prevent teams from loading up against Carter. If Jeff McInnis leaves his baggage in Cleveland and focuses on his new job of backing up Kidd, it'll be remembered as a very good summer for Bruce Ratner, his first in two tries as Nets owner.

But here's the big question: Will these moves get the Nets closer to the Pistons and Heat?

"I don't think there's any question we've closed the gap," Nets GM Ed Stefanski said yesterday.

The Nets should be better. They've upgraded two spots. But it also could be a case of the Pistons coming back to the pack, now that Brown has signed on to try to get Stephon Marbury to play more like Kidd. The real slippage could be in Miami, where Shaquille O'Neal always could show up for the season fat and content with his new long-term contract, and where Stan Van Gundy probably won't survive any kind of losing streak longer than, say, two games.

With today being the start of the signing period for NBA free agents, Stefanski couldn't talk about his two new additions by name. But by now, everyone knows who's going where.

All the talk around here lately has been about Brown and whether he can make any sense out of the hodge-podge of talent Isiah Thomas has assembled, with the embarrassingly high price tag of $118 million (not counting the coach's $10 million per). If Brown can't make it work, it's time for Jim Dolan to get a new Knicks president. But at a salary level nearly half their cross-river rivals, the Nets are going to be the team in the area to watch, into May.

"We've filled two huge needs we've been trying to fill since Kenyon Martin left and since J. Kidd got here," said Stefanski, whose roster will come in at around $63 million. "We really struggled when teams double-teamed Vince, but it won't be as easy now. And now we won't be worried about losing points when Jason's on the bench."

Abdur-Rahim's back-to-the-basket game is something that Martin never provided. But Abdur-Rahim also has never played in a playoff game, so who knows how he'll perform in May? Carter and Jefferson could end up stepping on each other's toes. But Stefanski is betting that they can coexist, probably because Kidd makes the kinds of plays that will have Brown telling Marbury, "See how it's done, Steph?" Even if they still don't have a competent, consistent long-range shooter, it should be impossible to duplicate last season's ranking for points (29th) and field-goal percentage (29th).</div>

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[jbbNJNetz]

The gap has been closed alittle bit on the offensive end. But on the defensive end we still lack the defensive toughness to contend to those teams. In any sport as you can see now defensive is what wins you games and gets you closer to that win. If you look at any of them starters that we have Kidd and Jefferson are the only defensive threats we have. Reff, Nenad (he can become defensive stopper if he Bulked up), and Carter (he doesn't even know the meaning of defense) aren't really that great on the defensive end.

So who will stick Hamilton when he is running through those screens? Since we don't have Kittles any more.

But they are contenders now, not no low seed in the playoffs

 

[Next Level Game]

Lawerence Frank is a great defensive coach if anything... I think thats why there are so many comparisons drawn between him and JVG. He can make up for some defensive deficiencies in some players.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

Yeh, I think that the way the Nets will perform defensivly will depend on how much Frank stresses it. There is one that that we need to keep in mind: The Nets are very athletic in all five starting positions. With athletesicm you can create very good defenders.

 

[XSV]

I know everyone thinks Vince is a terrible defender, but I think he will surprise a lot of you next year. First of all, unlike last year, the weight of the offensive game isn't all on his shoulders (RJ, SAR and even Kidd and Krstic are all capable forwards), and also with the additions of JMac and Antoine, he won't have to be playing as many minutes. These two factors, coupled with the fact that JKidd will force him to play D, Frank is an excellant defensive coach, and Vince is an athletic freak, look for his defense to improve quite a bit next year. Plus, I have seen in many of his games he can be an excellant defender when he puts his mind to it and has the energy.

Like it was said earlier too, RJ is an excellant defender, so we don't need to worry about him on D. JKidd is not as quick as he used to be, but his competitive edge, smarts and reduced minutes will make him above-average also next year. Though SAR is not a great shotblocker, his perimeter defending is excellant, and his low-post defending is under-rated. Krstic is a decent defender, but he is still learning, and coach Frank will only make him better, plus he did a pretty damn good job on Shaq this year.

For our bench, MacInnis is a great defender, as it was said, he'd always guard the better players and do the dirty work while the D-less Lebron got all the glory and jacked up all the shots on offense (I don't blame him for being mad about that btw lol). When Rod Thorn introduced Antoine, he said he was a great defender, but I don't know too much about his D, and I've heard other things on draft sites...Collins we all know is a great post defender, and KG said Cliff was the best post-perimeter defender in the league.

Right now our most glaring need is a shot-blocker or a big body that will bang around. On D, we ain't gonna be a Detroit or SA, but we ain't gonna be Phoenix or Cleveland either. I'd say our D and our depth aren't amazing, but they are pretty good and are definitely above league average. Plus when you have one of the best offenses and starting lineups (maybe the best after Miami - Phoenix has dropped IMO) you can afford to lack in areas.

 

[Bobcats]

Jeff McInnis a great defender?

Good one.

 

[XSV]

Uhhh...yah he is. He would have to guard the best wing players for Cleveland the last two years b/c Lebron sucks on defense. The articles about the trade all say he is a good defender as well. Where do you get that he is a bad defender (othet than maybe Shape cuz he hates McInnis

 

[og15]

He's right, McInnis is actually not a bad defender, when he's concentrating on basketball, he's actually a good man to man defender.

 

[Bobcats]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Uhhh...yah he is. He would have to guard the best wing players for Cleveland the last two years b/c Lebron sucks on defense. The articles about the trade all say he is a good defender as well. Where do you get that he is a bad defender (othet than maybe Shape cuz he hates McInnis</div>

McInnis is nowhere CLOSE to a great defender. He'll have stints where he shows he can play some ok man to man D, but players drive by him way too easily, and leave him in there dust. I've seen him play enough to know this guy can be a key to your team winning, and he can be a key to you losing. He can play great at times, and he could be a headcase and ruin team chemistry. It's really all up to him. Who knows, maybe he'll turn around like TMac (defensively of course) and suddenly play good D, but don't bet on it.

 

[Henacy]

Well we arent as terrible of a defensive team as many may be led to believe, I just think that the one problem our defense may have is a problem creating turnovers as the years we went to the finals(which would be a major blow to our fastbreak game if we cant create turnovers). We dont have the shot blocking pressence that Martin brought on occasssion. And with Kittles(who use to always be near the top of the league in steals) gone and Kidd only getting older...the quickness defensively on the perimeter is not what it use to be...........but we still have some solid defensive parts in man to man situations even if they arent able to create turnovers.

We need a strong defensive year from RJ, he has to be the guy we put on opposing teams best 2 or 3 wing man every night. I think we need Cliff Robinson to be a on-ball pressence more like he was in Golden State etc off the bench on the ball guarding Power Forward's. Collins is another big key cause he has to spend the majority of time guarding opposing teams best bigman whether it be a PF or a Center every night. I think that if we get strong years from Collins and Jefferson with the starting group. And Cliff Robinson( and hopefully another defensive minded big like maybe Allen) then I think our defense can be alright guys can then start to fit in place. Kidd can guard the 2nd best perimeter player in the starting lineup of opposing team pg and some shooting guards....McInnis can hopefully do the same in the 2nd unit and we can use Vaughn who is good defensively in certain defensive situations. Iam worried about how Wright and/or Mercer will hold up defensively tho...I just read that Doug Christie is on the radar...I think he would be perfit for that role shooter/defensvie stopper on the perimeter with the 2nd unit.