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Post by Miege22 on Sept 1, 2009 6:00:19 GMT -5
NETS TRYING TO COMPLETE ROSTER
The Brooklyn Nets have had an incredibly busy summer, but they aren't done just yet. Rumor has it that the Nets are working on a trade that could bring them the final piece to their championship puzzle. There is no word yet on who that player is, but the trade has been agreed upon in principle. It is currently awaiting approval from the league.
The Nets began the offseason finally completing their move to Brooklyn. The plan to move to Brooklyn had been revealed back in 2004 when the team was sold to Bruce Ratner. However, there have been a lot of delays. Finally, the team was able to get out of Jersey, and back into New York.
Along with the move, was a new plan to build around point guard Devin Harris, and center Brook Lopez. Harris and Lopez form one of the best young duos in the game today. Going into the expansion draft, the idea was to draft small or expiring contracts to give the team the best chance to cash in on a loaded free agent class. The Nets received quite a surprise when they were able to land 20-year old small forward Anthony Randolph. The second year player showed enormous potential in limited playing time last year, and he could end up being the steal of the draft. The Nets also picked up Rudy Fernandez in the next round, another steal as Rudy had a fantastic rookie season and will only get better.
After taking Ryan Anderson in the third round, the Nets packaged their last two picks (Joey Dorsey, Bobby Brown) with the 8th pick in this year's rookie draft for Boston's 1st round pick in the 2010 draft. This could prove to be another savvy move by the Nets as Dorsey and Brown weren't likely to play much this season, and Boston's pick looks like it could be in the lottery.
With only five players under contract, the Nets had $50 million to work with in free agency, and it paid off. Brooklyn had, arguably, the best free agent period of any team in the league. They signed Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Rashard Lewis, Tony Parker, and Lou Williams.
Bryant, one of the two best players in the league, was very excited at the prospect of joining the Nets. "My goal is to play for a championship every season," he said, "And I think we can do that." Nash was also happy to play in Brooklyn, so much so that he signed for only $4.7 million a year, "I'm 35 years old, and at the end of the day, I wanted to win a title. I know I don't have a lot of years left, and this looks to be my best chance at finally winning it all."
The Nets are shaping up to be one of the best teams in the league, but there are still moves to be made. Along with the aforementioned trade, the Nets plan to make two or three more signings with the remaining $4.7 million they have. What could the Nets be targeting? Well, they could use one or two more small forwards, along with another big. They are likely done signing any guards as there are now six under contract.
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Post by Miege22 on Jul 30, 2010 6:03:02 GMT -5
NETS' FAILURE TO WIN TITLE LEADS TO NEW STRATEGY[/u][/size]
(Shortly after this was sent to print, the Nets announced they would be holding a press conference to introduce all new players)
The Brooklyn Nets went into the offseason last year with the plan to compete immediately. Every move the front office made was done so with the same goal in mind: open up as much cap space as possible. In the expansion draft, the team passed up on proven, expensive talent in order to keep the team's salary low. They turned down surefire contributors such as Paul Pierce, Emeka Okafor, and Jose Calderon, instead opting for low risk/high reward gambles like Anthony Randolph and Ryan Anderson. Two players, Bobby Brown and Joey Dorsey, were taken specifically to move for nothing before free agency (something the team accomplished when they moved those two, plus the 8th pick in last year's draft, for Boston's first round pick this year). In the end, the Nets accomplished that goal. They went into free agency with salaries committed to just five players (totaling $16.1 million).
The Nets' goal in free agency was simple: sign players who would help them win immediately. In that sense, the Nets succeeded immensely. They were able to sign Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Rashard Lewis, Grant Hill, and Mike Miller. As the season drew closer, the Nets were able to move an unproven young guy, Ryan Anderson, for a proven veteran, Kevin Garnett. KG shored up the team's front line and the Nets appeared to have a championship roster.
Even during the season, the Nets made moves to make themselves better in the immediate short term. They traded away two players signed long term, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, for two guys that were only signed through next season, Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah. The move was made for minor increases in areas of need. About a month before the playoffs started, the Nets traded a future draft pick for help in threes from Eddie House. Every move the Nets made was geared towards winning a championship. They did not win.
When the season abruptly ended at the hands of the Charlotte Bobcats, the team's front office was left to look back and figure out what went wrong. After all, the Nets finished first in the Eastern Conference. However, the regular season success didn't transfer over to the playoffs, where they lost in the East Semis. The Nets were left two steps short of their goal, and it looked like there was no way to improve. They had the 2nd overall pick from Boston, but their draft picks for 2011 and 2012 had been traded. There was very little room left over to sign free agents. For all intents and purposes, the team that had failed to win a title in 2010 looked like it was going to have to return in 2011 without any major upgrades. That's when the Nets' GM went to work.
Just a few short weeks after the finals had ended, the front office began making calls. This time, they had a new plan in mind. No longer would they try to reload on the fly in an effort to win a title. What they put into effect over the last month has been nothing short of a complete overhaul. The plan sounded easy enough: find a core group of guys to build around, sign them for the long term, then fill in the rest.
The first part of the plan required the front office to go through their roster and determine who was a "core piece." Everyone agreed that the two most important players on the roster were Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah. Before the team made any moves, they made it clear to everyone else in the league that they would be using re-signs on both players, ensuring that they would be around for the long haul. Once it was established that those two would not be moved, the front office had to evaluate the rest of the roster. What young guys would they keep? Would any of the older veterans be moved? How much salary would need to be cleared in order to re-sign Noah and Durant? The last question was easily the most important, as both Noah and Durant would be up for re-signs at the end of next season. With the way the roster looked, there was just no room to sign either. Too much salary was tied up long term. With that in mind, the front office decided there was one player who certainly had to go: Kobe Bryant.
Despite being the undisputed leader of the team last year, Kobe Bryant began to break down towards the end of the season. His declining health, combined with his increasing age and massive salary, made him a sure thing to be moved (along with Bryant, it was also determined that both Tony Parker and Rashard Lewis had to be moved because of their giant, long term contracts). Within hours of putting Bryant on the block, the Nets had a deal in place with the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Indiana Pacers).
The Nets traded Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker for Monta Ellis, Jason Terry, Ricky Rubio, and the 11th pick. Not only were the Nets able to get rid of two contracts they had to move, but they were able to accomplish two other goals: obtain a long term "core piece" and acquire assets. Monta Ellis was immediately placed along side Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah as a "core piece." Ellis is just 24 years old, and he is coming off his finest season as a pro averaging 25.5 points, 5.3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2.20 steals. In addition to Ellis, the team also picked up the 11th pick in this year's draft, and a potential stud point guard in Ricky Rubio. Even though he'll likely stay overseas for another year, Rubio has all the makings of a franchise point guard (Rubio was later traded).
Once the team had Monta, they went to work looking for a long term fit at shooting guard. The Nets were already set at the Small Forward and Center positions with Durant and Noah also in the mix. However, the shooting guard spot was still an area of weakness. That's when the team zeroed in on potential free agent Brandon Roy.
The Nets contacted Portland about a possible sign and trade with Brandon Roy. Portland, while interested, was hesitant to move Roy, the face of their franchise. At the same time, they were also afraid of losing him for nothing. Less than 24 hours after trading for Monta Ellis, the Nets and Blazers had a deal in place that would send Brandon Roy to Brooklyn in a sign and trade. In the deal, the Nets would be giving up promising big man Anthony Randolph and their last bad contract in Rashard Lewis, along with Wes Matthews and the #11 pick, for Roy and Robin Lopez. Again, the Nets were able to accomplish more than one goal with the trade. They obtained another "core piece," got rid of the last deal they wanted to move, and acquired another asset. Getting Brandon Roy meant the Nets now had 6 of the top 50 fantasy players in the entire league, 5 of which were (or will be, in the case of Durant and Noah) locked up through the 2013 season. In less than 24 hours, the Nets went from a team who failed to win a title with a roster that had reached its peak, to a team threatening to be a title contender for the next 5 years and beyond. They managed to get better in both the short term and long term.
(Just a few days later, the Nets were able to flip Roy for Andre Iguodala and the return of their 2011 1st.)
As soon as the Nets had their core in place, they went to work filling in the blanks. Nicolas Batum was quickly moved for Jared Dudley and Ronnie Brewer, a move that gave the team more depth at the Small Forward and Shooting Guard positions. They then moved Jason Terry for Hakim Warrick, a trade that not only saved money, but also helped deepen a weak front line. Brooklyn has also moved down two spots in the draft because they know they will get one of the two big men they are targeting, and staying at #2 would have been a waste of money.
Finally, the front office went to work looking to find a long term replacement for Pau Gasol. The Spanish big man had a great season last year, but at 30, he wasn't going to get any better. The Nets managed to work out a three team trade with Minnesota and Boston that brought in Al Jefferson, Mike Bibby, and three future picks. In one fell swoop, the Nets' front office was able to find a long term replacement for Gasol, and replenish the draft pick stable they had traded away last summer. In order to complete the deal, the Nets had to move potential franchise point guard Ricky Rubio, along with two players they had just picked up in Hakim Warrick and Jared Dudley.
Once the draft is over, the Nets will head into free agency with just under $9 million to spend on two roster spots. It's an enviable position to be in. The free agent market isn't near as deep as it was last season, and depending on free agency to fill out the roster just would not have been a smart option. At this point, the Nets likely have not decided what position they would like to spend that money on. They have the luxury of having many dual position players which allows them to really go after anyone they want in free agency. Rumors persist that the team will target the following players: Ray Allen, Mehmet Okur, Luis Scola, Marcus Camby, Mike Miller, Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood, and Charlie Villanueva. There are also reports that the team is considering bringing Kevin Garnett back in for one last shot at the title. However, the front office has insisted that they have not contacted any of the players listed above, and they will not even begin discussing free agency until the draft is completed.
Regardless of how the rest of the draft turns out, the Nets' front office needs to be applauded for the moves they made this summer. They didn't make as many as last year, but the timing and savvy of the moves this offseason trumps anything they did last summer. The Nets have positioned themselves as the team to beat in the East not just this year, but for many years to come.
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Post by Miege22 on Jul 31, 2010 7:06:06 GMT -5
NETS ADD MONROE
The Brooklyn Nets moved one step closer to filling out their roster with the selection of Georgetown PF Greg Monroe. The 6-11, 250 lbs. big man gives the Nets four legit big men under the age of 25 to build around.
Monroe spent two years at Georgetown, and while he didn't put up any eye-popping numbers (his highest scoring game in two years was 29), it was his consistency that stuck out to the Nets front office. As a freshman, Monroe averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Last year, Monroe improved in all three categories, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.
In the end, it appeared that Monroe's stock was somewhat damaged after a shocking upset in the first round of the 2010 NCAA tournament. However, Brooklyn's GM, an Ohio alum, wasn't buying it. "Greg put up 19-13-6-2 in that game," he said, "If Ohio hadn't shot the ball out of their minds the way they did, we could be talking about Greg as the second best player in the draft."
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Post by Miege22 on Aug 10, 2010 5:25:11 GMT -5
NETS FILL OUT ROSTER WITH OKUR, MILLER
The Brooklyn Nets filled out the rest of their roster yesterday, officially introducing Mike Miller and Mehmet Okur. Miller actually played for the Nets last year, but opted to test the free agent market this off season. In doing so, Miller made $1,000,000 more than he did last year, but he will only be on a one year deal. Mehmet Okur also signed a one year deal, albeit at a higher price ($6.5 mil). In addition to the Okur and Miller signings, the Nets also signed Craig Brackins to a D-League deal of $400,000. Brackins will participate in training camp with the Nets before being sent down to the Springfield Armor for the year.
The Nets will head into the season with a mix of young players and veterans they hope can win them a championship. They also managed to stay about $7,000,000 under the salary cap, in case they want to take on a larger deal during the season.
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Post by Miege22 on Jan 17, 2011 3:12:13 GMT -5
DESPITE INJURY-FILLED SEASON, NETS CONTINUE TO WIN
It's been a trying season for the Nets, yet, somehow, they find themselves at 10-1 with just 7 games left in the season. That record is good enough for first in the East, and the Nets own the tiebreaker with Tampa Bay should the two finished tied at the end of the season. In fact, the Nets are just two wins away from clinching a playoff spot.
Steve Nash, who, despite turning 37 next month, has played in almost every game this year, has called this one of the more amazing seasons he's been a part of. "It's been interesting," said Nash, "Every time someone gets hurt, it seems like someone else just steps up to fill the void."
Even with the rash of injuries, it appears the team is finally getting healthy. Both Mike Miller and Mehmet Okur missed the first two months of the season, but both are starting to get back into the flow. Okur has seen his minutes increase, and Miller finally knocked down his first three-pointer of the year this past week. The Nets' front office hopes that the rest of the roster can hold down the fort until Miller and Okur are fully healthy.
Also among the team's concerns is the status of Joakim Noah. The 6-11 center hasn't played since December 15th, and optimistic reports have him returning in either late February or early March. That would put his return squarely in the middle of the Nets' second to last game of the year (against the Washington Wizards). The Nets have managed to keep chugging along without Noah, but they know the only real chance they have at a championship includes him.
Whatever happens with Noah, the Nets are entering the home stretch and it includes the only road trip of the season: a 7 week, 7 city trip that spans over 3000 miles. Its a grueling trip that the team is actually looking forward to. Said Kevin Durant, "These road trips are long, and it's rough to be away from home for that long, but its also a great opportunity for the team to bond and come together. We're looking forward to it."
The Nets got their road trip off to a good start, beating the Kansas City Kings 6-3. Next up is the Portland Trailblazers, who are fresh off a 6-3 win over the Boston Celtics.
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Post by Miege22 on Jun 30, 2012 1:58:49 GMT -5
ANOTHER BRILLIANT REGULAR SEASON ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT
It was setting up to be a storybook season for the Nets. After losing one of the closest finals in recent history to the Thunder last year, the Nets regrouped to once again finish at the top of the Eastern conference. It was the third consecutive season atop the East for the Nets, and many thought the third time would be the charm. Spirits were high in the front office and in the locker room. The team was loose and ready to finally finish the job once and for all. Yet, head coach Rick Carlisle showed some apprehension leading into the team's first round match-up with the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks. "Tampa is really damn good; much better than their record shows. I'm not sure if our guys realize just how much of a dogfight this is going to be." Carlisle's remarks just hours before the start of the series proved to be grimly prophetic. However, with just over 60 seconds remaining in the series, Kevin Durant stepped to the line with a chance to be the hero.
It wasn't a perfect season for the Nets, but then again, it wasn't a perfect season for anyone. That's what happens when a lockout takes away half the season and compresses free agency, training camp, and the preseason into one whirlwind of a month. It was rough, but everyone was on an even playing field. Disaster nearly struck for the Nets shortly into the first week of the season. Starting shooting guard Eric Gordon, a player the front office and coaching staff was counting on to make a big leap this year, went down with a knee injury. No timetable was set, but every time he appeared close to returning, he had another setback. Outside the team, fans waited restlessly for his return. Internally, the Nets knew it was going to be a long shot.
The Nets weren't the only contender to suffer a rash of injuries. The Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, a team many expected to contend for a title yet again this year, suffered their own misfortune when Andrew Bogut went down for the year just two weeks into the season. They also lost starting shooting guard Manu Ginobili for half the season. Fortunately, he was able to return just in time to help the Bull Sharks in the stretch run. With Manu's return reinvigorating the team, the Bull Sharks were able to win their last three games of the year. By the virtue of their 2-0 head-to-head record with Atlanta, the Bull Sharks won the tiebreaker and snuck into the playoffs. It would set up a first round match-up with the top seed, the Brooklyn Nets.
With Eric Gordon out, the Nets had a very thin back court. They signed veterans Mike Miller and Anthony Parker, but both turned out to be little more than bit players. Instead, the Nets were forced to rely on a front court with its own checkered injury history. Surprisingly, the Nets' big four up front in Al Jefferson, Carlos Boozer, Greg Monroe, and Joakim Noah missed just 7 games total. It was this dominant front court, along with Kevin Durant and pleasant surprise Ty Lawson, that carried the Nets to a 7-0 start. The Nets' unbeaten season ended there at the hands of the Raptors, but they won their last two regular season games to go into the playoffs riding high.
The Bull Sharks and Nets were supposed to be rivals. In 2009-2010, the Nets and Bull Sharks finished 1st and 3rd respectively. Despite Atlanta finishing ahead of Tampa Bay in the South division, many were picking Tampa to play Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, both teams lost in the semis, and the Hawks went on to win the NBA Finals. Last season, Brooklyn and Tampa Bay both finished 17-1, and once again, most were expecting those two to square off in the Eastern Conference Finals. Brooklyn held up their end of the deal by defeating Toronto, but Tampa Bay was stunned by the defending champion Hawks. Brooklyn went on to win the East, but fell to Oklahoma City. Still, with both teams returning the bulk of their respective cores, it was well within the realm of possibility that these two would once again finish at the top of the conference.
After three years, and no titles for either team, the two titans from the east were finally set to face off in the playoffs, only, it was a round earlier than anyone had expected. Still, everyone was looking forward to hard-fought series. The Nets jumped out to a big lead, but as had been their m.o. this year, the Bull Sharks refused to throw in the towel. They steadily chipped away at the lead until, finally, taking over going into the final day. But on that final day, the Nets had one last hope: Soon to be three-time MVP, Kevin Durant.
All year, Kevin Durant had been the calming influence in the Brooklyn huddle. With the game on the line, the team knew Kevin would be there to get them a win. He was the league's leading scorer, a deadly crunch-time player, and a guy with a knack for getting any shot he wanted at any time. He had come through over and over again for the Nets, and this time, all he needed were two free throws.
Durant stepped to the line. Hit both free throws, and the Nets move on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. Miss one, and the Nets would suffer a stunning playoff upset for the second time in three years. Durant went through his routine, just as he had thousands of times before. An 88% career free throw shooter, the Nets had supreme confidence that they would be moving on. Durant bent his knees, gathered himself, and released the ball. It looked good. It hit the rim and spun. It fell off. Durant, amazingly, almost unthinkably, had missed. The Nets, yet again, were going to suffer a crushing early round exit. Durant, visibly shaken, missed the second as well. The dream was dead. The job, still unfinished.
Looking at the big picture, there were a number of things the Nets could have done better against Tampa Bay. And yet, the only thing anyone will remember, unfortunately, is the missed free throw by Durant. Its a shame that such a great season will be tarnished by one missed free throw, but that's the world we live in today. When asked about it after the game, the players and coaches all agreed that the team simply fell short. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, was having none of that. "I blew it," Durant said, "I had the chance to put us into the conference finals, and I blew it. This is going to be a hard one to come back from. We'll be back next year, but..." his voice trailed off. For a moment, Durant stared off into the distance. "Free throws, man. Unbelievable."
Four weeks later, the Bull Sharks put the finishing touches on one of the most incredible playoff runs in league history. After beating the Nets, the Bull Sharks upset the South division champion Orlando Magic. They then cruised past the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz in the finals. It was a remarkable run. A championship Tampa Bay completely earned. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the Nets organization was left to wonder what could have been.
The Nets have already begun making moves for next season. Shockingly, Brooklyn has already traded Al Jefferson, Carlos Boozer, and Eric Gordon. They Nets got talent in return, bringing in James Harden, Ray Allen, and the aforementioned Andrew Bogut, but they've also taken a couple of risks. The Nets traded for Jonas Valanciunas, who will be making his first appearance in the NBA next year, as well as Lamar Odom, who contributed nothing to the defending champion Thunder last season. The Nets' brass hopes a change of scenery will help Lamar get back to the level the league knows he's capable of playing at. The Nets will also have the 4th pick in the upcoming draft, one that is loaded with talent at the top.
There's no doubt the Nets will once again finish near the top of the league next year, but their window won't stay open forever. They've already blown three golden opportunities to win a title, and the future is always uncertain. Nets fans will be excited for the upcoming season, but in the back of their minds they will always wonder, "What if Kevin had made those free throws?" What if, indeed.
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Post by Miege22 on Feb 16, 2013 3:57:10 GMT -5
NETS, BULL SHARKS ON COLLISION COURSE AGAIN
We are a week away from beginning the postseason, but the matchups are more or less set, and once again, the Brooklyn Nets appear to be on the verge of playing the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks in the first round. The history of these two franchises was chronicled in this very space less than a year ago, and, as much as things have changed, they have pretty much stayed the same. The Bull Sharks and Nets pulled off one of the more surprising trades in league history no less than two months ago, as Tampa moved franchise-point guard Chris Paul to Brooklyn for Ty Lawson, Thomas Robinson, and a future first, but that didn't slow down the defending champions one iota. If anything, Tampa Bay has kicked things up a notch, going 7-1 since the trade (they will make it 8-1 a week from Sunday).
The Nets, meanwhile, have basically been par for the course since the move. They will be 7-2 since the trade, though one of those two losses did come against the very Tampa team they will soon face off against (but to be fair, Chris Paul did miss much of those two weeks, and the weeks following, due to a sore knee). All things considered, the current iteration of this Nets team may be the best team the league has ever seen, at least statistically speaking. They are currently in the top-3 of every category but two (three-pointers, in which they are 8th, and turnovers). If they can get everyone back healthy in time for the postseason, this might be Brooklyn's best chance at a championship.
It's hard to remember at the moment, but a season like this wasn't guaranteed for Brooklyn. Before the season even started, the franchise made a number of controversial moves, including the breaking up of what many considered the best frontcourt in the league. Brooklyn traded Al Jefferson and Carlos Boozer (along with Jordan Hill and Omri Casspi) for James Harden, Ray Allen, and the oft-injured Andrew Bogut. The Nets, having grown frustrated with the chronically-injured Eric Gordon, hoped that Harden would break out given a larger role, and boy did he ever. Harden has quickly evolved into, arguably, the best shooting guard in the league, and quite possibly a top-5 fantasy option in the entire NBA.
It was the type of move that defines a franchise; a gamble that put full trust in the front office's ability to evaluate talent. But it wasn't the only risky move Brooklyn made this summer. They then traded Eric Gordon (thus placing even more pressure on the James Harden trade) for frontcourt help. Even then, it still wasn't all that simple as they were trading for unproven rookie Jonas Valanciunas and the suddenly sullen Lamar Odom. Valanciunas had no track record in the league and really couldn't be counted on to contribute. Lamar Odom had seemingly washed out of the league one year prior, and may have been even less of a guarantee than the Lithuanian rookie. Shortly thereafter, the Nets moved Ray Allen for Thad Young and increased depth in the backcourt (Brandon Rush, who unfortunately tore an ACL in the first week of the year, and Jared Dudley).
That's not to say every move worked out. The Nets cut Odom for Jerebko just about a month into the season, only to correct that mishap by re-signing Odom in December. The decision to draft Thomas Robinson may not have been the right move for a contending team considering the impact rookies they could have drafted in his place (Lillard, Waiters, Barnes), but of course, hindsight is 20-20. In the grand scheme of things, the Nets have positioned themselves brilliantly to make a run at things this year, in addition to setting things up for the future.
Still, while the front office is concerned about the team not just now, but 5 years from now, all the focus has been on this year. Despite the fact that this will be the first time in league history that Brooklyn will not finish first in the East, there is no doubt in the minds of any in the organization that this is easily their best chance to get the job done. That being said, it wouldn't be the playoffs without a series between the Nets and Bull Sharks. Tampa Bay stunned the heavily favored Nets a year ago en route to a shocking, yet well-deserved title, and the Bulls Sharks seem to be hitting their stride in recent weeks. They are set to finish third in the East, despite a 2-4 start (thanks, in no small part, to a myriad of injuries). One has to wonder how things would have turned out had they been healthy all year, but all that matters at this point is that they will have the opportunity to defend their title.
If the rivalry between the two wasn't intense enough following Tampa's upset win last year, the mid-season trade sending CP3 to Brooklyn most certainly added a new dimension to it all. Just one year after playing a key role in the elimination of the Nets, Chris Paul will have to do the same to his old team. Its anyone's guess how he'll respond to all the attention, but the early money is on him turning the tables on his old team and putting up a series for the ages. He has been sublime this year since putting on a Brooklyn uniform (injury time not withstanding), and the team is expecting no less than a herculean effort from the reigning finals MVP. Combine that with the three-time (and quite possibly four-time) MVP Kevin Durant, and the Nets have the best 1-2 punch in the NBA... and that's before factoring in James Harden (the favorite for Most Improved Player) and potential DPOY Joakim Noah.
Of course, we've heard this story before. Quite a few times, in fact, and each time the Nets have been unable to finish the job. Last year may have been the toughest of all, with the season coming down to a single missed free throw by Kevin Durant, but things should be different this time. The Nets have more star power at the top, and more depth on the bench. They have three of the best players in the league, and a solid big man rotation. For the Nets to finish the job this year, though, they will need a complete effort from everyone. From Durant and Paul to Odom and Stephenson, everyone will have to play their role to the fullest. If that happens, the Nets will stand a very good chance at, finally, claiming that elusive championship.
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Post by Miege22 on Apr 11, 2013 0:07:15 GMT -5
BROOKLYN'S FINEST!
When the final seconds ticked off the clock, Kevin Durant put his head down, took a deep breath, and let the slightest of smiles spread across his face. If anyone knows the agony of defeat that this franchise has endured, its Durant. He, along with Joakim Noah, are the only two Nets' players to be with the franchise from the beginning. He's felt the pressure build with each passing year, as the Nets, always near the top of the league, came up empty in the postseason time and time again. In 2010, it was a stunning upset in the conference semifinals. In 2011, a gut-wrenchingly close loss in the finals to Oklahoma City. And last year, just when it seemed like the losses couldn't get any more excruciating, Durant missed the potential series-winning free throws against the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks. As victory became all but a certainty at the end, Durant walked off the court to the end of the bench, his face presenting the purest look of joy. Finally. They'd done it.
"I really don't know how to describe it. It's just one of those feelings where it's like, 'did this really happen?' We just won the NBA championship, man. Wow. I'm just... I'm just happy, man."- Kevin Durant in the press conference following the Nets' finals victory.
It wasn't easy. The Bull Sharks were going to make sure of that. With their roster finally healthy, and Ty Lawson playing at a level far beyond what anyone could have imagined, Tampa Bay pushed the Nets to the brink. But, just as it was predicted in this space just before the playoffs started, Chris Paul was there. Paul, fully recovered from a minor knee injury, shot 51% from the floor and 96% from the line. He averaged 17.5 points and 11 assists per game, and even tossed in 11 steals to boot. He was the calming influence on a team that so desperately needed it. However, he wasn't alone. The team received standout performances across the board. Thaddeus Young was third on the team in scoring and led them with 19 steals. James Harden averaged 26 points per game, poured in 18 threes, and knocked down 60 of his 72 free throws. Joakim Noah, who really came into his own this year but more on that later, dominated the paint with 13 boards a game and an eye-popping 27 rebounds. He also had, arguably, the game of the series when he put up the monster line of 23 points, 21 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 3 steals. It was, simply put, the single most dominating performance of the postseason. At the end of the day, Noah refused to let the Nets lose and put up 18-17-3-3 to close out the series.
If anyone took the season-ending losses harder than Durant, it was Joakim Noah. The outspoken big man was always visibly crushed when the Nets' seasons fell short of the ultimate goal, but with each new training camp, Noah came back stronger and more enthusiastic than ever. "This is our year," Noah said at media day before the season, "I can tell. No one's going to touch us. They don't see what we see every day in practice. I'm telling you guys, this is going to be a great year." And sure enough, Noah began the year going for 23-10-3-3-5 (while shooting 11-12 from the line) in the team's season opener. While Durant may have been the superstar, it was Noah who set the tone with his willingness to crash the boards, play defense, and make the correct pass. Coaches and teammates rave about the way Noah plays the game, and Noah knows why. "I can't score," he said during the season, "And I know I can't score. This is an advantage for me. A lot of guys want to go out there and put up points, but I just want to win. I can accept the fact that I may get 10 points a night, if I'm lucky, but we have guys who can score. I don't need to do all that." It may seem simple, but its a philosophy that has rung true with every championship team since basketball was invented.
"Championship or bust. That's what it's about here, and as a player, that's all you can ask for. They've been good for a long time. They gave up some good players, but they clearly see me playing a big role here, and you want an organization that, you know, backs you. Believes in your talent. I want to win. They want to win. And I think we'll win."- James Harden after he was traded to Brooklyn
This was not expected, at least, not outside of the Nets' inner circle. After all, while Harden had been great as a sixth man, there was no evidence how he would perform when given a bigger role. Quietly, the Nets front office beamed. The chatter started immediately. Harden's squad had taken down Durant's in four of five scrimmages early in training camp, and Harden had his way throughout. "We knew he was good, that's why we got him," the Nets GM said, "But I'd be lying to you if I said we knew he was capable of this." Harden exploded onto the scene, dropping 37-12-6 with 4 steals in the season opener, then following that with a 45-point performance in the next game. While Harden proved to be a big time scorer (25.9 per game) and a solid all-around player (5.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals), it was his superhuman ability to get to the free-throw line that stood out the most. Harden averaged 10.1 free throw attempts per game and shot 86% once he got there. Harden led the league in free throw attempts, beating out teammate Kevin Durant by 18 attempts. The two shot a combined 88% from the line, a key reason the Nets were nearly impossible to beat. When push came to shove, it was Harden's ability to get to the line that was the one constant of his season.
"I just wanted to play my game. I have no bad feelings toward [Tampa Bay]. They did what they had to do, and they at least sent me somewhere I could win a championship. I'll always cherish what we accomplished down there last year, but you're damn right I wanted to kick their ass." - Chris Paul after the Nets eliminated the Bull Sharks.
Once the Nets took out Tampa Bay, you could sense a weight had been lifted. The Bull Sharks had become something of a thorn in the side of this Brooklyn team, having upset them in the playoffs last year then beating them again the regular season this year. The reward for beating Tampa Bay? The top-seed in the East, as well as the only other team to defeat Brooklyn, the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were the surprise of the league, winning the Eastern Conference's top seed after failing to finish above .500 in each of the previous three seasons. The inexperience showed, as they struggled to fight off a short-handed but pesky Washington Wizards team in the opening round. However, the Rockets had their own superstar at their disposal, the sharp-shooting Stephen Curry. Curry dominated the series, to the tune of 28 points and 8 assists per game. He also dropped in a ridiculous 33 three-pointers to help Houston advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. But it was there that they ran up against a hungry Brooklyn Nets team that was out for revenge.
"They weren't ready for us, and we knew that. They hadn't been there before, they weren't prepared to play this deep into the playoffs. We'd been there before. We know what it takes, and I think all the guys did an excellent job of stepping up when coach called on them." - Kevin Durant following the series against Houston.
The Rockets managed to start the series off hot, taking and holding onto a lead after the first four days. But that's when the experience, and sheer talent disparity, kicked into gear. The Nets quickly turned the tables and began to dominate. They got contributions from unexpected sources like Andrew Bogut (51 rebounds and 12 blocks) and Jonas Valanciunas (the rookie shot 27/35 for the series). Thaddeus Young, the oft-overlooked 6th man, was a rock once again, averaging 17-7 with 12 steals. But it was Durant who refused to let the Nets get so close again only to fail. He averaged over 27 a game, led the team in rebounds, threw in 12 blocks and 11 steals, and made 71 of his 80 free throw attempts. It was another remarkable performance for the league's three-time reigning MVP. On the final day of the series, Durant put up 24-10, but took a backseat to his buddy Harden, who led the day with 29-9-6. It was just another example of the Nets' devastating 1-2 punch at work, and it lifted the Nets into the finals for the 2nd time in 3 years. This time around, they would face the undefeated Utah Jazz.
"We didn't think they had faced nearly the level of competition we had faced going into this series. They were undefeated, and they beat Houston in the regular season, so they were obviously good. But the West wasn't as good as what we were facing week in and week out, and their two opponents couldn't touch the teams we faced in the playoffs. We knew it would be tough, but we liked our chances." - Andre Miller after the finals.
In many ways, the Jazz were the Western Conference version of the Brooklyn Nets. They'd won their division three years running. They'd suffered heartbreaking losses in the postseason, twice going out in the conference finals, and then losing in the finals last year. Not only were the Jazz good, they had been there before. The Nets were going to have to get everything they could out of their roster to pull this one off, and that looked to be a daunting task before the series even began. Joakim Noah would be out with Plantar Fasciitis. James Harden would be limited with a foot injury, though he would attempt to play in 4 games. Fortunately for the Nets, the bench stepped up in a big way, and they were led by rookie Jonas Valanciunas.
"People questioned the trade for Jonas. After all, we were giving up Eric Gordon, a proven guy in this league. But we knew we needed frontcourt help, and we also knew that even if Jonas wasn't going to provide that right away, he'd have his moment later in the season. We declined any and all trade inquiries we received about Jonas, and there were a lot of them because we knew how these things worked. We absolutely could have gotten someone in the middle of the year to give us immediate production, but patience is a virtue in this league. Jonas showed us why in this series." - the Nets GM on Valanciunas' finals production.
The skilled big man from Lithuania did his best Joakim Noah impression, averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in the series. He shot 57% from the floor and 84% from the line. He was a revelation for a Nets team that desperately needed anything it could get from the center position in Noah's absence. As they reached the home stretch, the Nets still trailed in the finals 5-4 with just three days left. And just as it was in the beginning of the season, Durant and Harden came through. The two combined for 77-16-7 on Friday, pushing the Nets into the lead. On the last day of the finals, Durant put the finishing touches on his first championship with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks. The performance cemented him as the Finals MVP, and at long last gave him a championship to validate all of those MVP awards.
"I can't put into words how good this team was. It takes a truly special group of players to come together the way these guys did. Especially our top guys. You know, Greg and Thad are two guys that could have easily gone to another team and gotten more touches, they're that good. They could be the top guys on a lot of teams, but they didn't care about that. They, and all the other guys, just wanted to win. I'll remember this team for a long time." - Jason Kidd in the finals press conference.
The greatest team in league history? All of the players refused to entertain that kind of talk, noting that there have been a lot of great teams. But the numbers do make a case for this Nets team. Still, don't let anyone in the organization catch someone making that claim. "It doesn't matter," the Nets GM said, "All that matters is getting the job done. And we finally did that." They certainly did. At long last, a championship is coming back to Brooklyn.
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Post by Miege22 on Dec 24, 2013 13:05:52 GMT -5
MID-SEASON REVIEW: IT'S A TWO-TEAM RACE
We've reached the midway point of the season, and the defending champion Brooklyn Nets are picking up right where they left off last year, jumping out to an 8-0 start. They are not alone at the top though, as the Orlando Magic, perhaps even more impressively, are standing alongside them as the only other unbeaten team in the league. The Magic finished 9-7 last year, 2 games out of the playoffs, but won their final 4 games to set the stage for their perfect start. Much of Orlando's improvement has come internally. The team really only lost Joe Johnson (Free Agency) and Chandler Parsons (Trade), but the pieces they've picked up to fill the gaps have been nothing short of fantastic. Wes Matthews has been one of the best shooting guards in the league, and Corey Brewer has been a revelation on both sides of the ball. However, it is the improvement of guys like Jared Sullinger, Goran Dragic, and Alec Burks that has allowed this team to take a step forward. When combined with the steady contributions of Marcin Gortat, David Lee, and Kyle Lowry, the Magic have one of the deepest, most talented squads in the league. They are the biggest threat to dethrone Brooklyn in the East.
So... what's going on around here anyway?
The Nets may be unbeaten, but it hasn't been the smoothest of starts. It was somewhat expected after the team finally broke through to win it all last year, then chose to mostly stand pat in the offseason. The Nets decided to go after cheaper, older veterans in the free agency period. Players that were looking for one more shot at a ring. How have those signings fared?
Ray Allen - Signed for his three-point prowess (the Nets finished 7th in threes last year, the only category in which they landed outside the top-3), and has lived up to the billing, knocking down 1.5 threes per game. Has also provided good percentages.
Kevin Garnett - A bit of a mixed bag here. It's clear KG just doesn't have the same lift he used to, yet has still been somewhat productive in limited minutes. Likely done at the end of the year.
Andre Miller - Last year's rock in the backcourt, Miller was a solid backup for the Nets. However, he provided next to nothing to start the year and was waived almost immediately.
Luke Ridnour - Injured to start the year. Tried to give the team something when healthy, but clearly had nothing left. Waived three days ago.
Carl Landry - Injured, yet to play.
All in all, it was a swing and a miss for the Nets. To compound those problems, the players Brooklyn lost to free agency have either blossomed or come back with a vengeance. Lance Stephenson has been remarkable, averaging 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading the league in triple-doubles (he was out of the Nets' price range). Thad Young, last year's key playoff contributor, has been as steady as ever. Of course, he was paid handsomely this offseason, to the tune of $15.5 million. Finally, Andrew Bogut has stayed healthy and been very productive. He too was not an option for the Nets moving forward, as the Celtics stunned everyone by giving him a multi-year deal.
How are the Nets undefeated then?
Well, the short answer is they still have Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Chris Paul, all three of whom have lived up to their respective billings as the best fantasy players in the game today. The long answer is that, as talent continues to spread throughout the league, making things more even, having the best of the best will play an even bigger role moving forward. What the Nets lost on the fringes isn't making a difference on a week-to-week basis because those role players are going to different teams. The gap between the Nets and the rest of the league was so wide last year, that they could afford to let some very talented players walk. The gap is definitely closing, but it still exists, and that has allowed the team to stay at the top of the league. That said, the team has also been thrilled with the play of free agent signees Gerald Green and Jason Smith. And Steve Blake was playing the Andre Miller role to perfection before an elbow injury sidelined him for a month and a half.
It is entirely possible that the Nets fail to win the title again, or even make it out of the first round. That's just how the playoffs go. But if they can stay healthy, they will be in the mix once again.
What else is going on?
The top of the Eastern Conference is shaping up to be a dog fight between the Nets and Magic, but there are some interesting things happening throughout the conference. First, the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks, one of the playoff mainstays of the conference, will fail to make the second season for the first time in franchise history. They apparently saw the writing on the wall and decided to tear things down, but they should have a very nice core to build around this summer. They will be able to throw a top-5 pick, a possible second lotto pick, and tons of money at a core that already includes Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Ty Lawson. In a league that runs on stars, the Bull Sharks won't be short on them.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets went through a name change, ditching the old Bobcats moniker for a classic. Unfortunately, this young, talented team has not been able to put it together on the floor. There is hope, however, in the form of one Anthony Davis. The big man from Kentucky has become a fantasy superstar, and the Hornets have some talented pieces around him. Given how young they are, they could be a rising power.
The Memphis Grizzlies (not trying) will match last season's win total this week, once they finish off the Bull Sharks. It's an interesting move on the part of the Grizzlies, as there is more than enough talent on this roster to not only make the playoffs, but possibly make some noise. On the flip side, the Boston Celtics (trying) are doing everything they can to try and make the playoffs, but they just can't seem to gain any traction. This team looks like they are on the verge yet again of a 7-9 record.
That makes the final 2 spots a 4-team race between the Wizards, Raptors, Hawks, and Rockets. The most surprising of the group, for the wrong reasons, would have to be the Rockets, who have really struggled this year after finishing first in the conference last season (14-2). They are 4-4, but key matchups against the Wizards and Raptors are still on the docket. The Raptors looked like they were circling the drain after consecutive losses to the Timberwolves and Magic, but lo and behold they went to Washington and knocked off the Wizards, and they are right back in the thick of it. That gave them a much-needed split, and they have what looks like at least 3 surefire wins left on their schedule.
And now to the teams in the driver's seats. The Washington Wizards control their own destiny at this point with a 5-3 record, and the return of Rajon Rondo in the offing. Win the games they should win, and this team should be right back in the playoffs. On the other side of the coin, the Atlanta Hawks really control their fate as they are 6-2, two games ahead of the Raptors and Rockets. They've already defeated the Rockets twice, putting them one step closer to a return to the postseason after coming up short each of the last two years. With the Hornets, Bull Sharks, and Bulls still on the schedule, 9 wins looks like a guarantee for the Hawks. Given their tiebreaker over Houston, that could be all it takes to make the playoffs. (By the way, Memphis is one of only two teams to beat Atlanta, further proof that their sudden lack of interest makes no sense.)
OK, but what about the West?
Ah yes, the Western Conference, also known as the Utah Jazz Invitational. Well guess what, folks? There's all kinds of crazy stuff going down in that other conference. The Jazz, Gamblers, and Kings are all tied atop the conference at 6-2. Oklahoma City sits a game back at 5-3, and is currently in the last playoff spot. After that? Chaos. Cleveland, Minnesota, Portland, and Golden State are all within two games of the Thunder. Minnesota has turned on the jets lately, winning three straight. They have 4 games left on the their schedule that they should definitely win, and if they can take 2 of 3 from the Kings, Gamblers, or Jazz, they should make the postseason.
Cleveland has struggled of late, dropping 3 in a row as they enter the toughest part of their schedule. They do own the tiebreaker against the Timberwolves, but their remaining games are not as favorable. However, that doesn't compare to the gauntlet that lies ahead of the Warriors, as 7 of their final 8 opponents remain firmly in that playoff hunt. It is not likely the Warriors will be able to manage a playoff berth. If there is a team that could make things interesting, it is the Portland Trailblazers. They have at least 3 wins left, and then games against Minnesota, Cleveland, and Toronto. Win 2 of those 3, and they are up to 8 wins with games against Las Vegas and Oklahoma City. The Thunder should win their next 2, but after that, things get hazy. If Portland can knock off OKC late in the year, we could be looking at one of the wildest final weeks in league history.
Enough talking. Who gets in?
From the East? Brooklyn and Orlando are division winners. For the final two spots, we'll play it safe and say Atlanta and Washington.
The West is almost impossible to call right now. The Pacific Division is likely to come down to the final matchup of the week between Las Vegas and Utah. We'll give the nod to Las Vegas and give them the division. It appears that the Kings are separating themselves from the pack in the Midwest, but the second half of their schedule is brutal. Still, we like them to hold on and take the 2-seed. Who gets the last two spots? Well, this may be another cop-out, but we'll go with Oklahoma City and Utah.
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Post by Miege22 on Apr 16, 2014 22:54:34 GMT -5
THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM: A YEAR WITH THE BROOKLYN NETS
Rick Carlisle approached the press table and sat down. He took a swig of water from a Gatorade cup and pored over the box score in front of him. He let out a sigh and shook his head before finally looking up to the media. "We sucked tonight," he said, "There's no way around it. We just weren't very good." It was a blunt, if not unsurprising statement from Carlisle. The Nets had beaten the Utah Jazz to open the season, but there was an uneasy feeling in the locker room following the game. "I thought the pre-game festivities and the crowd really carried us tonight," Carlisle continued, "And the crowd gave us just enough of a lift late to pull it off. Other than that, we were bad. Make no mistake about it, if we don't play better than this, we aren't going to reach any of our preseason goals." With that, Carlisle stood up and walked off, too disgusted to field any questions. The Nets were undefeated and the defending champions, but all was not well in Brooklyn.
It's hard to believe that five months after the season opener, we would be talking about this year's Nets team as the greatest team in league history. The talent was there, but there was a lack of cohesion, a lack of hunger, permeating through the team early in the year. Despite the gaudy numbers and unblemished record, there was a lot going on behind the scenes that could have stopped this season dead in its tracks. The Times was there every step of the way, and what follows is an inside look at the Brooklyn Nets' quest for back-to-back titles.
OFFSEASON
Kevin Durant stood at the foul line going through his normal free throw routine. Drenched in sweat from a three-hour workout, he began his cool down process which included making 100 free throws in a row. "No one's been able to do it so far," he said as his swished another free throw, "We want to be the first to win two in a row." Durant continued to shoot free throws, his eyes always locked on his target. This was a Durant the league had seen before, but he spoke with a confidence that only comes after winning a championship. He knew the rest of the team looked to him for guidance, and he didn't want them to think they could settle for one title.
Upstairs, the front office was quiet. For the first time in years, the team was not working the phones looking to reshape the roster. There was a sense of apprehension among some of the higher ups. "We are aware of the false sense of security a championship provides," said the GM, "Teams win one and suddenly become attached to their guys. They overvalue their own players and are unable to improve. That's not happening here." Its hard to argue with that point of view. After all, the players returning to the Nets were either entering their prime or still incredibly young. There was a lot of room left to grow for many of the players. "The key for us," the GM said, "is to make sure we keep our options open. Our core is intact, so we don't want to put down long-term money on guys that are going to fill the gaps. We've done a decent job of avoiding long-term money. If we can continue to do so, we should be alright."
With that in mind, the Nets went out and filled their roster with several players signed to one-year deals. They brought back Andre Miller, who had been instrumental in the team's championship run last season, and picked up Ray Allen to help with the team's three-point shooting (arguably the one weakness last year). They also went out and got big men Kevin Garnett and Carl Landry, and rounded out the roster with point guard Luke Ridnour. It was a bold strategy, picking up so many veterans. Typically it is the veterans who are the first to fall off as the season goes along, but Brooklyn was confident that their core could keep pace.
For Kevin Garnett, it was an old team but a new feeling. Garnett was a member of the Nets during the 2009-2010 season when Brooklyn finished first in the east but was upset by the Charlotte Bobcats. A year later, he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder team that knocked off the Nets in the finals. After a year with the Warriors, Garnett once again found himself ending his season against the Nets, this time with the Houston Rockets in a loss in the conference finals. Despite the constant bouncing around, KG has managed to lead every one of his teams to the playoffs. Four years, four playoff appearances, four different teams. Two of those teams, Houston and Golden State, have failed to make the playoffs without him. KG was, and is, the consummate winner, but this was the first time he would be playing on a team that could match his own storied history. "The closest I could compare it to is probably my first year here. We were the top dogs, you know, and we acted like it. Even the next year when I was with the Thunder, and we were good, real good, there was still an underdog quality going into the finals. Since I had been in Brooklyn the year before, I wasn't gonna let our guys be intimidated. Now, bein back, you can just get that feelin. KD, James, Jo, all those guys, they're the champs. They know it, they know other teams know it, and its like, 'you gonna have to take it from us.'"
OCTOBER 29TH: THE SEASON BEGINS
"I've been here basically my whole career, and that was definitely the loudest they've ever been," Joakim Noah said about the Brooklyn crowd. Indeed, the excitement could be felt throughout the city as early as that morning. After several close calls and near misses, the Nets had finally won a championship, and the banner was being raised that night. Players would receive their rings, and positive vibes reverberated through the city. Making the night sweeter, for the fans at least, was the fact that the opening night opponent was the Utah Jazz, the team Brooklyn beat in the finals. Fans began lining up to enter the Barclays Center five hours prior to game time, and the building was full an hour before tip. Chants of "Broooooklyn" broke out during warm-ups. It was truly a sight to behold.
Through it all, the Nets' GM tried to remain stoic. "You always have to remember that, at the end of the day, you really have no control over what happens on the floor," he said, "All we can do is acquire the best players and hope they play to their potential. Still, you can't help but look around... I've got chills right now. This is amazing." Given the fanfare, it was easy to forget that the Nets had a game that night. Utah came out and punched them in the mouth early, and it seemed to daze the Nets. However, midway through the first quarter, Ray Allen took the floor as a Brooklyn Net for the first time. On his first offensive possession, he slithered around a number of screens before popping open in the left corner. Just as he'd done a thousand times before, he caught the ball, squared up and fired away. Just like that, the Nets were off and running.
Allen knew that the basketball gods had given him a second chance last summer, and he was determined to make the most of it. There were a number of teams interested in him, and they had all been playoff teams the year before. Wherever he had ended up, he was going to have a chance to play for a title, something he had missed while playing in Minnesota. Allen had almost been a member of last year's Nets squad, but he was traded to Minnesota prior to the regular season. All in all, Allen had been on the Nets' roster for two weeks spanning June and July. It appeared the team was determined to rectify that decision, and, on August 25th, 2013, Ray Allen officially became a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
Perhaps the happiest player on the team was newly signed Kevin Garnett. The two had played together on the 2011 champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and again the next year in Golden State (the only year the Warriors made the playoffs). "Ray is a competitor," Garnett said after the signing was announced, "He can shoot, and he doesn't miss games. It's good to be back on the same team again." For the Nets, Allen was a much needed shooter. Despite the gaudy record and overall statistical dominance, three-point shooting was the one area where the team was vulnerable. They essentially conceded that category in the playoffs, relying instead on other categories to win it all. While the team was able to win a title, they knew they couldn't put themselves behind the 8-ball every week. Ray Allen was part of the solution, and he came out on fire, leading the team with 8 three-pointers in the season opener. After a week in which a win couldn't quell the concerns, the Nets could take solace in the fact that their hired gun had done just what they'd expected him to.
GERALD GREEN BUSTS OUT
There was a reason the Nets started the season with two open roster spots. As is so often the case, a number of impact players are inevitably scooped up well after the season has started. For the Brooklyn Nets, that time was November 9th (two weeks into the season), and that player was Gerald Green. It couldn't have been a more disastrous season last year for Green. After a late season contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2012, Green was hopeful that his decent play would land him a deal last season. Somewhat surprisingly, he received nothing. Green was a free agent a month into last season. A month became two months. Two months became three, and before he knew it, the season was over. When the offseason came and went again this year, Green was ready to give up hope. "I thought about quitting," he said, "I didn't want to go back to Europe. I knew if I got a chance, I could hook on somewhere, but no one would give me a shot." The Nets, who were determined to win the title again, finally gave Green that shot.
Brooklyn was 2-0, but their most recent win over Charlotte was far too close for comfort. They were still struggling to knock down three-pointers (losing that category 31-23), and several of their free agents were giving them nothing. Carl Landry was on the IR, Luke Ridnour still hadn't played, and Andre Miller's age appeared to be catching up with him. Ray Allen cooled off slightly, and KG looked like a shell of his former self. To make matters worse, Brandon Rush still wasn't fully recovered from a torn ACL. It was time for the Nets to roll the dice. "It's funny looking back on it now because it worked out tremendously, "said the GM, "But we weren't completely sold on Gerald. We just really needed another shooter, and Gerald looked like the best of a bleak situation."
In Green's first game with the team, he scored 17 points against the Wizards. It was quite an opening act, even if Green didn't totally see it coming. "Hell yeah, I was nervous," Green said after the win, "That was my first game in over a year, and they (the Nets) only gave me a minimum deal. I couldn't afford to screw it up." As it turned out, the best was yet to come for Green. A week later, the Nets defeated the Raptors at home thanks in no small part to Green. He averaged 20 points per game for the matchup and dropped in 14 three pointers. All of a sudden, the Nets became dynamic from beyond the arc. Green would lead the team in three-pointers the following week against Oklahoma City, and the team would eventually finish 2nd in the league in three-pointers made. The emergence of Gerald Green foreshadowed what was to come for the Nets and the rest of the league.
BROOKLYN DROPS THE DEAD WEIGHT, HITS THEIR STRIDE
They waited as long as they could, but after three weeks, and nothing to show for it, the Nets decided to waive Andre Miller and Brandon Rush. Given each player's role with the team last year, it was an excruciatingly tough decision to make. However, it was one that had to be made. "We'll never forget what Andre did for us last season," the GM said after the team's decision to waive Miller, "Without him, we do not win the championship, plain and simple. We decided to bring him back after he had hit the free agent market because of the leadership he was able to provide, but at the end of the day, we felt it was best to move in another direction." Standing at the end of that other path was none other than Steve Blake. Like Gerald Green, Steve Blake had failed to land on a roster last season. He'd signed with the Sonics in January of 2012 and finished the year in Seattle. When the season ended, Blake went back home to Oregon and waited. Months came and went, and no team would bite. "When the season started," Blake said at his introductory press conference with the Nets, "I told my agent he had a month to find me a place to play. If he couldn't find any takers, then I was going to have him start looking for coaching gigs. I preferred to play for a winner, but I would have signed with anyone, to tell the truth. Fortunately, the Nets were having some issues at point guard."
Issues was an understatement. With Andre Miller gone, Chris Paul and Luke Ridnour were the only point guards on the roster. And Ridnour was basically non-existent while working himself back into game shape after suffering an injury in the offseason. Blake came in and immediately made an impact, dishing out 8.5 assists per game against the Raptors. Blake averaged 8.5 assists per game again the next week in Oklahoma City. He provided a steady presence in the backcourt for a team that so desperately needed it. Unfortunately, it was short-lived, as Blake tore a ligament in his elbow during the team's 7-2 win over the Bull Sharks. After just three and a half weeks with the team, Blake would go on the IR for the next two months.
For most players, an injury that keeps them out that long can mean the end of a season. Blake was lucky in that sense, as the Nets elected to ride out his absence and bring him back. Jason Smith, on the other hand, was not afforded that luxury. Despite the waiving of a wing player in Brandon Rush, the Nets decided to sign a big to fill his role. Smith had played with the Hawks the year before, and he was actually a teammate of Gerald Green's late in the 2011-2012 season. Smith was solid, if unspectacular in his time with the Nets, and it was exactly what the team expected of him. "Good player. Good person. Capable of contributing in every category you would expect from a big," said the GM, "We really liked him. It was a shame when he got hurt." Smith hurt his right knee on January 18th, and it was announced that he would miss the rest of the season. Ten days later, the Nets cut him. "It was definitely a bittersweet ending," said Smith, "Obviously, I wish I could have stayed healthy and played in the playoffs. For those two months, that was easily the best team I'd ever been on. I've never been a part of anything like it, to be honest. It is a business though, so you just have to move on." It was a tough way to end the season for Smith, but before he was waived, he helped the team get their sixth straight win to start the season. That meant the Nets would be undefeated heading into battle with their once great rival.
DECEMBER 9TH: A RIVALRY (ALMOST) REKINDLED
In an alternate universe somewhere, Kevin Durant hits those two free throws to give Brooklyn a first round win over Tampa Bay in 2012. The Nets go on to win the title and decide to run it back the following year. In the process, the Nets and Bull Sharks swap roles, with Tampa Bay revamping their team in the offseason. The Nets, having kept Eric Gordon, are forced to wait for him to come back from an injury early in the season, an injury he never quite makes a full recovery from. They hold on to Al Jefferson and Carlos Boozer, which means they never trade for Thaddeus Young. Without Young, the Nets miss out on 19 steals and lose to the Bull Sharks in the first round by one in that category. The Nets, now strapped with overpaid players, are forced to blow things up. Meanwhile, the Bull Sharks, behind Chris Paul and a fully recovered Dirk Nowitzki, are the defending champions and look poised for a repeat.
It's amazing how one missed free throw can change the course of history, but it is well within the realm of possibility that the above scenario could have taken place. Instead, it was the Bull Sharks that decided to run it back... and they became a cautionary tale for any team thinking of doubling down on a "championship" roster. Midway through last season, they had seen the writing on the wall and traded Chris Paul to the Nets. A month later they traded Pau Gasol, and in the offseason, they moved Paul Pierce. Of course, it won't be long before the once mighty Bull Sharks are back in the playoff picture. The team traded for Russell Westbrook and LaMarcus Aldridge on opening night. They signed Omer Asik, Perry Jones, and Marcus Morris to cheap, long-term deals after they had cleared waivers. They have Ty Lawson and two top-7 picks in the loaded 2014 draft. There's no doubt that this franchise will be back in the second season sooner rather than later. But this year's team was a far cry from those past and, potentially, future glory days.
The Nets were quickly becoming a buzz saw. After struggling through the first five weeks of the season, they had crushed Boston to reach 6-0. They took Tampa Bay apart with no issues, and the team was led by Joakim Noah. The big man from Florida had struggled to find his game early in the year. He was forced to miss last year's finals with plantar fasciitis, and some inside the organization were worried that he had not fully recovered. However, Noah put those fears to bed when he averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal per game against the Bull Sharks. "I didn't feel hurt," Noah said, "But there was something off about my game. I felt a step slow to everything. By December, that started to turn around." Sure enough, Noah became the team's most important player. From December on, Noah averaged 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. He became the team's offensive facilitator when Chris Paul was off the floor, and he was the defensive backbone. There was no better big man in the league after the calendar flipped to 2014. The win over Tampa moved the team to 7-0 as they packed their bags for the longest road trip of the season.
DEALING WITH THE PROVERBIAL "TARGET" ON THEIR BACK
The Nets' longest road trip of the season spanned four weeks, four cities and 3900 miles. In the process, the Nets turned the corner from "league favorite" to "unstoppable juggernaut." They beat Charlotte 8-1, Boston 7-2, Kansas City 8-1, and Washington 7-2. They went six straight weeks winning 7 categories or more. They picked up point guard DJ Augustin on December 23rd, after waiving Luke Ridnour two days prior, shoring up their point guard rotation. Things couldn't have been going better until disaster struck late in their win over the Kings.
There comes a point in every eventual champion's season where an injury threatens to derail everything that team has worked for. In 2012 for the Bull Sharks, it was Andrew Bogut. Last year for the Nets, it was Chris Paul. This year, ironically, it would be Chris Paul again. The best point guard in the game dislocated his shoulder and would be out indefinitely. It was very likely that he would be out the rest of the regular season. With Steve Blake already sidelined, the Nets would once again be relying on one point guard. DJ Augustin went from watching on television to starting for the undefeated Brooklyn Nets in less than two weeks. "I'd be lying to you if I said we weren't extremely worried about Chris' shoulder," the GM said after the season, "The doctors told us he would be back, but we didn't want to rush him and leave him vulnerable to re-injury. And yes, we were all well aware of the fact that we were undefeated and that we would have to beat Atlanta and Orlando without him. There were still 6 games left, and that was a lot of time to change the playoff landscape. I'll say this, though. Thank God Chris got hurt last year too. I think the knowledge that we bounced back last year helped mentally steel this team against a letdown."
The Nets were able to stay afloat thanks to newly signed DJ Augustin. It was yet another mid-season home run after an offseason full of strikeouts. For the month of January, Augustin averaged 16 points and 6 assists. He was instrumental in the team's win over Atlanta, leading the way in threes and assists. The next week in Memphis, he averaged 22 points and 5 assists per game while tossing in 17 three-pointers. "DJ was huge for us," Rick Carlisle said, "For a guy to be at home one day, then get thrust into the spotlight that quickly and perform the way he did, it's extraordinary. Make no mistake though, KD was the guy who really got us through that stretch. I don't want to take away from DJ, but Kevin averaged 37 against Washington, 39 against Atlanta and 38 against Memphis. I've never seen a player play as well as he did while Chris was out."
THE HOME STRETCH: THE NETS WELCOME AN OLD FOE, AND KEVIN DURANT CEMENTS HIS MVP STATUS
It sounds ridiculous to even suggest that a four-time MVP and reigning finals MVP could just now be playing the best basketball of his career, but that's exactly what Kevin Durant did in the second half of the season. In addition to his amazing per game numbers, it was as if Durant would pick and choose one time each week to deliver a punishing blow. Against the Hawks, it was a game in which he finished with 54 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 threes. A couple weeks a later against the Magic, Durant closed out the matchup with 41 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. That week he AVERAGED 31 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds. Finally, with the Nets having already clinched the top overall seed, Durant made sure that they would enter the postseason undefeated. He put up two 40 point games in the final matchup of the regular season against the Toronto Raptors (43-12-7-3 and 42-3-10-2). "To be honest, I really don't think I'm doing anything different or better than last year," Durant said following the Raptors matchup, "We're just focused. We know we have a chance to make history here. And we know the whole organization is focused on that right now."
Durant's last comment regarding the organization was clearly in reference to the blockbuster trade the Nets made in January for Dirk Nowitzki, Channing Frye and Tony Snell. While the contributions of Frye, and the potential of Snell, cannot be overlooked, the key to the deal was acquiring Nowitzki. It was the first time in years the Nets had made a deal to bolster the present at the possible expense of the future, and it was this idea that had many in the front office second guessing themselves. "We deliberated this one for a long time," said the GM, "It probably took two or three weeks before we were finally able to pull the trigger. Greg had been having a tough year, but we had confidence in him and loved his potential. However, we knew we were thin up front, and adding two bigs that could shoot would solve a lot of problems. We weren't going to take a major hit to any of your typical big man categories, and we were definitely going to see an upgrade in threes and free throw percentage. We also had to factor in salary. We didn't think we would be able to sign Greg long-term, so we moved him now before losing him for little or nothing."
It was a shocking move considering Greg Monroe's age, production and role on last year's title team. However, the players were quick to recognize the benefits of having a proactive front office. Said Chris Paul on the move, "It's always tough to lose a guy like Greg. He's a great kid, and he played really well down the stretch. Yeah, he wasn't having the best season so far, but all the guys here still trusted him. That's the business though. And we can't mope too much because we have some really good players coming in. Dirk is terrific. I know from winning a title with him. He's going to make the game so much easier for everyone, and he's going to add a whole 'nother look to this team." For Dirk Nowitzki, it was a chance to get back to the top, "I liked Oklahoma City. Easy-going, nice people, and we had a solid team. I think, in a few years, they could be really good, but I don't know if I have a few years. It's exciting to play for a championship again, and to play with Chris.
In just his second game with the team, Nowitzki showed why the Nets were so happy to land him as he went for 27 points and 8 rebounds. He also hit 3 threes and made all 8 free throws. It was exactly what the Nets GM was expecting to see. Two weeks later against the Houston Rockets, Nowitzki averaged 36 points and 11 rebounds per game while hitting 22/22 from the line. It was a quite a start for his new team, and as the playoffs arrived, Dirk was looking to get ring number two.
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS: A BAPTISM BY FIRE
It's common knowledge among league insiders that the Eastern Conference has been far and away the better conference since the league's inception. It had produced three of the four NBA champions and significantly more contenders to the crown than the Western Conference. Some even joked that the Western Conference was turning into the "Utah Jazz Invitational" with the way they had dominated all comers. Utah made the conference finals in 2010 and 2011 before making the NBA finals in 2012 and 2013. Meanwhile, even though the Nets had made it to 2 of the last 3 finals, it always seemed to be a toss-up. That was no different this year as all four playoff teams in the East looked capable of winning the whole thing. The second-seeded Magic were 14-2 and looked dominant at times. They were the consummate team: deep at every position with no stars overshadowing lesser players. Atlanta was the three seed, and they were "only" 13-3. They were the only team other than the Nets to defeat Orlando in the regular season, and they would prove to be a handful for the Magic in the playoffs. Finally, rounding out the Eastern Conference playoff participants was the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors may have been the fourth seed, but they were not being taken lightly by the Nets. Having played twice in the regular season, Brooklyn was well aware of how dangerous this team was. "What made Toronto so scary was how streaky they were," said the GM, "unlike the Magic, who were consistently solid, the Raptors would go through these wild swings where they would look like championship contenders one week and a lottery team the next. Because you never knew which team was going to show up, it was a difficult proposition. We had taken care of them in the final week of the regular season, but I don't think that gave us any comfort. If anything, it made the playoff matchup even more difficult."
One player who was, surprisingly, unaffected by the stakes was swingman Kent Bazemore. The Nets signed Bazemore just prior to the start of the playoffs after waiving Jared Dudley. Bazemore immediately made his presence felt, scoring 14 points and dishing out 4 assists. With the Bazemore signing, the Nets had gone three-for-three on their mid-season acquisitions. It was a complete turnaround from the offseason. "Even after Luke and Andre didn't pan out, we still had faith in our ability to evaluate talent," said the GM, "It's harder to do in the offseason when everyone is changing teams and roles. Once the season starts its almost like you become a stockbroker. You have to be able to recognize which players are just going through hot streaks, and which players are going to contribute long-term. We were able to find three of those guys in DJ, Gerald, and Kent."
Things with the Raptors were still tight until about midway through the series. That's when Kevin Durant went for 42 points and 9 rebounds, James Harden chipped in 21 points and 11 assists, and Kent Bazemore added 23 points and 4 threes. The Nets were able to open up a lead, and then, two nights later, they slammed the door shut. Gerald Green exploded for 41 points and 8 threes while Kevin Durant tossed up a 34-7-5. At that point, a Nets win was all but assured. Of course, as if to leave no doubt, James Harden wrapped up the series with 41-10-6, 7 threes and 6 steals. Not to be outdone, Joakim Noah posted 20-12-7-4, and Kevin Durant had a triple-double (27-10-12). After so much consternation early, the Nets turned it into a laugher. "That might have been the best we've ever played," Carlisle said after the series.
ESCAPING THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Orlando came into this season looking to prove themselves after a rough 2012-2013 season. After making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012, they struggled to a 9-7 record last season, missing the playoffs by two games. Rather than panic and reshape the roster, they allowed the young guys to grow and learn to play together. The plan paid serious dividends in 2014, as the Magic were led by a two-headed point guard monster of Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry. They also got major improvements out of Markieff Morris, Jared Sullinger, and Alec Burks. In fact, the only moves of any real significance were the free agent signings of Wes Matthews and Mike Dunleavy, and the trade for Corey Brewer (a trade in which they also picked up two first rounders).
Even though the Nets had beaten the Magic in the second to last week of the regular season, the Magic had played them close and it was anyone's ball game going into the final day. KD, Dirk, and Noah saw to it that the Nets stayed unbeaten by putting up some dynamic performances. Still, it was this knowledge that gave the Magic confidence. As the series started, the Magic came out firing, led by rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. Orlando was the first team in league history (the Trail Blazers would join them a few weeks later) to have their D-League player make the big league roster. He rewarded them with 28 points and 5 threes to start the conference finals. With Kyle Lowry putting up a near triple-double, the Magic looked poised to pull the upset.
That all changed the next day when Kevin Durant and James Harden took the floor. The Nets' 1-2 wing punch combined for 70 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists and 8 threes. Over the next two nights, Dirk Nowitzki would score 31, KD would have 29, and Joakim Noah would fall just one assist shy of another triple-double. It took a while, but the Nets were finally able to get some breathing room late, thanks in large part to Durant and Harden. This time, the two combined for 63 points, 16 rebounds, 14 assists and 9 threes. They put things away over the next two days, as Durant had 51-12-7 and 7 threes on Friday and Harden had 37-10 with 4 steals and 5 threes on Saturday (Chris Paul put up 28-4-15-6 as well). The success of those two together came as no surprise to those that saw it in the playoffs last year. "Me and Kevin, we obviously play well together," said Harden, "We got it rollin a few times." After dispatching the Magic, all that was standing in the way of the Nets and a perfect season was deja vu.
THE NBA FINALS: UTAH TRIES TO FLIP THE SCRIPT
It was as if a lazy columnist had taken an old story, reversed the main characters, and attempted to sell it as some new, hard-hitting piece. In fact, it was almost uncanny how similar this year's finals looked compared to the previous year's. Last year, an undefeated team (Utah) was gunning for a title against a 14-2 squad (Brooklyn) that was dealing with injuries (Noah, Harden) and years of heartbreak (2011 Finals, 2012 first round). This year, an undefeated team (Brooklyn) was gunning for a title against a 14-2 squad (Utah) that was dealing with injuries (Horford, Pau, Farmar, Crawford) and years of heartbreak (2012 & 2013 Finals). However, unlike last year, there was simply no stopping the undefeated team.
Once the Nets had the Eastern Conference Finals in the bag, the Finals became nothing more than a formality. Utah was already a heavy underdog, and they simply could not make up any ground with the number of injuries they suffered. The lack of competition in the west didn't help either. Kansas City and Las Vegas, the 2 and 3 seeds respectively, were both incredibly banged up when the playoffs started. Neither team was going to put up much of a fight against the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals, and Utah's first round opponent, Portland, was simply too young and inexperienced. They were, essentially, a poor man's version of the Raptors. That being said, there is some reason to be optimistic about the teams out west. Las Vegas' owner has quickly turned them into a perennial playoff team after spending several years in the cellar. Kansas City has reached back-to-back conference finals, and Portland has an exciting collection of young talent. Just outside of the playoff picture, both Cleveland and Oklahoma City have some things to look forward to. And had it not been for injuries, Golden State would have been right there. The future of the Western Conference looks bright. But this year belonged to the Nets.
Brooklyn ran away with it, turning the final week of the match-up into an extended championship celebration. They were even able to get Kevin Garnett back after he had missed the entire postseason with back spasms. Garnett scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. "I can't even describe how great that felt," Garnett said after the finals, "To have to sit on the bench while my teammates were playing their asses off, and during the playoffs, it hurt. I was getting mad at myself, mad at my body for betraying me. Just to be on the floor for this one; it was special." KG's return was a feel-good story in a series chock full of them. Jonas Valanciunas, who was instrumental in last year's finals as a rookie, had struggled all postseaon. In the finals, however, he exploded, averaging 15-9 on 63% shooting. Gerald Green averaged 18 points per game and hit 20 threes. Dirk Nowitzki turned back the clock and poured in 24 points and 7 rebounds per game. And yet, even with all of these great performances, it was Kevin Durant showing again why he was the MVP. KD averaged 32-6-6, hit 20 threes, knocked down 56/60 free throws (93%) and made 51% of his shots. He was magnificent and earned a second consecutive Finals MVP.
APRIL 14TH: THE FUTURE BECKONS
The Nets GM enters his office at 9:00 A.M. on the dot and immediately checks his phone messages. After making a couple of notes, he sits back in his chair. His office overlooks the Nets' practice court, and through his window he can see several workers putting up the 2014 Finals banner. It's not the banner that will be unveiled to the fans on opening night, that is merely a replica. The real banners are all hanging on the wall in the practice gym, where only the players and staff can see them. "I think it motivates our guys, not that they necessarily need it. And I definitely think it helps show the new guys what this organization is about." The GM takes a deep breath then yawns. The bags under his eyes reveal just how long and trying this season really was, and the real work is only just starting. "I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," he said, "I am truly blessed to have this job, and I am incredibly lucky to be a part of this franchise."
The offseason isn't even two weeks old, and there are already questions surrounding this team. Can they afford to bring James Harden back? If they do, they will be close to the cap with 6 spots left to fill. Will Tony Snell be ready? The Nets were able to let him sit back and watch last year, but he could be thrust into a significant role next year, and he needs to be ready. Which free agent will get the biggest pay day? Last year, the Nets were able to turn both Thaddeus Young and Lance Stephenson into very rich men by giving them a place to showcase their skills. Will Gerald Green or DJ Augustin be this year's beneficiaries? And finally, how exactly can you improve on 19-0?
Fortunately for the Nets, there are questions surrounding every team in the league, not to mention the league itself. However, unlike the other 19 teams, the Nets, if they bring James Harden back, will have the best top-7 in the league. Still, there are teams poised to take the next step. Both the Bull Sharks and Memphis Grizzlies will be adding two lottery picks to incredibly talented, young cores. Orlando, Atlanta, and Toronto should all vie for the playoffs again. Washington and Houston will be hungry to get back to the postseason, and Boston has steadily improved with each season. There will be many challengers to the throne, but no matter what happens, the Nets will be right there. Going for three.
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Post by Miege22 on Nov 24, 2014 0:01:24 GMT -5
NETS FALL TO JAZZ; STREAK ENDS AT 28
For the first time since January, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets ended a week on the losing end. Brooklyn, the two-time defending champions, ended the 2012-13 season on a six-game winning streak. They won every game last season and opened up this season 3-0. None of that mattered to the Jazz, as Utah came into Brooklyn and dispatched of the Nets in impressive fashion. Led by Marc Gasol and Deron Williams, the Jazz led from start to finish and exacted a measure of revenge on the Nets after losing the last two NBA finals. The Nets, still without Kevin Durant, will head out to Seattle looking to rebound from their first loss in 22 months.
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Post by Miege22 on Mar 8, 2015 21:45:23 GMT -5
BROOKLYN-TAMPA BAY RIVALRY COMES FULL CIRCLE
There was a brief moment in their semi-final match-up with Toronto, where it looked like the Nets were going to fall woefully short of a third straight championship. Despite leading almost from the start, Toronto had come back to take a brief lead. Brooklyn ended the day slightly ahead, but they would have to sweat it out until the very end. On the other side of the bracket, Tampa Bay was putting the finishing touches on a Boston team that had run out of gas in their first playoff appearance. The Bull Sharks were led by Russell Westbrook, who put up an absurd 5 triple-doubles in the series. With Tampa Bay on their way back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2012, it was looking less and less likely that the Nets would be joining them there.
Despite the fact that free throws had been one of the strongest categories for the Nets over the last half-decade, it had become something of a thorn in their side come playoff time. Free throws cost them a conference finals appearance in 2012, and it looked like it would unravel them again this year. However, the team hit 65 of their final 71 free throws to clinch the series and move on to face Tampa Bay. Believe it or not, this will be the first time the Nets and Bull Sharks face one another in the conference finals. They've played one another in the playoffs twice, but both times have come in the semi-finals. Tampa Bay won in 2012 en route to their only championship, while Brooklyn came back in 2013 en route to their first title. These two have represented the Eastern Conference in the finals in each of the last four finals, and one of them will make it five in two weeks.
"Tampa Bay is a helluva team, a helluva team," Rick Carlisle said after his team's win over Toronto, "It's going to take a monumental effort to beat them. They're on such a roll right now. I mean, what more can you say about them? What they're doing, what Russ is doing, it's unheard of. It's historic." Tampa Bay comes into the conference finals playing arguably their best ball of the season. They're getting contributions all across the board. On the other hand, Brooklyn enters looking vulnerable. Durant is out. Harden has been banged up. Paul took a shot to his knee late in the Raptors series. Dirk has looked old and slow. The Nets may very well be at the end of their amazing run. That said, it's fitting that these two are squaring off once again in the playoffs. It's time for a rubber match. The battle for the Eastern Conference crown begins on Monday.
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Post by Miege22 on Mar 31, 2015 17:40:47 GMT -5
BULLED OVER: NETS' REIGN AT THE TOP COMES TO AN END
They fought to the bitter end, but it simply wasn't enough. After an epic, two-week battle with the rival Bull Sharks, the Nets finally fell, losing by just 1 steal. It was a valiant effort by the banged up Nets, but the upstart Bull Sharks, led by Russell Westbrook, were too much for Brooklyn. After falling behind early, the Nets steadily climbed back into it and briefly took the lead on the final day. With less than 14 minutes to go in the final match-up, the Nets were clinging to a 1 steal lead. It was short-lived as Al Farouq-Aminu grabbed a steal, and the Bull Sharks ran out the clock. For the first time in three years, the Nets will end the season with a loss. "It's a bitter pill to swallow right now, obviously," Coach Carlisle said in the press conference, "But I couldn't be prouder of the way this team fought. They left it all out there. These guys might not be able to appreciate it right now, but this was still a pretty damn good season."
When asked to look back on the season, Chris Paul echoed those sentiments, "We fell short of our goal, so in that sense, we failed. But I've been lucky enough to be a part of three straight championship teams, and this may have been the toughest team I've ever played on. You know, we lost Kevin, then got him back, then lost him again for good. Dirk and Jo were banged up all year, but still came out and competed every night. We had a lot of role guys step up. And of course, James really carried us. So I think we'll take some good memories from this year. But we didn't win it, and we'll have to live with that."
From the start of the year, a three-peat looked like a long shot. After coming out last season and blitzing the league en route to an undefeated season and second straight title, the Nets were already starting behind the 8-ball. Reigning league MVP, Kevin Durant, broke his foot and would be out until Christmas. To make matters worse, the rest of their starting front court, Dirk Nowitzki and Joakim Noah, were both dealing with their own injuries. After starting 3-0, the Nets had their 28-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Utah Jazz. The Nets rebounded to win 11 of their last 12 games and yet another division title, but they received some very disheartening news right before the playoffs: Kevin Durant would be out indefinitely.
"We had planned on Kevin coming back, honestly," Carlisle said, "When we found out he was going to be out again right before the All-Star Break, we knew that wasn't a good sign. However, we never anticipated losing him for the season. I think it impacted us at first, but no, I don't think it's the reason we lost." While Carlisle didn't want to pin the loss on not having Durant, there is no doubt that a healthy Durant changes the series. In an alternate universe somewhere, Durant is healthy, the Nets win, and they go on to complete the three-peat. However, that kind of thinking can be dangerous. "I'm not saying we won't ever wonder 'what if,'" Carlisle said, "I'm sure Kevin and Jo still wonder about about the 2011 title. And I know Kevin still thinks about those free throws in 2012 (when the Nets lost to the Bull Sharks), but Tampa was just better than us. They played us extremely close during the regular season, and they finished the job when it counted. I will always believe this team could have won a title, but Tampa earned this win and deserves to play for it all."
Whether or not they could have won a title, the season is now over for the Nets. They must now figure out what's next. Kevin Durant will likely miss the start of next season, but the main pieces are all coming back. Harden, Paul, Noah, Nowitkzi and Valanciunas will all return. The Nets will also have Speights, Henderson and Patterson back as well. Unfortunately, their options are somewhat limited. Brooklyn won't have a lot of cap space, and they have several roster spots to fill. The roster seems ripe for a trade, but all of that will have to wait for the summer. That leaves the organization plenty of time to come up with a game plan to get back to the top.
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Post by Miege22 on Feb 8, 2016 20:28:35 GMT -5
NETS GAINING STEAM HEADING INTO FINAL WEEK BEFORE PLAYOFFS
It wasn't the smoothest of starts for the defending North Division champion Brooklyn Nets. The Nets reached the midpoint of the season just 4-4, already surpassing the most losses in a single season in franchise history (the Nets hadn't lost more than 2 games in a season since 2009-2010, when they went 17-3). However, since that 4-4 start, the Nets have won 7 straight games, including wins over Toronto, Golden State, and playoff hopefuls Atlanta and Chicago. The Nets are now one win, or Toronto loss, from yet another division title, though that may be irrelevant at this point as Brooklyn will face Toronto in the playoffs no matter what. The Raptors loom as the most terrifying first round opponent Brooklyn has seen since Tampa Bay in 2012, a team that would defeat Brooklyn en route to an NBA title. For now, the Nets will focus on getting the job done this week and wrapping up another division title.
Privately, the Nets knew this season could have been a disaster. Despite finishing with the top seed last year without Kevin Durant, the front office was well aware of this team's lack of depth and limited resources in trying to improve it. In the offseason, Brooklyn made the difficult decision to move on from their anchor, Joakim Noah. After trading for Noah in the middle of the 09-10 season, the big man from Florida became the team's heart and soul. He helped lead the Nets to back-to-back NBA titles, and he kept them going in Durant's absence last season. But with just one year remaining on his contract, and injuries starting to take their toll, the Nets knew they had to make a move. The Nets traded Noah for the 14th and 19th picks in the 2015 draft and two firsts in 2016, provided they also take on Nate Robinson's contract. Getting four picks for an expiring deal was just too much for the Nets to pass up, and the trigger was pulled. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like the Nets were going to rebuild.
Fortunately for the Nets, they were in the enviable position of having three top-10 fantasy players on their roster, and because of that, they were reluctant to go through a full rebuild. They decided to flip the 19th pick for PJ Tucker and then another difficult decision was made. The Nets traded Dirk Nowitzki and the 14th pick for Tony Snell and Al Jefferson. The Nets were looking to get younger while making up for the loss in boards after trading Noah. They were also taking another chance on Tony Snell, a player they had cut just a season ago. The move almost immediately failed. Jefferson went down with a calf injury just a month into the season. He has appeared in two games since and has been out since December 30th. Jefferson was just one of a number of injuries the Nets suffered through early in the season. Chris Paul missed a few games early. Kevin Durant missed two weeks. Greivis Vasquez, signed in the offseason, went down for the year with an ankle injury. That just seemed to be the way the season was going for Brooklyn. Even the players they signed to fill in for the injured guys went down. JJ Barea was signed in early November. By the end of the month, he was out with an ankle injury.
Things reached a breaking point for the Nets when Jonas Valanciunas went down. Through the first half of November, Valanciunas had done a fantastic job stepping up to fill the void Joakim Noah left behind. Then he hurt his shoulder and would miss 6 weeks. Brooklyn had to make a decision: trade Jonas or wait it out. If the Nets waited it out, they risked falling behind in the race for the playoffs. If they traded him, they'd be trading a 23-year-old big man who has proven he can produce in this league. The Nets decided to push all their chips to the middle of the table. Brooklyn decided they weren't going to re-sign Jonas Valanciunas and moved him to Orlando for Marcin Gortat.
It came with a pay increase, but Gortat was and has been a walking double-double. He filled in admirably when the rest of Brooklyn's bigs went down and has played a huge role in the Nets' resurgence. The Nets weren't done though. They knew one of the big three would have to be moved for a cheaper option. Though they made everyone available, internally, the Nets knew Chris Paul would be the one to go. The front office determined that both Durant and Harden would be far tougher to replace at a cheaper rate than Paul, though they knew they'd be losing production no matter who was moved. Initially, the Nets believed they had a deal in place for Kemba Walker and other pieces, but that fell through at the last minute. Shortly after that deal failed, the Nets moved onto plan b: Rajon Rondo and an old friend.
Rondo had been having a renaissance this season, leading the league in assists and looking like he did before the knee injury. At just $4 million a year through 2019 (a team option), it was likely the best the Nets would do in replacing Paul. As a part of the deal, they needed to gain some scoring, and they did by welcoming back Dirk Nowitzki. Bringing Nowitzki back was the front office admitting they'd made a mistake. The Nets will have to live through his missing the second game of back-to-backs, but the hope is he can provide enough scoring on the days he does play to make up for the games he misses. The Nets, firmly in the playoff hunt now, still had to shore up their bench, and they did so by moving Rodney Stuckey and Tony Snell for Omri Casspi and Matthew Dellavedova.
Despite the improved play, the Nets are still going to need some luck to make it back to the finals. Even if they manage to win the division, it's likely Toronto will be heavily favored. It's obvious to see why. The Raptors are loaded in the front court with DeMarcus Cousins, Kristaps Porzingis, Zaza Pachulia, and Myles Turner leading the way. Bigs are a clear weakness for this Nets team, and it will be even if Al Jefferson gets back in time for the playoffs. If they, somehow, manage to get past Toronto, they'll likely have to face the defending champion Tampa Bay Bull Sharks. The Bull Sharks boast, possibly, the deepest roster in franchise history. After winning the title last year, the Bull Sharks lost their first two games of the season (thanks in large part to a ton of injuries). Since then, they've won 13 in a row, crushing everyone along the way, including these Nets. And then, if the Nets can somehow pull off a second upset, they will probably face one of the three heavyweights in the West: Portland, Houston or Golden State. Despite beating Golden State last week, they know they got lucky. The Warriors were suffering from several injuries, and will likely be at full strength if they're in the finals.
Should the Nets pull off three upsets and win a third title in four years, this may be the end of the run for this iteration. There is no doubt they will re-sign Durant, but early indications are they will not bring back Gortat. They've already kicked the tires on Al Jefferson, and it doesn't appear anyone else is safe, even James Harden. Before making those decisions though, there will be at least one more playoff run for these Nets. We'll see if there's a fourth playoff match-up with the Bull Sharks, or if the Raptors will finally get the best of them.
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Post by Miege22 on Mar 6, 2016 22:02:55 GMT -5
NETS ROLL PAST RAPTORS, SET UP REMATCH WITH TAMPA BAY
By the last three days, Brooklyn's match-up with Toronto had become something of a victory lap. For the third straight season, the Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In each of the previous two seasons, the Nets were the dominant team in the East. The defending NBA champions, looking to keep the trophy in Brooklyn. This year, the Raptors pushed Brooklyn every step of the way. It wasn't until the final week of the season that the Nets were able to clinch the division title, and they ended up with the same record as the Raptors. The Nets were confident they could defeat this team, having done so earlier in the season. However, they also knew that this was a different Raptors team than the one they'd faced the two previous years. With DeMarcus Cousins, Kristaps Porzingis, Rudy Gobert, and Myles Turner, this Raptors team was going to beat you up in the post. The Nets responded by moving their do-everything small forward Kevin Durant into the power forward spot, and it paid massive dividends.
Within the front office, there had been whispers throughout the season that the Nets were at their best playing Durant in the 4-spot. The thought was that this team was going to be disadvantaged on the boards anyway, why not play for more threes, assists and steals? Well, they moved Durant to the four, and he responded with six double-doubles against Toronto. Durant averaged 30.6 points, 11 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2 blocks against the Raptors. It's no secret that many in the front office also believe that they'd have won a third straight NBA title last year had Durant been healthy. The numbers he's put up this season back up this sentiment. Of course, Durant wasn't the only Net playing great basketball. James Harden actually led the team in scoring with 36.6 points per game against Toronto, while chipping in 7.4 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
The locker room following Brooklyn's win was celebratory, but not over the top. With Harden, Durant and Nowitzki leading the way, they weren't going to let the Nets get too excited about the victory. "It's great to get this win and get back to the conference finals," Durant said, "But we're still two steps away from our goal. We can't get too caught up in this one." Head coach Rick Carlisle echoed that statement, "You know, maybe because I've been in this game longer than these guys, I'm able to enjoy and appreciate a win like this a little more than they can. But Kevin is right. Our goal is to win the title, and we still need two more wins. Given our season, though, I'm ecstatic with the heart and toughness these guys have shown." Carlisle also had a few words about the Raptors, "That's one tough team right there. They're going to be really, really good. They're already a pain in the ass, but with all the young guys on that team, they'll be scary. I think a lot of people forget Brandon Knight didn't play in this series, and he'd been having a great season. But man, that front line... they're going to win it all sooner rather than later."
The future certainly is bright in Toronto, but, in the meantime, it's all about the present in Brooklyn. And up next for the Nets is their arch-rival, the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks. It'll be the fourth time the Nets and Bull Sharks have faced off in the postseason, and the second year in row that they've played in the conference finals. These two have combined to win the last four NBA titles, and they've represented the Eastern Conference in the finals five years running. They'll make it six straight years two weeks from now. Not only have they met three times prior, but two of those three match-ups have literally been decided in the final quarter of the final game on the final day. In 2012, Kevin Durant missed two free throws that would have pushed the Nets to the conference finals. The Bull Sharks prevailed and went on to win the title. Last year, Al Farouq-Aminu made a series clinching steal in the final minutes to send the Bull Sharks to the finals, where they'd win their second title in franchise history. The only time it didn't come down to the wire? 2013 when the Nets won 5-4 in the semi-finals. These two franchises have had some grueling postseason battles, and that wasn't lost on the coaching staff.
"We're in for a dogfight," Carlisle said, "They beat us pretty good in the regular season, but I don't think the guys even need that as motivation. Last year is motivation enough. You know, in 2012, they came out and punched us in the mouth. We had a chance to win it, but KD missed some free throws. He used that the following year, and we got a little revenge. Last year, without KD, we put up as good a fight as I could have asked for. They just beat us. Will history repeat itself, and we get some revenge? That's what I'm hoping for." Kevin Durant was a little more forceful, "We would have won last year had I played, no doubt. Tampa earned it, and they were deserving champions, but I like to think I make a little bit of a difference."
The level of dominance these two franchises have displayed in the conference is difficult to comprehend. Six straight years one of these two will represent the conference in the finals. Four straight years one of them has won the title. The Western Conference finalists loom as two of the strongest teams that conference has produced in a long time, and that's saying something when you consider the 2013 Utah Jazz were undefeated heading into the finals. For now, the focus is in Tampa Bay, where the Bull Sharks will look to do what only their opponent has pulled off: win back-to-back NBA titles.
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