I'm not leaving anything to chance for tomorrow night's lottery draft order festivities. Incantations, voodoo, evil and good spells, nervous tendencies and chants will all be in the mix. Also, for good karma, here is an acrostic name poem in honor of Irina that I just found. Everyone's favorite executive. At least here on NetsDaily. I will load up on many alcoholic beverages in the event that we don't land a top 3 pick.

Irina

I is for Ideal, she's your perfect friend,
R is for Rose, more beautiful as it unfolds,
I is for Inspirational, you uplift those around,
N is for Natural, her beauty and her care,
A is for Always, she'll be there for you.

Sorry if this has already been posted. I just saw it and it jumped out for me. I like this Hello Brooklyn video and I'm wondering if it, or something similar wil be used for marketing purposes. Enjoy, if you haven't already seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFW1LMR_oZE

This second video is for the Brooklyn Nets dancer auditions. I think it was just posted today, and . . . . ahem . . . it is sure to get the blood pumping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mef2Wed-q1c&feature=channel&list=UL

Can't wait until the lottery!!

At the close of every season, certain players are told what they need to work on in the off season to improve. I thought it would be a fun exercise to see what others thought. Here are my suggestions for some Brooklyn Nets players for the 2012-2013 season:

Marshon Brook(s)lyn: Get stronger and watch lots of tapes. Work on your handle and focus on setting a quicker tempo for the offense and making quicker decisions when you get the ball. No more holding the ball until the shot clock is expiring. Either pass the ball or attack.

Brook(lyn) Lopez: Stay healthy. Avoid motorcycles, banana peels. Stay in the comic book store and take calcium supplements. We need you back and healthy. If you're going to suffer an injury relapse, please do so before the start of free agency, as we may need to pursue a backup plan if your foot/ankle won't heal. Also, stay in the weight room with Marshon. We need you to throw people around in the paint next season . . . like a Boss.

Kris Humphries: Practice your mid-range jumper and lateral foot movement. Stay out of clubs, if possible. And never trust a big butt and a smile (Bell Biv Devoe)

Deron Williams: Sign the dang contract. Get a prescription for happy pills.

Gerald Green: Work on your handle and review lots of game footage. See how you can make better decisions with your passes. Also, please give us a hometown discount. We really really want you back.

Gerald Wallace: Same as Deron. Please come back. And stay healthy.

Anthony Morrow: So much to do, so little time. How about we start with you practicing running off screens and improving your crossover dribble drive. So much do say . . .

Jordan Farmar: Get healthy.

Jordan Williams: Stay away from fatty foods, work out with Hump (but don't follow him to the clubs).

Sheldon Williams: We love you just the way you are (Billy Joel). Come back for vets minimum and we're cool.

Sundi Gaines: Take a trip to the Amazon basin and hike the length of the Amazon River. Apply honey to your bare legs (it serves as repellent). If you encounter an indigenous tribe, adopt a fighting stance and shout out a New Zealander Haka in their direction (they will assume that you are friendly). Drink liberally from any water source. Pet and cuddle with any furry animals or reptiles you encounter. Wear good hiking boots, as you'll need it.

Johan Petro: Same advice as the ones for Gaines . . . except no hiking boots.

Avery Johnson: Submit your resignation.

This is the first time I've expressed the Fire Avery sentiment. At least on this blog site. But last night's game with Miami captured the essence of why he's not a very good coach. "Not very good" in the sense of making in-game adjustment. He's a nice guy. Gets along with Deron apparently and is all too willing to toe the company line. But Hay Carumba! His inability to adjust and be creative when it matters most is pitiful. Here's what I saw (painfully) last night. My recollection at least.

Nets are up 96 - 90 with roughly a minute plus left. Maybe 2 minutes. Miami makes a substitution bringing in another big (I think Haslem). The Nets had been playing small with Hump at center and Green as PF. Ian Eagle even muses aloud the same thing I'm thinking (and neither of us is an NBA coach). "Will Avery respond by going big?" I'm thinking he'd better adjust. What happens? Avery does nothing. Miami has the ball, marching down the court, misses a shot, but grabs the offensive rebound over an undersized and outmatched Gerald Green. LeBron hits the bucket and I think gets a free throw. 96 - 93.

Nets still have a chance to pull off the victory. Oh, never mind. LeBron GAINES decides the put the team on his back and fire up a brick. Lebron marches down the court and hits another bucket. At this point I'm thinking. Hey that Lebron James guy is pretty good. As if the last 17 straight Miami points wasn't a hint. How about double teaming him once he get to mid court? Or how about fronting him so he can't get the in bounds pass? Or how about going zone? Or how about putting DeShawn in the game to annoy him? What does Avery do? Nothing. LeBron James marches time and time again down the court with little resistance using the EXACT SAME pick and drive scheme at the foul line.

Miami now has a 101-98 lead. Avery brings in Deshawn to inbound the ball. Mind you, Deshawn has been sitting most of the quarter. The play is blown, Miami gets the ball. Nets go on to lose.

I'm adding my name to the "Fire Avery" bandwagon. The most important task in coaching is managing the game during the 48 minutes of play. Avery seems more intent on yelling "rookie" at Marshon and arguing over the non-call of fouls than putting serious thought in adjusting on the fly. With Avery at the helm this team will never realize its full potential. Last night was emblematic of his coaching all year.

Yes, Fire Avery!

For what it's worth, Mr. Robinson wants to be a Net. Assuming we land either pick #2 or #3, I presume that he's on Billy King's radar. He's listed as 6'10" in some publications, but that's probably inflated. He seems like a more athletic David West. Not sure how to feel about this, but hey, at least he's talking up the Nets - which is sorta nice.

"Both players have different things to offer whichever teams decide to take the Jayhawks’ star players. Taylor and Robinson said they are both willing to do whatever they have to for their respective teams to succeed.

Each has an ideal team in mind, when considering the draft. Taylor simply said, “The Lakers, let’s go Lakers.”

Robinson, when asked the same question, laughed and smiled, and then said “New Jersey. I want to go to Jersey.”

http://www.kansan.com/news/2012/apr/12/robinson-taylor-nba-draft/?sports

What's the absolute worst case scenario? O.k. maybe not the ABSOLUTE worst . . . which would be Proky being incarcerated by Putin, Ratner being the decision-making owner and the Rat then selling off every possible asset to line his grubby little pockets. Phew!! Not that absolute worst case scenario. But the hand-wringing, Dwight goes to the Lakers and Deron bolts for the Mavs. That one. Well, I for one don't believe for a second that Deron leaves, as long as Billy keeps him as de facto assistant GM and makes a good faith effort to sign some talent next summer. But if Deron bolts, and if Dwight signs somewhere else? So what!! We will have a ton of cap space. Hopefully, a healthy Brook Lopez. A new arena. A dymanic young scorer in Marshon Brooks. A really high draft pick (I'm thinking possible Anthony Davis). A second decent draft 1st round pick from Houston (I'm praying Billy can find a way to get us Michael Kidd-Gilchrest). And a ton of expiring contracts. Other than PG, we could roll out an exciting young line up of Marshon, Brook Lopez, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest and Anthony Davis. And still have a ton of cap space to acquire actual NBA level veteran talent.

So when all looks sad and gloomy. And the opposition is raining 3s. And Petro loses another rebound. And Am-miss and Egregious E are clanging 3 pointers. Just remember, tomorrow is always just a day awaaaaaaaay.

I think I did a tribute last year, but I feel compelled to write another.

Think for a second what the Hump means to this team. Then think for a second what he has overcome to effectively become the captain of our defensive unit and our most valuable frontcourt player. It's crazy.

Last year management was hoping that he wouldn't pick up his option because they wanted to save that money for the Lebron sweepstakes (how did that turn out). So the Hump comes to camp for the 2010-2011 season as the FOURTH PF on the roster. Troy Moiso Murphy was suppose to be the "moose" we had longed for - then he was injured and out of shape. We started Joe Moiso Smith on opening night. We featured a deer-caught-in-the-headlight Derrick Favors until the Deron trade. All three of those guys were ahead of the Hump in the rotation. Hump could have sulked. He could have been a whiner. He could have played half-Outlawed. Instead, he busted his "Hump" everytime he took the floor. By the end of the season he was putting up 14 and 14 and playing like a dude possessed.

So how is Hump rewarded? On the heels of last year's Lebron sweepstakes, and then the "Melo-Drama", the start of this season marked the beginning of "the Dwightmare." Instead of focusing on bringing back the Hump, the front office looks to improve by targeting Chandler and Nene. Meanwhile, Net fans on this site are debating the merits of obtaining other PFs. Nice way to say thanks for the memories Hump. So Hump sits back, hoping for a lucrative contract that never materializes. The Nets play coy, having placed all their eggs in the Dwight basket, and only thanks to the thick-headedness of Otis Smith and the Magic management are the Nets compelled to offer Hump a one-year contract for $8m. Days before the start of the season at that.

So with only several days before the season starts, just when it looked like the PF position would be turned over to Sheldon Williams, Johan Petro or the dehydrated Jordan "Jenny Craig" Williams, Hump gets inserted into the starting lineup, despite a summer experience that would have served as a distraction for the ordinary person. Enduring the taunts of idiotic Knick fans and other assorted Haters, how does Hump respond? He flat out BEASTS!! How he's in shape for the minutes he played against the Wiz is remarkable.

I don't care about the Haters. I don't care about the Armenian with the large bottom. Hump deserves the loudest of ovations from Nets fans. Hump has found his niche and deserves credit for putting his heart and effort into every possession in a Nets uniform. If you can't root for a guy like the Hump, then you're not a fan of the game.

Peace, out,

Glad to see that Stern, Hunter and the unsavories finally got their act together to save the season.  The next few weeks will be interesting no doubt.  Knowing that everyone has thoughts on how to complete the roster, here is my entry: 

Presently the Nets has $39,814,161 in salary commitment.  That leaves roughly $18 million in cap space.  Under the presumption that Outlaw is an amnesty casualty (hoorayy), that would extend the cap space to around $25million.  So . . .  .

My roster add-ons would be:

1.  Tyson Chandler $12 - $13million.  He made around $12.6m last year and Dallas will be hard pressed to pay that much given their bloated payroll (somewhere near 80m I think). Tyson becomes the starting Center.  Brook potentially becomes expendable, if you're looking to tandem Tyson and D12 next year to form a dominant big duo.

2.  Tayshaun Prince $7million.  He made $11m last year, but he's not getting near that amount for his next contract.  He should be had for between $6 - $8m.  He becomes the starting SF.  Remember, Avery already said he's a big fan of Prince.  Billy King will undoubtedly give Avery at least one of "his guys" in free agency.

3.  AK47 for $3 - $4 million.  Injury prone, but a great complimentary piece.  I think the market won't be great for him.  I'd hope that he'd accept the discount to play his last few years in Brooklyn for an appreciative Russian fanbase.

4.  Hump.   $5million.  Hump is the ideal backup at the PF.  He doesn't need touches.  You don't need to run plays for him.  And he gives full effort and stays healthy.  He'd be a great 3rd wheel to Tyson Chandler and Brook as a natural PF.

So with those four additions, it would cost between $25 - $30 million.   Which puts us right at the cap, or a few million over - meaning we're still not a luxury tax payer.  I think it's do-able.  We'd have a really flexible lineup with Prince able to guard the 1 - 3 positions and AK47 able to play and guard SFs and PFs.  We'd be a lot better defensively.  Also we'd be set at PG and SG with a rotation of DWill, Farmar, Morrow and Brooks.  Plus the development of Damien James as another young defensive stopper.  Minimally, I think that squad makes the playoffs and is capable of giving any team fits on any given night (if everyone stays healthy).  We'd also have Brook Lopez and other assets if we decide to go all in on the D12 bidding war.

So how would you guys spend the roughly $25million to improve the roster.

There once was a time when I logged on to this site constantly, anticipating updates on free agency, our rookies and other stuff.  This is one of the best sites out there and for a Nets fan, it's the lifeline to what is going on.  But at this point, I'm drained and disappointed.  This was suppose to be the most fantastic summer ever for a Nets fan.  Great rookies, D-Will getting healthy, free agency signing with our cap room.  And then the strike hit.  At first, I pretended that it would be over quickly and kept visiting this site waiting for the news that management and labor had come to their senses.  I was deluding myself.  So farewell for now.  I'm done.  Screw 'em.  Let the greedy players' union and management fight over their millions and millions of dollars.  Cancel the season.  Whatever.  The NBA has officially lost my interest.  I'll now focus my fan intensity on MMA and frequent those sites.  Or maybe I'll start paying closer attention to the Republican candidates, who are all very crazy in their own way and equally entertaining.  If I ever run into Stern or Billy Hunter, I'll have to be restrained. 

As an aside, great job NetIncome on trying to keep this site going.  Had Outlaw signed a multi-year agreement in China with no NBA-out provision, maybe my summer would be brighter.  Sigh . . .  out peeps.

I'm just so fed up with Stern and company.  After the debacle of the last lockout you would have thought that they would have done anything necessary to avoid this work stoppage.  Stern and his crew should lose their jobs.  At this point, I'm all for cancelling the entire season and waiting until 2012.  The grand prize for the Nets (who I'm assuming would have a great lottery position), would be Harrison Barnes.  For Barnes I'll endure a season without hoops.  If Deron stays, the 2012 season could be epic with the Nets loaded with young talent.  The 2012 draft is absolutely stacked with talented SFs and PFs.  Anthony Jones, Harrison Barnes, Michael Gilchrest, Austin Rivers, Patric Young, James McAdoo, Jared Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Perry and Terrence Jones.  Also, the free agent pool will be super deep.  The Dwight Howard sweepstakes will be in full effect.  Plus, King will find a way to bring Bogo over from Turkey and the grand opening of the Barclays. 

As it is, I'm reduced to trolling web sites looking for news about our rookies playing in pro-amatuer games.  This is ridiculous.  Blow it up and start over in 2012.  Fire Stern.  Holla!

With the Nets on the verge of making Brooklyn a reality, the thought occurred to me that perhaps our rebranding looms even larger than we give it credit for.  Here's what I mean.  Certain U.S. cities have a global portfolio from a branding perspective.  Typically, large urban centers with a high concentration of wealth, affluence, and cultural opportunities are the preferred destinations for not only major sports franchises, but also tourists, business travelers and investors.

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th largest U.S. cities respectively are Los Angeles (3.7m), Chicago(2.6m), Houston(2m), Philadelphia(1.5m), Phoenix (1.4m), San Antonio (1.3m) and Dallas (1.1m).  As such, it's not a marvel that when NBA free agents are weighing their options on where they want to go, these cities are attractive destinations.  (Footnote: Miami ranks 44th and Newark ranks 68th in population).  What the top cities I just listed can offer are numerous to potential FAs.  From the possibilities of major endorsements (since large businesses will have a presence in the major population zones), to night life, entertainment, excellent medical facilities, cultural, arts, high-end housing and quality schooling.  Everything!!!  So while we groused that FAs should consider Newark because of its proximity to New York, the truth of the matter is that NBA players (and people in general) don't think that way.  There is major cache when one thinks of Los Angeles as a destination.  Or Chicago.  Those are iconic cities, nationally and globally.

What about New York City?  More importantly, what about Brooklyn?  NYC is the largest "city" in the U.S., boasting a population of 8.1 million.  It is unquestionably the most famous "brand" of a city in the U.S., and arguably the world (with apologies to London, Moscow, Paris and Rome).  NYC offers everything a major sports franchise or a NBA free agent could want from a materialistic standpoint.  BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT!!!!  Brooklyn is the population king of the NYC.  Between 1990 and 2010, no borough in NYC grew at a faster pace than Brooklyn, and Brooklyn is the undisputed largest population center of NYC.  Here are the numbers:

Brooklyn 2.5m

Queens 2.2m

Manhatten 1.5m

Bronx 1.3m

Staten Island 468k

The old joke is that every immigrant who comes to America, goes through Brooklyn at one point.  Some truth to this humor.  My folks all migrated through and lived in Brooklyn when they immigrated to the U.S.  Me too.  Lots of family still there in fact. 

Gentlemen (and ladies).  Let this sink in.  We are on the verge of relocating to Brooklyn.  The largest borough in the most heavily populated city in the country and arguably most iconic city (borough) in the world.  This is the game-changer for this franchise.  We taking over!!!!!!!!

I was a huge proponent of dumping Dooling last year to acquire Michael Beasley.  It would have been cheap and would have netted us a talented SF.  But we all know what happened.  Blinded by LeBron lust, the front office totally missed the boat.  Well, there's another opportunity to right that wrong.  Minny will undoubtedly have a very high draft pick this year, again.  With Ridnour, Flynn and the rights to Rubio, could Wrath-of-Kahn really be crazy enough to draft another point guard (i.e. Kyrie Irving)?  I'd think not.  If Minny drafts #1 or #2, it's highly likely that they pick Derrick Williams from Arizona who is perceived as a "sure thing."  Derrick was a PF in college but he's projected as a SF in the pros.  If this scenario occurs, Beasley would definitely be available because Kevin Love is not going to be moved from PF.  Also, Minny drafted Wes Johnson as a SF last year and I can't imagine they would move him.  Minny also has Anthony Randolph at PF and Martell Webster at SF and both have much smaller contracts than Beasley.  So my point is that Beasley and his $4.9m/yr contract could be moved this summer.  Here's my proposal to the Killer Bs who no doubt lurk on this site:

Petro and Grahamvp for Beasley.  The salaries work.  I'd even consider throwing in the Laker 2011 pick, as all that we'd get at #27 is suckage anyway.  Certainly no one better than Beasley at #27.  Beasley is a very, very talented scorer who could run with Deron.  Then all we'd need is a good defending, running SG.  I'd even suggest Tayshaun Prince as the SG, since he's more than capable of defending that position and we'd then be able to trot out perhaps the tallest starting lineup in the league.

Deron Williams - PG

Tayshaun Prince - SG

Michael Beasley - SF

Kris Humphries - PF

Brook Lopez - C

That's a lineup that would cause lots of matchup problems.  A team that could run with Deron, or pull back in the 1/2 court and dominant the paint.  Also, Prince and Beasley can play multiple positions and create their own offense.  Plus, since the Beasley trade would be cap neutral, and Prince/Hump signings wouldn't consume $19m in cap space, we'd still have money left over to add competent players for the bench.  On paper, I think this lineup is very competitive in the Eastern Conference.  What you guys think?

With the Nets on the brink of a critical off-season, this year's playoff matchups offer special intrigue.  What will be the fallout for the Nets if certain teams and players thrive (or falter) under the bright lights of the playoffs?  How will an Orlando collapse impact the flight pattern of everyone's most coveted Superman?  Will epic failure in Boston, San Antonio or L.A. accelerate the dismantling of great dynasties?  How might playoff performances of individual players effect our front office as they scout potential free agents or trades?  If you're down for some speculation, here's your place:

1.  Orlando:  Let's face it.  Dwight won't be happy if he's the only one who shows up for the party with the Hawks.  Evidence, game 1 of the series.  While Orlando fans are now putting up billboards to appeal to Dwight directly, there is real cause for concern.  A bloated payroll.  Marginal players who could be exposed as such (like in Cleveland), should Dwight take flight.  And a head coach who is always seconds away from a nervous breakdown.  Should Orlando get embarrassed by the Hawks, one can expect the talk of Dwight's Flight from Orlando to intensify to fever pitch.  So I'm rooting for Hot-Lanta.  Secondary consideration is Jason Richardson, who isn't exactly upping his free agency value.  Yeeech.  Don't want him.

2.  Atlanta:  Come on Hawks!!!  With your enormous payroll tied down to Joe Johnson.  LOL!  Here's hoping that Hinrich plays like a superstar and Hawks management rewards him with a new fat contract.  There's no way that Atlanta can keep all of its talents, regardless of how well they do in the playoffs.  So who goes?  J-Smoove?  He'd be NICE at the SF position running with the Ninja.  Curses to that Outlaw contract!!!

3.  Indiana:  A late season run might be enough to save their head coach and keep their team intact.  Maybe, maybe not.  The Pacers are seemingly stuck in that no-where zone.  Do they trade assets and try to re-brand themselves, or do they stay pat and aim for the 8th spot every year, only to be molested by the top seed?  If they're selling, Granger would be the only player I'd consider buying.

4.  Philadelphia:  Did you hear that Avery really, really, really likes Thad Young?  No kidding.  He's pretty fond of him.  So consider Philly's 4-game series sweep by the Heat as Thad's audition.  Other pieces that might become available if the price is right are Iggy and Evan Turner.  I'm not sure if the two of them can coexist.  I've read that Iggy makes Evan cry during (and maybe after) practices.  Not a big Evans fan though as his defense looks lackluster.  Iggy on the other hand could be a great 3rd wheel on the Ninja-mobile.  Perhaps the consequence of a blowout to Miami motivates Thorn to dump Iggy and not match an offer for Thad.  Not sure.  Thorn is a sneaky you know what, when he's not taking one of his 23-hour power naps or plotting revenge on someone.  I hate the Heat and would love to see the upset, but c'mon son.  Heat in 4.  5 if they get distracted.

5.  Denver:  So many assets.  So little cash to cover everyone.  J.R. Smith, Gallo, Chandler, K-Mart.  Someone has to go.  Like Atlanta, the equation doesn't change even if they overachieve during the playoffs.  I'm not sure if anyone on their roster who could be available is a real difference maker.  My ideal youth-movement pickups would be Thornton from Sac-Town (who is drawing raves from fans and front office types for his on-court production and lockerroom presence), and Thad Young (although the Outlaw experiment has me nervous about converting PFs to SFs.  Anyway, Denver is deep, so some of their guys will definitely be in play.

What say the collective?

I really really hope that Hump has enough energy to play the rest of the reason.  US Magazine is reporting (yet again) of Kim Kardashian's desire to have his baby and soon!!  She doesn't need a ring she says.  She just needs a bun in the (uhh) . . . . oven.  Hump is da man!!

"Kim Kardashian has only been dating Kris Humphries for three months but she is a smitten kitten.

So much so that she reportedly wants to have his baby! Already!

US Weekly claims that the 30-year-old has told her New Jersey Nets boyfriend that she wants him to be the father of her child.

A friend of Kris' told the mag: "Kim really wants to have Kris' baby and she's told him multiple times."

They added: "Kim doesn't need to marry him. She just wants him to be the father of her kids."

Another source revealed: "Her nickname for Kris is 'The Roman' since he's so statuesque. Maybe that's why she wants to have his babies!""

http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/58395/Kim-Kardashian-Wants-Kris-Humphries-Baby

With a bad start to the season, thoughts now turn to the draft and more urgently, possible pick ups for 10-day contracts.  Not to be undervalued.  There have been plenty of cases of little known or undrafted diamonds in the rough who just needed an opportunity to shine.  The Birdman back in 2001 or 2002.  Reggie Williams last year who recently averaged 22 ppg filling in for Step Curry.  And, man oh man, the Nets have a high need for somone (anyone) who can provide some consistent scoring without tripping over their size 15s (cough - Outlol).   Having done a little research, here are some of my own suggestions for possible players to fill the last remaining spot on the roster.  Focusing moreso (but not entirely), on guys that can take Outlol's minutes - for obvious reasons.

TREY JOHNSON.  A guy who can score in bunches and doesn't lack confidence in his shot.

"Trey Johnson, a standout shooting guard for the NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam, has been named the D-League Player of the Month for December.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 scorer out of Jackson State, is averaging a league-leading 25.6 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds this season while shooting 48 percent from the field. This being Johnson's fourth season in the D-League, he's on his way to career highs in scoring and rebounding averages along with a much-improved field goal percentage."  http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/04/trey-johnson-turning-heads-in-d-league-will-nba-call-up-follow/?a_dgi=aolshare_twitter

JOE ALEXANDER.  Currently averaging 19 pts and 11 boards a game in the DLeague.  Super athletic 6'8" SF who if properly harnessed could provide valuable minutes. 

ALAN ANDERSON.  Putting up 21pt a game in DLeague, with nearly 6 boards and 5 assists.  Played briefly with the Bobcats a few years ago.  6'6" swingman.

IVAN JOHNSON.  17pt and 7 boards in the DLeague.  6'8" forward

STEVE NOVAK.  Outstanding outside shooter just waived by the Mavericks.  Coach Rick C. called him the best shooter on the planet.  Plus he's got a kid who is only a few months old, so he'll be motivated to accept a roster spot anywhere.

JOHN LUCUS III.  Just waived by the Bulls. 

IME UDOKA.  Just waived by the Spurs.  At 6'6" a strong defensive player who could fit in right away at the SF spot.  And coming from the Spurs system it's probably that he has a strong work ethic and plays smart.   Was a sub for RJ and Ginobli.  Other than Trey Johnson, Udoka would be my pick.  +1

MENSAH BONSU.  Hey, he's from England and we're playing there against the Raptors.  Just waived by the Hornets.

RODNEY CARNEY.  Just cut by Golden State.

Here you go Avery.  Make it happen.

2010 was some year, wasn't it.  Talk about a complete failure bordering on sheer incompetence both on and off the court.  There were so many to choose from in my estimation.  But here are some that come to mind for me, in no particular order.

1.  The Blueprint for Greatness.  Putting up that huge mural in Times Square to tweak the Knicks was ballsy.  But you've got to back it up, which we completely failed to do.  Instead, the Knicks took the winning gamble by signing Amar'e, started playing inspiring basketball and were the talk of the league.  Instead management fed us Outlol, Petro and a few ok bench players.  Barf!!

2.  Nothing said we don't care on management's part like the hiring of Kiki Vandeweigh.  Rod Thorn basically told each and every fan to stick it by hiring Kiki to coach the Nets in 2010.  At that point, Rod didn't care about us fans anymore.  It was all about Rod advancing some personal payback against Kiki.  Thanks Rod.

3.  Outlol.  5 years 35 million.  Who thought of this? 

4.  Failing to accept Miami's dumping of Michael Beasley for peanuts (i.e. Dooling).  Instead, management threw $$$ at Outlol.  Again, what were they thinking?

5.  Graham fouls Jeff Green in 3 pt territory in the first OKC game, leading to a painful overtime loss.  It might seem trivial.  But at that point, the Nets were playing competitively well and had the game in hand.  Until this blunder.  The season hasn't been the same since and the team (as Jason Kidd would say) has let go of the rope.

6.  Wasting valuable time pursuing Lebron while allowing Plans B, C, D, and E to slip through the cracks.  You didn't need 20/20 hindsight to recognize the value of not placing all your eggs in LeBron's basket.  Amar'e gone.  Boozer gone.  Lee gone.  Gay gone.  Heck, even guys like Tyrus Thomas went elsewhere. 

7.  Dorrell Wright.  How is it that we didn't target that guy, but thought Outlol was worth $35?

8.  In the midst of a 12-70 season, why didn't the Nets sign at least one guy to a 10-day contract.  Example being Reggie WIlliams a SMALL FORWARD (not that we need one of those - cough), was available and is now playing major minutes for Golden State.

9.  Tagging Brook as a cornerstone and untouchable.  C'mon son.  We were 12-70 last year.  We're one of the worse teams in the league this year.  There are plenty of teams with so-called non-franchise centers that are doing better than us and that outplay our cornerstone on a nightly basis.  One night, Nene is pushing Brook around.  The next night Darko is having his way.  Another night, Curly is looking like he turned back the clock.  Brook ain't untouchable.  Give me a break.  Look at how other centers set up camp in the paint for entry passes.  Then look how easily Brook gets pushed out to row AA when he finally gets the ball.  Brook is interested in drawing fouls, taking jumpers and comic books.

10.  Which leads me to wonder how Brook and Devin were named Captains.  If I were Avery, I would have waited to see who demonstrated true grit, passion for the game and leadership.  It ain't either Brook or Devin.

I'm almost all cried out.  You guys take over with identifying other epic blunders.  I'm done.

I have no doubt that Nets management/front office types occassionally troll on this site.  On the off-chance Mr. King or his minions eyeball this fanpost, here is what I would do to slowly remake the Nets.  Instead of unrealistic trades or FA signings, here are my thoughts on what is very possible in the short term.

Trade Murphy and a late 1st rounder or early 2nd rounder for Tayshaun Prince.  Avery has already said that he's very fond of Prince.  Prince immediately becomes the starting SF.  Excellent defender, good passer, veteran presence and is also an expiring contract that matches up almost perfectly with Murphy's.  This moves Outlaw to the bench, where he is most useful.  The SF rotation would then be Prince, D. James when he's healthy and Outlaw.  Prince could be resigned during the off season to a reasonable contract.

Next up, fixing the pg position.  Assuming we stay the course and wind up in the lottery, target Kyrie Irving, the super talented and mature beyond his years pg from Duke.  My guess is that the Nets will wind up with a top 5 pick with their own pick.  If so, Irving should be the pick.  The pg rotation would be Irving/Farmar/Uzoh next year.

As you guessed, that leaves no room for Devin Harris.  Harris is a good pg, but not what this team needs.  We need a playmaker like Irving to be the pg of the future.  So I'd trade Devin to Memphis for OJ Mayo and H. Thabeet.  We definitely need a SG who can create his own shot and Mayo would fit the bill.  Thabeet could be brought along slowly as Brook's backup.  SG rotation of Mayo/Morrow/Sasha.

For the PF slot, we have Favors (here's hoping he continues to improve and experiences a big jump his sophmore year).  I'd like to resign Humpries.  If Humpries bolts, then I'd target AK47.  If Hump signs a reasonable contract, I still target AK47 if he makes himself available for a reasonable price.  A PF rotation of Favors/Humpries/AK47.   AK47 could also get minutes at SF behind Prince. 

Next October we trot out a starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, OJ Mayo, T. Prince, Favors and Brook.  The second unit of Farmar, Morrow/Sasha (whoever has the hot hand), AK47 and Hump.  AK47 could get minutes at SF.  D. James and Graham can get minutes at SG or SF for defensive purposes. 

In relatively short order, on the cheap, this creates a playoff team for next season.  2012 rolls around with more draft picks to address any other needs, specifically drafting the best available SF on the board.  This is a conservative approach that's highly doable.  Thoughts?  

Houston is actively shopping Yao.  Yao has an expiring contract of $17m this year.  A trade of Murphy's expiring and Petro works on NBA Trade Machine.  We could re-sign Yao at the end of the season, assuming he's medically cleared, for a much lower contract and use the remaining cap space to add legitimate talent.  A servicable Yao could come off the bench for 15 minutes a game and represent the kind of international branding that Proky craves. 

I, for one, don't believe that Melo is destined to sign with the Nets.  I view it as highly unlikely.  From Melo's perspective, all he has to do is wait it out and sign with the Knicks this offseason.  As much as I detest the Knicks, they're playing good basketball, they'll have cap room, and that's where he really wants to play.  Nets and Nuggets have failed to learn the lesson of this past summer.  That is, superstar players have all the leverage and Melo will get what he wants.  For those of you who will protest that Melo faces the risk of losing money.  If Melo lands in New York, he'll make it up in endorsements.  And don't underestimate how important it is for Melo to keep LaLa happy.

A month or so back when I first introduced the Hump bandwagon, some of you were slow to accept the invitation.  Some of you said that my forecast of The Hump putting up big numbers was wishful thinking.  That his production wouldn't last.  That The Hump was nothing more than a bench player.  Well, I forgive each and every one of The Hump's doubters.  In fact, I've returned to offer you all another invitation to join The Hump's bandwagon.

In 29 games, the durable Mr. Hump is averaging a team-leading 9.3 boards and shooting at a 53% clip from the floor.  Most importantly, he's making good decisions, averaging only 1 TO per game.  All this in only 25 minutes of play a game. 

Speaking of his rebounding ferocity, The Hump is presently (Dec. 22nd) ranked 16th in the league in rebounding, despite playing less minutes and not having started every game.  In fact, The Hump's rebounding rate conversion per/48 minutes is 17.7.  To put this in context, Dwight Howard's per 48 rebounding rate is also 17.7!!  Only two other players in the league have a higher per/48 rate - Kevin Love at 20.9 and Marcus Camby at 18.4. 

Consider this.  Of the top 30 rebounders in the league, The Hump is 16th despite getting the least amount of playing time.   Most everyone else is playing 30-36 minutes a game.  The Hump does his thing in 25 minutes.  Within a couple of weeks, expect to see The Hump move up to the top ten rebounding list.  He's only 0.5 away from Tim Duncan.

For those who think that The Hump is not a starting caliber PF; think again.  History tells us that basketball dynasties always had a guy who did the dirty work around the glass (i.e. Rodman, Big Ben, Malone).  And as long as our franchise center is some with considerable offensive talents, but limited desire to board, The Hump is the perfect fit for this team.

The Nets' historical weakness in rebounding is now the strength of the team this year, and you've got The Hump to thank for that. 

Now I may not come around again to load up the bandwagon.  The Hump has his publicist, his Kardashian sister and his parties to attend.  But since I'm feeling charitable this holiday season, I'm giving you non-believers one more chance to hop on The Hump bandwagon.  There may not be room later on. 

Oh snap, what's that I see on the horizon?  The Sasha Express? 

Simply terrible.  And worse.  So predictable.  Slowly walk the ball up.  Cross half court at the 18 second mark.  Run a variety of screens while pounding the ball above the 3 point line.  Hand back off to the pg near the half court line.  10 seconds left.  Run another screen.  Feed the ball to Lopez who either forces a bad shot, or throws it back to the pg.  3 seconds left.  Desperation shot as the 24 second clock expires. 

For all his positives, Avery has demonstrated little creativity on offense.  The stats don't lie.  The team struggles to score more than 80 points every game.  Opponents sit back on defense knowing exactly what the Nets are going to do.  Here's my suggestion.  Speed up the tempo.  Throw the ball upcourt to the wings as quickly as possible for open looks and feed Lopez before the opposition has a chance to pack the paint.  Attack, attack, attack the rim.  Play a slightly more helter skelter style of offense by bringing more energy and speed on offense.  For the love of Mary, Paul and Peter, stop that dribble-handoff-poor-excuse-for-a-high-screen-and-roll nonsense 30 feet from the basket on every possession.  Run more low post pick and rolls to free up Morrow for mid-range jumpers.  Do everything, but faster and more aggressively.

This is suppose to be a young team.  We should be running and pushing the pace on every possession.  But we play like senior citizens on a Carnival Cruise outing.  Avery, this is on you. 

I liked the Troy Murphy acquisition and I'm still a big fan.  But there are certain inescapable facts.  First, his large expiring contract makes him a valuable trading chip.  Second, there is no way that he returns next year with the same sized contract, or anywhere close to it.  Third, the Nets are committed to Favors' development, so eventually Favors will need more minutes.  Fourth, Kris "Big Hump'n" Humpries has made Murphy obsolete to an extent.  Hump is grabbing rebounds like someone owes him money and has turned into a great fit with Brook.  Finally, Avery has never really sung Murphy's praises.  Avery has said many good things about Favors and Hump.  But if you think about it, his usual quotes about Murphy are less than warm and fuzzy.

With all that said, I took a look at some possible trading partners, excluding Melo of course, cuz he ain't coming here.  Murphy ($11.9 million 1 year) for . . . . drumroll please . . . . in no particular order . . .

Rip Hamilton $12.5 m - 3 years.  Rip is alright, but I don't think he's worth a 3 year investment.  Plus, I like Morrow as our SG.

Tayshaun Prince $11m - 1 year.  I like this trade.  Prince is an expiring contract that could be resigned for less money.  He would fit in at the SF slot so Outlaw can return to the bench and provide scoring punch (assuming he's on) for the second unit.  Also, Avery has said that Prince is one of his favorite players.  Of all the options, Prince would make the most sense.  Veteran presence, good defense, an Avery type of player and a conistent shooter.

Iggy $12.3m - 4 years.  Iggy is a talent, but tying up that much money for 4 years?  I'd rather not.  If he were capable of playing SF, maybe I could live with it.  Why would Philly do this trade you ask?  Well, Iggy wants out and Philly is $12m over the cap ($70m payroll).  They will be really bad this year, so the trade makes sense for them if they convert to cost cutting mode.

Martell Webster $4.8m - 3 years.  The Wolves are around $12m under the cap, so the trade works.  Martell is a former 1st round pick (#6), young SF and a career 9ppg scorer.  If we wanted to get younger and get some immediate cap space, then a possibility.

Jamal Crawford $10.8m - 1 year.  Would never happen.  Not sure why I even bothered, other than the fact that Crawford answers our most immediate concern; namely someone who can be counted on to score in bunches. 

Anyway, I didn't include some other "possibilities" where salaries matched up, because they were far-fetched.  i.e. Steve Nash and Josh Smith.  Anyone else I miss?

NetsDaily Note:

PScar80 posted a FanPost within a minute of this one and since it's very related, I'm just adding it here and removing the additional post. That way, the FanPosts stay relatively clean and the entire discussion can remain in one thread.

While I have been a big fan of the Nets trading for Melo all along,  I am starting to believe this is a pipe dream.  He most likely will not sign an extension with the Nets and I think we should keep Harris, Lopez and Favors together.  I have been trying to think of another option that would bring the Nets that extra scoring that we need, especially down the stretch in games.

The name I keep going back to is Gerald Wallace.  While he is not the marquee name the Nets ownership craves, he would maybe be a better fit than Melo.  He can fit right into that starting SF position and most likely thrive.  While he is not that go-scorer, he is a really good scorer and can get his shot down the stretch and maybe more importantly get to the free throw line in crunch time. Also while Melo needs the ball all the time, Wallace would allow Harris and Lopez to still get there shots.

The thinking would be instead of getting that 25 point a game scorer, go with three players(Lopez, Harris and Wallace) who can easily get you between 16 and 20 points per game each.  Not only that, Wallace is a really good wing defender and can get us those 6-8 extra rebounds a game that can be crucial.  Also would improve the bench big time, allowing Outlaw to be our six man.

Obviously, the question is would the Bobcats trade him.  Not sure about it but we can make a really good offer.  Wallace for Murphy would work under the salary cap restrictions.  Undoubtedly Charlotte would want more.  I would sweeten the pot with our abundance of quality future draft picks.  Charlotte would get big time cap relief and quality future draft picks.  I think TWill would really sweeten the deal for them but that would screw up the money.

If possible I believe this move would be the way to go.  Wallace brings offense, defense and rebounding.  As I said Proko wouldnt be getting that marquee player he craves but maybe more importantly it would lead to WINS.  And nothing sells better than wins.  Im sure my idea has some if not many holes(Charlottes willingness to trade Wallace) but I believe we can get it done.  Thoughts.......

It's now clear to me that in a world of trolls, serfs and underlings, Kris Big Hump Humpries is a man amongst boys.  His playa skills are off the charts.  And has he even missed a shot this year?  Then he hooks up with Kim Kardashian.  Big Hump is Da Man!!  Trade Devin or Murphy for Melo?  Whatever.  Throw in some first rounders?  Sure, why not.  Add Favors to the trade?  That would disappoint me.  But, absolutely, positively, the Nets CANNOT trade the Big Hump!!!!  He should be untouchable.  After all, he played Dwight much better than that Lopez kid.  Hump has all the tools to be our franchise playa and his posse is fat!!

So to all the wanna-be playas, pimps, pimpettes, thugs, scaliwags, nerds, fan-boys, gamers, insomniacs, and the like . . .  bow down to your King . . . . Kris Big Hump Humpries!!!  All financial contributions to the Big Hump Bandwagon are tax deductible.  Certain restrictions may apply.

With word in Philly that Iggy wants to be traded, why not drop the whole Melo drama and target Iggy?  We definitely have the assets.  Expiring contracts, drafts picks galore, and the old regime of Rod and Stephansky to do business with.  Philly is going to be truly horrible this year and they know it.  Does anyone else think it makes more sense to target Iggy in a trade?  That way we can keep our core of Devin, Brook, and Favors.  I would also include Twill, D. James and Farmar as semi-untouchables.  Everyone else, see ya.

Starting lineup:

Devin, Morrow, Iggy, Murphy/Favors and Brook.  I like that squad.

Just one game true.  But he would be a clear upgrade over Outlaw.  For substitutions, bring in D. James and Outlaw.  Starting lineup of Devin, Ammo, TWill, Murphy/Hump/Favors and Brook.  It seems that Avery has more confidence in TWill than Outlaw anyway.  Outlaw seems to have problems getting his shots off and his dribbling skills are pretty weak.  I honestly can't think of one thing that Outlaw does really well.  Perhaps it's his injury.  Anyway, I don't think my heart can handle watching Outlaw trying to guard LeBron.  Anyone else on this bandwagon?

Just got back.  What a blast!  For those who couldn't attend and are anxious to read greater details than you'll read elsewhere, here's my game recap. 

Parking was expensive.  I chose the parking garage that connects with the Rock.  $30 bucks.  But worth it for me because I didn't have to worry about my car after parking.  Lots of attendants in the garage.  The garage has a skywalk that leads you right into the Rock, so you never have to step outside.  Nice.  I've got my brother with me and we stride into the arena.  Staff is super nice.  I've got floor seating for the two of us.

We are led to our seats and told that floor side seating is VIP, so we get to walk backstage for the free food and beverages.  Mind you, the top shelf liquor isn't free, just the draft beer.  It's all new!!  The players are warming up.  Devin and D. James are jawing with each other.  I run into the back to grab a fistfull of chicken tenders and cake (inscribed with "Nets" on the frosting.  Nice.

Head back to seating.  Game about to start.  Some kid plays the Israeli and U.S. anthems on a small piano looking device.  Awkward.

FIRST QUARTER NOTES:

Brook wins the jump ball against Rothbart.  Rothbart must be Hebrew for "big, tall and stiff."  This was one of Brook's highlights.  Maccabi gets the first basket.  Harris responds with an assist to Ammo who nails a 3.  Ammo misses the next attempt.  Nets are a bit out of sorts.  Close game at first.  Low score.  Now Derrick Favors comes in to a big ovation.  Harris feeds Favors on an alley-oop.  Substitutions.  TWill Farmar and Petro.  TWill feeds to Favors for another dunk.  One thing I notice.  The second unit is doing a better job talking on defense than the 1st unit.  Petro, Petro, Petro.  My man is nice.  Soft touch around the rim and aggressive on defense.  The Nets are just too tall for Maccabi and start to pull away.  Favors ends the quarter by blocking a last second Maccabi shot.  30 - 20 Nets lead.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

2nd unit is still in.  Graham in the game too.  He's a big dude.  I see his value.  He's an aggressive perimeter defender who fits the new style of Nets play.  And dude is strong as an ox.  Favors continues to posterize Maccabi players.  I jot down that if he gets it in the paint, he's looking to dunk it.  Favors exits the game with 9 pts already.  Hump returns.  Hump fightsfor loose ball and gets a basket.  Petro is doing a nice job establishing a good low post position.  Brook can learn from him.  Two Maccabi baskets in a row from turnovers cause Avery to blow a fuse.  Timeout Nets.  During the break, they're showing "Fiddler on the Roof" on the big screen.  My first WTF moment.  Oh yeah, it dawns on me we're playing Maccabi.  Ammo and Brook return to the game.  Hump records a beautiful block to stop a 2 on 1 fast break.  Then he commits a reach in foul.  Go figure.  Sly walks by me and we fist bump.  Hump gets another rebound in heavy traffic and draws the foul.  Graham still playing with the first unit.  Another Maccabi basket.  Avery not happy.  20 second timeout.  Sam Mitchell is vocal on the sidelines coming out of the timeout.  Hump gets another rebound with 3 Maccabi players hanging on his arms.  Yormack walks by.  I call him over and shake hands with him.  Tell him how much I'm looking forward to the season.  He's super nice with me.  He walks over and shakes my brother's hand too and then he's off.  Probably looking for more Fiddler of the Roof video?  Hump and Brook defensive miscommunication leads to a Maccabi basket.  Brook a bit upset.  Talks to Hump, then forgives him with a fist bump to Hump's chest.  LOL. 

I'm now realizing that the Nets are playing decent defense.  TWill back in the game.  Nice pass to Brook.  Favors looks for another dunk and is fouled.  Brook fed him the pass.  Harris comes out of the game, Ammo back in.  TWill is playing the point.  It's now the 3 minute mark of the second quarter.  Outlaw hits a 3.  The arena plays his song.  Timeout with 1:34.  Favors now has 10 pts and only 1 foul.  Morrow gets fouled, at the line.  TWill gets a nice passing lane steal and gets fouled before he can break away.  His FTs are off and so is his outside shot.  Petro and Favors are a nice defensive combo.  Look away pass from TWill to Petro and Petro dunks.  2nd unit is pulling away 53 - 43 now.  1 minute mark and Farmar returns.  Now 5 seconds left and Farmar gets the inbounds from TWill, allows the ball to bounce to the 1/2 court mark and then Farmar races down for a lefty layup.  Misses.  Favors trails the play and dunks the ball.  Favors now with 11 pts.  56 - 43 Nets.  Final second Maccabi shot blocked by Favors.  The 1st half is officially the Derrick Favors coming out party.

HALFTIME

3 dudes from the audience engage in a shooting competition.  Andrew from New Jersey wins.  Louie and Richard from Brooklyn throw up shameful looking jumpers.  I suggest to Louie that he needs a stint in the D-League.  Off I go to the VIP lounge.  Distracted by Nets Dancers.

THIRD QUARTER

Same starters.  Ammo hits a 3.  Comes downcourt and hits another 3.  Nets are pulling away now.  65 - 45.  Largest lead.  Of the Maccabi players, Frank Robinson and Landsberry (sic?) are good enough to compete for an NBA roster spot (with a bad team).  The rest of their lineup are overmatched.  Devin has a beautiful block from the weak side on a Maccabi fast break attempt.  Nets start the quarter aggressive on D.  8 minute mark and already 4 team fouls.  Hump gets another great block.  Ammo hits another 3.  His shot is so pure.  You think it's going in every time he launches a shot.  He needs to work on his cutting off screens though.  Timeout.  Nets Dancers, who have been a constant distraction take the floor.  The ladies are, ahem, ample, and they're dancing to some Missy Elliott song about "booties" and "shaking."  The Nets Dancers are, of course, now shaking their bottoms.  Very aggressively might I add.  Their manager.  I guess that who she was.  Tall blonde trailing after the dancers and looking official sits down right in front of me.  I tap her on the should and give her the thumbs up.  If she's responsible for the dance number, she needed to know that her talents were appreciated by me, my brother, and the two guys sitting next to us.  Bravo!  Back to the game.  Ammo with two straight misses.  Now Nets are in the penalty.  Hump picks up his 4th foul and Favors returns to the game.  Favors throws down a windmill one hander on some poor fools head.  A classic posterizing not seen since Vince was young and springy.  Refs call a charge on Favors to take away the basket.  But looking at the replay, the Maccabi player looked like he had a heel in the circle.  Favors basket should have counted.  Favors gets revenge with a hard foul/blocked shot..  TWill with a nice steal and Brook with a 15 foot jumper.  His first jump shot of the game.  Timeout.  4:55 left in the quarter.  76 - 55 Nets.

I spot Jac of All Nets a few feet away.  I walk over, shake her hand, say hi and wish her my best for a good season.  She and I chat for a few seconds before I return to my seat.  She's very nice.  Cough.  Long black boots.  Cough.  Back to the game.  Farmar is in with Twill.  Marco Killingsworth is alright.  Nothing special.  But he's rough and agile.  D. James makes his first appearance at the 4:20 mark.  Petro fouls a Maccabi player.  What I love about Perto?  No one gets an easy basket with him.  He will foul you hard.  3/4 pressure by Maccabi causes a turnover.  D. James responds with a monster block.  Twill with an ill-advised jumper.  His shot is the only negative against him this game.  Farmar hits an incredible reverse layup.  Farmar is so smooth.Farmar to TWill for a dunk.  Petro takes a short jumper and hits.  I missed what started this, but TWill and Killingsworth both get technicals for jawing.  Twill comes away smiling.  It's All New!  These Nets don't take crap.  Favors with a gorgeous spin moves and drop to score again.  82 - 60 Nets.

FOURTH QUARTER

Favors with 14 points and 3 fouls.  Nets Dancers take the floor again.  Sigh.  I lock eyes with one and she tosses me a t-shirt.  I give it to my brother since it was his birthday last week.  Damn!  I should have sniffed it first.  Lineup is Farmars, Petro, TWill, Favors and D.James.  Favors misses a jumper.  Hump replaces Favors.  Ammo back in too.  Referree time out.  During the break, TWill is instructing Petro and Morrow.  After the break, TWill runs a play designed to get Morrow an open shot.  The play works, but Morrow misses.  Impressed by TWill's leadership though.  Twill running the point with Farmar in.  TWill hits his two FTs.  Awesome.  88 - 60 Nets.  They have the end of the bench in now.  8:19 left in the game.  Farmar with a 3.  Hump ANOTHER rebound.  Graham is active.  Draws a 5th foul on Killingsworth.  7:11 left.  Uzoh and Q. Ross now in.  LOL.  95-64 Nets.  Hump feeds Ross for a jumper.  Hits.  Hump with ANOTHER rebound.  D. James and Graham standing next to each other.  Both are big dudes.  Uzoh just o.k bringing the ball up under pressure.  Uzoh misses a 3.  Graham with the layup.  Timeout.  102 - 69 Nets.  Lineup.  Graham, D. James, Uzoh, Ross, and Gill.  LOL.  If the Nets dig any deeper, Sam Mitchell will be on the floor.  Maccabi still has a few of their starters in.  D James with another basket.  Ends the night with 6 pts.  Final score 108 - 70 Nets.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Do not trade Favors!!  He is a special talent and increadibly disruptive on both ends of the floor.  Plus, he's a good kid.  No way I trade him.  Even for Melo.  It's not going to take Favors a year or two or three to be special.  I think it's a matter of months.  He would have ended the night with around 20 pts without having any plays run for him really, if he'd hit a few more of his FTs and didn't get whistled for that non-foul.

Nets did a great job of attacking the rim.  Let's see how they do against a taller squad.  Just like Avery, they're a scrappy bunch now.  The reek of Kiki-Ball is long gone.  A very balanced attack.

Great game!

In my limited searching, I couldn't quite figure it out.  If they're not televised, I might be inclined to attend a few of the preseason games.  The ticket prices seem pretty reasonable and I for one can't wait for the season to start.  There's so much possibility this year, I'm thinking the Nets are going to shock some folks (hopefully in a good way).  Anyone have any idea if at least some of the games are televised?

I tell ya.  When Rod dumps you, watch out!!  Poor Yi recently suffered an arm injury during international play.  So for those lamenting his departure, it looks like if he had stayed he would have rode the pines in a fancy suit anyway.

http://dc.sbnation.com/2010/8/2/1601124/yi-jianlian-injury-arm-wizards-china

"Yi Jianlian reportedly hurt his arm in an international game recently, and it's still unclear how serious it is."

Why wait until the season starts to read about how it concludes:

(May 2011 - Associated Press)

The surging and upstart New Jersey Nets took a 2-1 playoff series lead with a 118 - 105 overtime victory over the Heat last night at the Rock.  Before another capacity crowd, the first playoff game at the Rock was filled with plenty of thrills.  The seventh seed Nets fought back from a 10 point late 3rd quarter deficit thanks to another hot shooting night by sharpshooter Anthony Morrow.  Morrow, the Nets leading scorer, dropped 38 points to follow his 50 point outburst in the game 2 victory in Miami.  Unlike game 2 of the series where Morrow carried the scoring load, he had plenty of help last night.  Rookie sensation Derrick Favors overcame early foul trouble to finish with 18 points, 12 boards and a scintillating block on a botched alley-oop pass from Dwayne Wade to LeBron James in the final seconds of regulation.   Brook Lopez continued his solid playoff debut by posting his third consecutiver double double with 15 points and 10 boards.  Devin Harris chipped in 8 points and 11 assists before leaving the game in the fourth quarter after suffering a mild ankle sprain.  X-rays were negative.  Jordan Farmar, who has seen plenty of action this season finished with 9 points and 5 assists, led a late game surge that saw the Nets come from a double digit deficit to tie the game with 4 seconds left.  After a timeout, with Wade inbounding the ball, James curled around a Chris Bosh screen at the top of the key to float toward the rim for what would have been the game winner in regulation.  However, the Nets seemingly anticipated the play call coming out of the huddle.  Leaving Bosh, Favors drifted back to the rim just in time to meet James and the lob attempt in front of the rim.  Following that play, a half-court heave from Morrow at the buzzer barely rimmed out.  "That was incredible" laughed Avery Johnson during the postgame interview.  Referring to James and Favors, "those guys were like a foot above the basket.  But you know, Derrick has been coming along and the confidence we have in that young man to step up and make plays is part of the reason that we're in this position." 

Overtime constituted a rout with the Nets scoring the first 8 points and never looking back, two three-pointers by Anthony Morrow for good measure and a breakaway dunk by Terrence Williams that brought the standing room only crowd to their feet one last time.   Super sub Damion James chipped in 12 points, 8 in the fourth quarter, and continued to show his defensive prowess when matched up against LeBron, limiting James to 17 points on 5 - 23 shooting. 

The surprisingly competitive Nets, having overcome a less than stellar first half of the season finished on a late season tear to make the playoff for the first time in several years.  Sitting courtside, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov stood beside Jay-Z, the two men saluting the team in unison as the Nets players made their way to the locker room after the game.  Looking up at the sea of red, white and blue clad fans, Prokhorov smiled and waved.  "This is good.  Very good.  I am very much looking forward to the rest of this series.  Maybe his (LeBron James) "decision" was not so good an idea, huh?"  And with that one of the richest NBA owners made his way through the tunnel with his exiting Net players.  Game 4 of the series returns to the Rock this upcoming Tuesday evening for a game to be televised on primetime TV.  Tickets are sold out.

Game Sidenotes:  James, Wade and Bosh did not attend the post game conference.  Speaking to the press, Pat Riley raged when beat reporter Fred Kerber asked of the possibility of an early ouster of his 2nd seed Heat.  "Look, this ain't over!  It just ain't!"  Fumed Riley from the podium clearly flustered.  On this night, no one was buying it.  Somewhere, Dan Gilbert is smiling.

His quote: 

Chris Paul i love u nola, but i 'm gonna win nothin' here....i don't know where i will go,but i just wanna win a title....maybe knicks,maybe magics...only God knows my future

Part I - Minny just acquired Luke Ridenour.  It's apparent that they'd like to dump Ramon Sessions.  Nets trade 2nd round draft pick(s) to T-Wolves for Sessions.

Part II - Hawks trying to sign Shaq to play Center.  If this goes through, the pundits are predicting that Josh Smith becomes expendable because Horford would be switched to PF.  Josh Smith makes a few mill more than Devin I believe.  Hawks really really need a PG.  Nets trade Devin Harris and filler to Hawks for Josh Smith.

Outcome.  Nets have Sessions and Farmar compete for starting minutes.  Both are young, athletic and capable of starting.  T-Will serves as a backup or emergency PG and gets minutes at alternative SG.  Nets have Josh Smith as the starting PF.  Josh is uber athletic, and carries averages of about 16ppg and 7boards and 1.6 blocks.  Josh is an excellent defender, still young and is a great passer.  When Favors is ready to start, move Josh to SF.  Now you have a very, very tall front court of Josh Smith, Favors, and Brook.  A young, very athletic front court with 2 of them on rookie contracts.  Outlaw comes off the bench and you have Morrow and Courtney Lee competing for minutes as the SG.  Still significantly under the cap to take advantage of a mid-season fire sale.  What do you guys think?

Sessions/Farmar (and T-Will)

Lee/Morrow (and T-Will)

Josh Smith/Travis Outlaw/Ross

Favors/Hump

Brook/Petro