<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jerkstore @ Jun 29 2008, 03:24 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I guess I'll try and be optimistic here, and say that Frank hasn't had the best crew around for a complete team concept, just a couple future HOF's and crusty journeymen, few NBA caliber rookies.
His rep for not playing rookies goes along with his micromanaging, but I think you have to realize that he had the burden of maintaining a playoff caliber team with a perpetually thin bench, and never really had the slack and freedom necessary to create team success.
I pray that Kiki is on the side of developing the new players and will not tollerate the "jerking" of minutes that destroys player confidence. I think that both Lopez and CDR are possible starters over the course of this season because both are coachable.
Brook is a very Frank friendly player, a guy who can take direction and play a role.
CDR on the other hand is great at what he does and I hope that his "rep" is respected by Frank. I hope he takes some exception to him, and allows him to get comfortable on the floor.
The whole thing here is that the front office is going to have more to say than last season because of rookie development, The addition of Yi, and other interest in building a new roster, so in a way playing Rookies extended minutes is NECESSARY in order to know what you have and what you need in future seasons, and although we want to improve our record from last year the lottery is our friend.
I really look foward to Frank coaching an entertaining season, because really who gives a **** what our record is, this is not a finals caliber team this season.
Here's hoping for some fun b-ball this season.</div>
I keep wondering how this terrible coach twice coached the Nets to 14 game winning streaks and coached the Nets to 49 wins in 2005-06 when his effective bench was limited to Cliff Robinson and Jacque Vaughn. Frank's job is on the line, but right now, I think the entire front office is on the line.
For several years, hamstrung by the salary structure of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson, wound up having to sign retreads to fill out the bench. Lamond Murray, Scott Padgett, Cliff Robinson (after the suspension), Billy Thomas, Awvee Storey, Alonzo Mourning, Ron Mercer, Marc Jackson, Jeff McInnis, Linton Johnson III, etc. They also blew the 2003 draft by not being prepared to handle a talented but culturally lost kid in Zoran Planinic, blew the 2004 draft by selling the pick, and blew the 2005 draft by taking two highly overrated players in Antoine Wright and Mile Ilic.
Now, they have done a 180 degree reversal and decided to rebuild using picks, young players--fallen angels--whatever.
And I simply do not buy this rookies-need-confidence crap. Antoine Wright partied hard with McInnis his rookie season, according to reports. He sucked. Where's he playing next year? for how much? Marcus Williams dropped in the draft for a reason--poor conditioning and inconsistency that scouts thought was a function of up-and-down desire. Josh Boone dropped because scouts thought he was too soft. Sean Williams dropped because scouts thought he was immature. Boone and Williams surprised. Boone led his rookie class in double doubles--and has yet to have a preseason camp. Williams played more minutes than anyone drafted after him and more than half the players drafted in front of him. Does Frank get any credit for that player development. Williams went to the bench at season's end because he couldnt master game plans, wasn't a professional. That's Carter and Jefferson's assessment.
How can people complain about player development when there is yet to be an example of a young player leaving Frank's system and suddenly blooming into even a rotation player elsewhere, let alone a star. Linton Johnson III? Antoine Wright? Zoran Planinic plays in Spain. How about Krstic's development? Does Frank get any credit for that? And what about the post-Avery Johnson Devin Harris? Frank sits him down on arrival and tells him the key to the car is his. No credit for that either?
Thorn notes part of player development is on the players to work hard. He should know...he picked guys with attitude problems, whether soft or immature.
The Nets DESPERATELY need to develop the four young players--aged 20, 20, 20 and 21--they picked up Thursday. A ton of potential, but again there are questions. Is Yi too soft for the NBA? Why did Brook Lopez drop five lottery places? Why did CDR drop TWENTY? Is Anderson quick enough to get his shot off in the pros?