Will we be the worst team in the league?

[gobillsdeep]

Unbiased NBA fans of mine tell me that they believe the Nets will be one of if not the worst team in the league this year. My initial reaction was no way but the more I think about it, the more I think Frank wont do well with this team and we may not win more than 25 games. Is that possible? Let me know what you think.

 

[pegs]

Nope, <s>Seattle</s> Oklahoma City will likely take that title.

 

[User01]

Hard to tell. We could be bad, as a young team with mismatched pieces, and a lot of guys needing to grow, but a lot of those teams seem to do really well. The Blazers, Hawks, and Sixers lately all did well when not much was expected.

And I think Frank will do well.

 

[GMJ]

I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised what a Devin Harris-lead team can do in an entire season. I think Yi is a big if-factor, and slightly behind him is Sean Williams. Being a young team it's not surprising that there are so many variables. I think I'm certain that we're not a playoff team, but I'm also confident in that watching this next season is going to be a HELL of a lot more fun than watching last season. Hell, Dumpy might make it through with a full head of hair!

 

[Netsfan99]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Jul 7 2008, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised what a Devin Harris-lead team can do in an entire season. I think Yi is a big if-factor, and slightly behind him is Sean Williams. Being a young team it's not surprising that there are so many variables. I think I'm certain that we're not a playoff team, but I'm also confident in that watching this next season is going to be a HELL of a lot more fun than watching last season. Hell, Dumpy might make it through with a full head of hair!</div>

No offense to any Nets players, but it doesnt matter what Devin Harris or Yi do for the team's success. Its all about Vince Carter. As VC goes.. the team goes. He is the only one who can carry this team.

 

[danxcr]

i agree... this team can only go as far as VC... we need 1 leader... and thats VC... VC is batman, and harris is robin... Yi is ... a ninja? lol... ok its way too late... gotta sleep

 

[netsking]

As long as the Knicks have Eddie Curry we won't be last.

 

[bbwSwish]

They should want to be the worst. Draft Demar DeRozan and get LeBron even more exciting to join the Nets.

 

[J.S]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netsfan99 @ Jul 7 2008, 12:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Jul 7 2008, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised what a Devin Harris-lead team can do in an entire season. I think Yi is a big if-factor, and slightly behind him is Sean Williams. Being a young team it's not surprising that there are so many variables. I think I'm certain that we're not a playoff team, but I'm also confident in that watching this next season is going to be a HELL of a lot more fun than watching last season. Hell, Dumpy might make it through with a full head of hair!</div>

No offense to any Nets players, but it doesnt matter what Devin Harris or Yi do for the team's success. Its all about Vince Carter. As VC goes.. the team goes. He is the only one who can carry this team.
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Vince won't carry this team, but he'll be key in other ways. this is about the TEAM, not VC, and I don't really think you can go into this year with a win or lose type of mentality and enjoy the season. there are alot of developments to watch and players to see, it will be an exciting year reguardless of what our record shows.

I'm expecting that we'll do well in transition, we may have some decent shooting, defense is possible. We'll have good shot blocking, a young athletic squad, and hungry players trying to make their mark and re-building the winning culture of the organization. and I think there'll be alot of highlights.

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netsfan99 @ Jul 7 2008, 01:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Jul 7 2008, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised what a Devin Harris-lead team can do in an entire season. I think Yi is a big if-factor, and slightly behind him is Sean Williams. Being a young team it's not surprising that there are so many variables. I think I'm certain that we're not a playoff team, but I'm also confident in that watching this next season is going to be a HELL of a lot more fun than watching last season. Hell, Dumpy might make it through with a full head of hair!</div>

No offense to any Nets players, but it doesnt matter what Devin Harris or Yi do for the team's success. Its all about Vince Carter. As VC goes.. the team goes. He is the only one who can carry this team.
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Kobe couldn't carry the Lakers. He needed Gasol, Bynum, Odumb, etc...

I think if you're going to go into the season thinking that we'll not win one game where Vince does poorly I think you too will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Dumpy]

well. obviously if Devin or Vince get injured the team will be terrible. With both of them healthy . . . who knows. There are a LOT of questions and "ifs"--but there were the same questions in 2001 as well. In 2001 the Nets had four rookies, a super-athletic second-year guy who had a decent rookie season, an overpaid veteran that was a throw-in in a deal (Harris), and a guy who had spent the previous few years mostly inured (Kittles). But it all came together.

The upside is what the Sixers achieved last year . . . . no one expected anything from them, they were young and on paper had very few scorers . . . started out poorly . . . but they came together during the season, played better and better as time went by, and roared into the playoffs.

 

[Black Republican]

One of the worst, yup.

 

[Petey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Jul 7 2008, 09:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>well. obviously if Devin or Vince get injured the team will be terrible. With both of them healthy . . . who knows. There are a LOT of questions and "ifs"--but there were the same questions in 2001 as well. In 2001 the Nets had four rookies, a super-athletic second-year guy who had a decent rookie season, an overpaid veteran that was a throw-in in a deal (Harris), and a guy who had spent the previous few years mostly inured (Kittles). But it all came together.

The upside is what the Sixers achieved last year . . . . no one expected anything from them, they were young and on paper had very few scorers . . . started out poorly . . . but they came together during the season, played better and better as time went by, and roared into the playoffs.</div>

I think we'll be a late lottery team again... something I dread. I'd rather see how bad this team could be.

I like Swish's idea... TANK!

-Petey

 

[Netted]

3 key elements will determine how good or bad this team will be.

1) Health. That goes a long way into determining who is the worst.

2) Chemistry. If these guys really get a long well and enjoy playing together then that alone will allow them to gut out a few wins.

3) Team Defense. If the young guys can grasp the team concept, and fully commit to it, they won't be the worst.

I really wonder how the youthful enthusiasm is going to impact some of the other guys. Going to be like a bunch of puppies running around out there, which could be a good thing. If Frank can keep that enthusiasm up and allow it to infect the other players, while channeling the energy and not squashing it, they'll be fun to watch.

Sometimes being too inexperienced is a good thing. You don't have the experience to know you shouldn't be able to compete.

The other positive is that all these guys come from winning backgrounds and they all know this is a new beginning for this franchise here and will want to be a part of any new success. It's not like they are walking onto the Spurs and need to sit in the background and try to fit in. They are right upfront and will be part of the winning or losing.

 

[networks]

I think people are expecting too much.

Do I think we will the be the worse team? NO

But we have to be close to the bottom.

Player Development is the key. Our young guys need to be on the court. What VC does really doesnt matter. IMO What Frank does will be the factor. Frank needs to let the young guys play even if they are making mistakes. This team shouldnt make the playoffs. There is no reason why we should. I am not saying to Tank, but a high lottery pick should be in our future.

 

[Netted]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (networks @ Jul 7 2008, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think people are expecting too much.

Do I think we will the be the worse team? NO

But we have to be close to the bottom.

Player Development is the key. Our young guys need to be on the court. What VC does really doesnt matter. IMO What Frank does will be the factor. Frank needs to let the young guys play even if they are making mistakes. This team shouldnt make the playoffs. There is no reason why we should. I am not saying to Tank, but a high lottery pick should be in our future.</div>
What fun is there without some sort of expectations? You have to hope for some form of overachieving.

 

[reganomics813]

We're rebuilding, any playoff talk is nonsense at this point. We need to have zero expectations and be happy with whatever good stuff actually happens.

 

[networks]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (reganomics813 @ Jul 7 2008, 10:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We're rebuilding, any playoff talk is nonsense at this point. We need to have zero expectations and be happy with whatever good stuff actually happens.</div>

Exactly.

The only expectation I have is that Frank plays the young guys significantly.

 

[pinetar]

If the Nets didn't have any draft picks this year, would they be not rebuilding? If you brought back the same group that ended last season, and then subtracted only RJ, how much worse would the team be?

I will be surprised if the Nets end up with a worse record than last season. I think a winning record is a reasonable expectation.

 

[Netted]

If we keep Krstic, trade for Nocioni and sign Dooling I am expecting the playoffs and nothing less.

Harris/Dooling
Carter/CDR
Nocioni/Simmons/Anderson
Yi/Boone/Williams
Krstic/Lopez

is that such a far cry from:

Kidd/Johnson
Kittles/Harris
KVH/Jefferson
Martin/Williams/Scalabrine
MacCulloch/Collins

Should be good for at least the #8 seed in the East. I'm curious to see what this team looks like by the end of the month.

 

[Moo2K4]

I can't see you guys being the worst when there are teams that are still in mass rebuild mode - OKC, Memphis, etc. You guys have a solid roster with a lot of good pieces in place. It's just a matter of putting it all together and getting the right chemistry.

 

[networks]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Jul 7 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If we keep Krstic, trade for Nocioni and sign Dooling I am expecting the playoffs and nothing less.

Harris/Dooling
Carter/CDR
Nocioni/Simmons/Anderson
Yi/Boone/Williams
Krstic/Lopez

is that such a far cry from:

Kidd/Johnson
Kittles/Harris
KVH/Jefferson
Martin/Williams/Scalabrine
MacCulloch/Collins

Should be good for at least the #8 seed in the East. I'm curious to see what this team looks like by the end of the month.</div>

WHY?

All honesty, Do you think we can contend for a championship? Come On, Lets be realistic. Celtics, Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, Pistons, Hornets, even the Hawks and Magic, all those teams have a better chance. It would be a disservice to the Nets Franchise to make the playoffs. Be competitive would be nice, but the meer fact that we make the playoffs would be... I dont even know what word to use to express how I would feel.

 

[Netted]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (networks @ Jul 7 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>WHY?

All honesty, Do you think we can contend for a championship? Come On, Lets be realistic. Celtics, Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, Pistons, Hornets, even the Hawks and Magic, all those teams have a better chance. It would be a disservice to the Nets Franchise to make the playoffs. Be competitive would be nice, but the meer fact that we make the playoffs would be... I dont even know what word to use to express how I would feel.

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Why not? Do you think you are going to get a difference maker in the Top 5 of next years draft?

I don't know enough about the young'ins that are coming up right now, but I'm not aware of a Lebron, Oden, Beasley or Rose in there (or even a Mayo who I heard about as a junior in HS).

This team is going to become a contender in the summer of 2010 with free agency. In the meantime, I have no problem seeing this team grab a spot in the playoffs and overachieve.

This team is deeper. The only way it gets better is if players like Yi, Lopez, and CDR get about 15-20 mpg and make meaningful contributions on a winning team, which means they are learning the right way.

I don't know why anyone would like to see their team lose. Hasn't watching Memphis get killed in the draft every year detered that type of thinking? All the teams you mentioned have been built through mid 1st round draft picks, trades and free agency (other than the Spurs selection of Duncan and Magic picking Howard).

We have youth. Youngest damn team in the league. Yet people keep insisting on trading Carter and picking up more young players with "potential" like Green and various undrafted players. The young guys need to learn from someone. Most of the time they learn from players. Coaches just can't give 14 guys that much attention. You learn more from success and close loses than from getting your ass kicked every night. That's just no fun and makes players bitter.

 

[soul driver]

The new players on the team now want to win. They have that mentality, something that we kinda were lacking last year. Yi wants to be a star. VC and Devin can make him one. Devin wants to win, he has that mentality as well. Brook plays with passion. Anderson is a hard worker. CDR has something to prove. Sean could only be better, same with Boone.
We don't have the black cloud of an angry Kidd with us this season. We don't have whatever tension RJ brought with him last season.
I think it's a good thing people think we'll underachieve, we'll remain low on the radar for a while until writers and everyone starts to see what we have and how we're doing.

 

[Claud]

I don't expect us to be in the finals or anything but it would be nice if we at least made the playoffs... So that our young squad can taste it for the first time and also to build a winning mentality.

 

[FOMW]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (soul driver @ Jul 7 2008, 01:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The new players on the team now want to win. They have that mentality, something that we kinda were lacking last year. Yi wants to be a star. VC and Devin can make him one. Devin wants to win, he has that mentality as well. Brook plays with passion. Anderson is a hard worker. CDR has something to prove. Sean could only be better, same with Boone.
We don't have the black cloud of an angry Kidd with us this season. We don't have whatever tension RJ brought with him last season.
I think it's a good thing people think we'll underachieve, we'll remain low on the radar for a while until writers and everyone starts to see what we have and how we're doing.</div>

The other factor not to be overlooked is that, right now, Devin Harris is a superior two-way player to Jason Kidd. The comparison might not even be close next year, once Harris has a full training camp with new coaches who are willing to let him showcase his talents to their fullest extent. When you add that and take away Kidd's negative energy, you've significantly upgraded your team.

If I had to name the three biggest factors in the Nets win/loss success next year, I'd say (1) health of VC and Harris (if either misses significant time or has to play while significantly physically impaired, we're screwed); (2) VC's attitude/determination to lead and win, especially early in the season; (3) the willingness of the young players to stay very enthusiastic and supportive of their teammates, regardless of who's getting playing time and who's not (which is certainly part and parcel of "chemistry".) I don't think playing "hard" is going to be an issue this year. I think it will be a given for most, if not all, of the players.

If the Nets are fortunate in all three of the above factors, I think they will be in the playoff hunt and favor the odds of them making it.

 

[Claud]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW @ Jul 7 2008, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (soul driver @ Jul 7 2008, 01:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The new players on the team now want to win. They have that mentality, something that we kinda were lacking last year. Yi wants to be a star. VC and Devin can make him one. Devin wants to win, he has that mentality as well. Brook plays with passion. Anderson is a hard worker. CDR has something to prove. Sean could only be better, same with Boone.
We don't have the black cloud of an angry Kidd with us this season. We don't have whatever tension RJ brought with him last season.
I think it's a good thing people think we'll underachieve, we'll remain low on the radar for a while until writers and everyone starts to see what we have and how we're doing.</div>

The other factor not to be overlooked is that, right now, Devin Harris is a superior two-way player to Jason Kidd. The comparison might not even be close next year, once Harris has a full training camp with new coaches who are willing to let him showcase his talents to their fullest extent. When you add that and take away Kidd's negative energy, you've significantly upgraded your team.

If I had to name the three biggest factors in the Nets win/loss success next year, I'd say (1) health of VC and Harris (if either misses significant time or has to play while significantly physically impaired, we're screwed); (2) VC's attitude/determination to lead and win, especially early in the season; (3) the willingness of the young players to stay very enthusiastic and supportive of their teammates, regardless of who's getting playing time and who's not (which is certainly part and parcel of "chemistry".) I don't think playing "hard" is going to be an issue this year. I think it will be a given for most, if not all, of the players.

If the Nets are fortunate in all three of the above factors, I think they will be in the playoff hunt and favor the odds of them making it.
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I really like this post. Well said

 

[ToddMacCulloch11]

It's kind of hard to predict what this team will do. Outside of the health issues that can be said about any team, there are a lot of questions.

Will Boki and/or Nenad be back? With a sign and trade, who knows what that'll bring back. And there is also KVH, and Stro the expiring contract.

How much will Boone, Yi, Ager, and both the Williams develop? Are they going to keep getting better (or become effective at all, as the case may be), or is what we've seen what we're going to get from them? And how ready are the rookies to contribute? At this point, most of the young guys look like they're going to be counted on to be part of the rotation.

Can Simmons and Kristc (if back) come anywhere close to regaining their pre-injury form?

Is Vince going to step up into a leadership role?

How well will everyone click together with there being such a turnover in the roster?

I'm not expecting anything huge from the team. My hope going into this season is that the young guys get a chance to play and develop, and we build on something going forward with that. With as bad as the east has been, this team could end up in the playoffs, even if they're backing into it.

 

[lukewarmplay]

Count me as one of the ones who thinks we'll be better than last year. I don't think it's crazy to think that of Boone, Sean, Krstic, and Yi, at least one should show significant improvement, which would instantly make the team much more balanced, despite the loss of RJ. And Harris is going to be out there trying to win games, which is something our point guard forgot to do last year. Somebody steps up as a shooter, that's a whole thing right there.

And, to be honest, I like Frank, but Kidd undermined him last year and he allowed it/there wasn't much he could do about it. He should be a heck of a coach this season. Hopefully the replacement assistants are adequate.

 

[danxcr]

well i for one want the nets in the playoffs... i wana see these kids learn and play with the playoff atmosphere... look at the hawks last year... they took boston to 7 games and they were all young maybe except for bibby... i think we have what it takes to compete on a nightly basis... and our depth (if our youngins turn out well) we wont be so tired on back to back games cuz the youngins can contribute solid minutes... and it helps harris and VC from the grueling season of the NBA