The Worst Start in Franchise History

0-7.

That's it really, this week has been really bad for this young Nets team, but, is there reason for optimism? Let's take a look.

Bobcats 79, Nets 68.

• You could really call this CDR's breakout game, finishing with 20 points to lead the Nets. However, this was also the scene of one of the most atrocious offensive performances from the Nets I have ever seen. The Nets gave up a 24-0 run in the 2nd half. Yi was also lost to injury on this game.

Nuggets 122, Nets 94

• A blowout, although it was relatively close early, the Nuggets opened up a whopping in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Nets 44-26. If Phil Jackson is the best at coaching 3rd quarters, the opposite could be said about Lawrence Frank right now. CDR again led the Nets in scoring with 19, seemingly the only consistent bright spot at this point. Najera also got the start in place of the injured Yi and did pretty well.

76ers 97, Nets 94

• This time, it's CDR who joins the injured list with flu-like symptoms (it would be confirmed later that it's actually Swine Flu) It's a surprise really that the Nets are still able to score 94 points. Najera continues to start, joined now by Hassell, who replaces CDR. Rouding off the starting unit are Lopez, Lee and Alston. Surprisingly, Hassell was able to turn down back the clock, knocking in jumper after jumper for 17 points. Something to note here, is for the first time this season, the Nets actually showed good effort and fight for the whole game. Sadly, Courtney Lee joined the Nets' walking wounded, leaving the team with the league minimum of 8 healthy bodies.

Boston 86, Nets 76

• This has got to be, the best game of the season. Honestly, the score doesn't give it justice. For the 2nd game in a row, the Nets showed grit, effort and fight. Even leading 61-59 to end the 3rd quarter. Of course, these are the Celtics we are talking about, and as expected, they pulled away midway through the fourth. The Nets were lead by Lopez and Alston, scoring 23 and 20 a piece.

Through all this chaos, there really still is a silver lining. The last two games could have gone the Nets way if they were either luckier or healthier. The important thing here is the Nets are not giving up and they are continuing to fight. This is good in terms of creating that winning mentality and culture that the Nets were feared to lack. Sure, it's the worst start in franchise history, but, this group will pull through, they just need to kill the injury bug.

Doubts

Bobcats tomorrow, we'll get that one.

Right?

Right?

Oh and Three

Wow, this has to be the worst start to a Nets season I've seen in a pretty long time.

The Nets are win-less in their first three games, with the only good performance coming in their first game against the Timberwolves.

One could argue that it's still only the start of the season and there is still a lot of chances to get better. I agree with that, BUT, you really have to be concerned about the lack of effort that this team is showing. There's really something missing and I can't really put a finger on.

I think the closest thing to it would be what CDR was saying about the Nets having the right basketball CULTURE. The Knicks are 0-3 too, but, they've played well beyond what the Nets have been showing us.

Maybe it's time for Coach Frank to finally be let go? We'll see what happens.

Nets Drop Opener

The Nets defended well.

Oh.

The Nets built a double digit lead.

Oh.

The Nets lost that double digit lead.

Oh. Here we go again.

The Nets lost the game at the buzzer

Oh. Here we go again.


Does this mean that this Nets team will essentially have the same problems as last year's team? This inability to finish games is just so unfathomable to me. Is it youth? A lack of confidence? Overconfidence maybe? Incapable leadership? Coaching? Well... we really won't know, but, this is not the kind of play that a young and energetic team with a chip on their shoulder should be playing, most especially on opening night.

A silver lining though, would be the fact that the Nets take this kind of loss early and that they could learn from it. Also, there were some pretty good individual performances in this game, most notably from Brook Lopez, who toyed with the smaller Timberwolves en-route to 27 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. Rookie Terence Williams also had a great first game, racking up 15 points and 10 rebounds. Finally, it's a good thing to know that Yi and Harris can play together, with the Chinese forward finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Nets lost this one on turnovers, committing 10 more than the Wolves, with a number of those coming in the late game.

As much as Lopez had a good game, he really has to polish his work whenever he's double teamed. Teams are going to be sending multiple defenders at him the whole season and he has to learn how to effectively handle those situations or else the Nets would have a lot of losses like this.

I'm sure this loss is hurting every Net right now and that's a good thing. Growing pains, move on to the next game, but learn from your mistakes.

Oh and one more thing, this team is going to surprise this year. This from my insanely optimistic view on Nets basketball.

Jersey, Do We Have a Problem?

As all of you know, the pre-season just finished and the Nets earned themselves a truly disappointing 1-6 finish. Their only win was their last against the 76ers in what could be that epitomizes this Nets team's potential heading into the season.

Of course, we can't really read a lot into the pre-season, mainly because Devin Harris hardly played and most of the games featured rotation experiments.

However, there are certain things that we can deduce from the past six games, which I will separate into both good and bad problems.

The Real Problems

Mentality:

• Is it just me, or is this young team just not playing with the type of reckless abandon that young teams typically play with? It was pretty reflective of their win-loss record in the pre-season. Sometimes, it just looked like they didn't want to play, like they didn't want to prove all the doubters wrong. Only TWill and CDR seem to play with a revved motor for every game.

Coaching:

• Is the lack of the correct mentality and in a sense, focus, the fault of the coach? I've always maintained that professional athletes should not rely on their coaches for motivation, they should be able to motivate themselves, but, are these early signs of future problems with Coach Frank? Something just tells me that they don't respect him enough.

Distractions:

• An NBA player has loads of distractions that keep him from being the best that he can be on the court. Girls, parties and more increasingly, Twitter are some of the more prominent distractions that NBA players have to face. However, these aren't the distractions that I am talking about. What I am referring to, are the things that are currently being tackled by the Nets franchise. The new owner, the impending move to Brooklyn and maybe Newark next year, plus, the feeling of insecurity that the players must feel whenever they think of Lebron and some big name free agent coming into the team next season must surely get them all thinking one way or another.

Chemistry:

• No, I don't expect or think that there will be arguments and mis-understandings between the players this year, now with the coach. But, it really struck me how Yi seems to effective whenever Alston's running the point. I guess it's because of the fact that Alston is really more of a complete point guard as compared to Harris who is truly more of a scorer. I don't know, but it bothers me how your starting unit can't be 100% effective as it is. Harris is young and having Alston on the team will surely help him be a more complete player.

Frontline Help:

• We all know Lopez is going to be, if not already a stud, but what the Nets are lacking right now are continuity when Lopez will need a breather. As of now, the legitimate center backups are Boone and Battie, which are, in my book, satisfactory at best. There has been talk of Boone shifting to the power forward position, but, that position is already crowded as it is. As of now, the only solution I see is for the Nets to go with a small line-up while Lopez gets his rest.

The Fake Problems

Logjam at the Wings:

• Currently, the Nets have a bulk of wings who all in their own ways, deserve time on the floor. From multi-dimensional players, CDR, Lee and TWill, to dead eye shooters Hayes and Simmons, the Nets will surely need to have some of them stay on the bench. Again, going small might solve this problem, but, for me, this type of versatility is definitely a welcome problem to have. All these players give the Nets multiple scoring options and the unpredictability will drive opposing teams crazy.

Bad Reviews:

• For two years straight now, the pundits have been writing the Nets off and even if they actually MIGHT be right this year around, the Nets should use all that punditry as motivation. If I'm going to be sure of one thing, it's going to be that if this young team has the right mind set and motivation going into the season, it could easily add 5-8 wins to their total.

So.. it seems as if the Nets have more real problems than fake problems, so, does that mean that it's going to be a bad and long season? Honestly, I don't know, and, does anyone really know? All I know is I'm confident about this group (like I always am) and that I can't wait for the season to begin.

That's it for now guys, will update again once the season begins.

Go Nets!

State of the Nets Address

After an off-season filled with erratic blog posts from yours truly, this year's edition of the State of the Nets Address is finally here. In this post, we first discuss the effects (both current and future) of the recent acquisition of a stake of the Nets by Russian oil titan, Mikhail Prokhorov. Next, we review the off-season basketball related moves that the front office has made and to close this address, StateNets will take a look at the players entering training camp, focusing on each player's role on the team at present and by the end of the season.

The Red Effect

The Nets are now owned in majority by the richest owner in all of professional sports. From a franchise that was once cash-strapped and was in complete cost-cutting mode, the Nets are now arguably the richest sports brand in the world. Now, what effect will that have on the franchise at present and in the future? A whole lot of good as far as I am concerned.

First, the move to Brooklyn gets billions of dollars of new life. Of course, there are still a few legal issues here and there, but, chances are, the move to Brooklyn will finally push through. Whether it may be Newark or Brooklyn, I personally believe that a move is necessary for the Nets to be a successful franchise. The fan base in New Jersey is clearly not enough for the sustained development of the team.

As for the management, I think it would be safe to assume that Thorn, Kiki and Coach Frank won't all be coming back next season. All are in the last years of their contracts and it has been said that new owners usually like to bring in new people. Coach Frank seems like the first candidate to be replaced next season, as Prokhorov has always been enamored with European coach Ettore Messina. Odds are that Thorn might be kept in place, there is really no other person better suited to bring the Nets back to glory than Mr. Thorn. In Rod we trust! As for Kiki, well.. he's had the job for only a season, so, I believe that he still needs more evaluation. Although, he's doing a pretty good job so far.

A good idea though, would be for Prokhorov to already send some basketball minds from his side to at least observe and or work with the front office. Something like an internship program. I know that it's a bit far-fetched and there are a lot of factors to consider, but, it's just a raw idea.

Looking beyond this season though, expect the Nets to be definite players in the free agency. If a move from Jersey is finalized, expect the Nets to have the ability to attract up to two big time free agent. Imagine, Lopez and Harris, with Lebron and let's say Bosh. Do I hear championship? Again, a lot of things have to fall into place for that to happen, but, with Russia's leading man funding everything, that does not seem impossible anymore.

Slowly, but Surely

As far as the off-season is concerned, the only move really that the Nets made was the Carter trade. We exchanged Carter and Anderson for Lee, Battie and Alston. Of course, the centerpiece here is Lee, after his poised showing for the Magic last year, the Nets feel that he's going to be another building block for the future.

That really is the point of all this, the Nets know that they're close being a very strong team again and they understand that it's going to take time. As long as they keep to what they're doing now, this rebuilding stage would be short. In terms of assets, the Nets have numerous expiring contracts and they actually have the most draft picks in the coming years as compared to any other team.

Also, the drafting of Terrence Williams has a lot of people gushing. There are concerns of course about his true position in the NBA, but, there are those who have been successful in the NBA despite this concern. One thing's for sure though, there will be no lack of confidence with Williams, he just has to know how to channel that in the right direction.

I'm expecting big things from TWill.

The Army

Lawrence Frank has said that the strength of this team is their numbers. Is that really the case, or will that cause some problems? We look at each player, focusing on their roles coming into the season and what will possibly happen to them at the end.

Devin Harris

• Without a doubt this team's leader, but the main question heading towards this season is if the starting point guard is going to play better defense. We all know he's capable, but will he do it? He's saying the right things so far and it early on, it looks like Harris is going to solidify himself as one of the NBA's most prolific point guards.
• By the end of the season, I expect Harris to not only be this team's leader, but also one of the team's best defenders, keeping his poise throughout what looks like a shaky season. Offensively, I don't see his numbers fluctuating much from last year's career year.

Keyon Dooling

• Currently injured, he looks to be competing with Alston for the back-up point guard spot. The Nets will need his veteran presence a lot this season. Last year, Dooling was a revelation when placed in the shooting guard spot, but it looks like that won't happen this year, because the Nets have a logjam of wings now.
• Dooling would probably end up being the back-up point by the end of the season. See Rafer Alson's profile for further explanation.
  

Rafer Alston

• Alston currently has the upper hand in terms of being Harris' back-up, but, there have been a lot of talks about him wanting to be traded, he denied these rumors of course. He has to feel pretty bad right now, being traded from Orlando to Jersey, at this point in his career he surely wants to win and the Nets won't be able to give him that immediately
• I see Rafer Alston being traded by the end of the season.

Courtney Lee

• Currently in a war against CDR for the starting off-guard role, Lee is surely fired up to start this season, eager to prove to the world that the Magic were wrong when they traded him. I expect Lee to start for the Nets, mainly because he is currently a better defender than CDR.
• Lee will have a continuous battle all year with CDR and Terrence Williams for the starting role, but, he will start and end the year as the team's starting shooting guard.

CDR

• CDR has worked very hard this off-season and he enters this season with confidence and it looks to be a good year for him. Lee's better defense will cause CDR to move to the bench, but that does not mean he won't be productive. CDR will be the Nets' main 6th man coming off the bench.
• I'm sure he'll get the chance to start sometime along the season, but, by April, CDR would have had a career year, coming off the bench.

Terrence Williams

• The enigmatic rookie will be ready for the NBA, but a logjam at his position will cause of to spend a lot of time on the bench. Currently, he needs to soak up and learn as much as he can and just continue to play with confidence, anything can happen.
• Williams will have his moments as the season progresses, but barring injuries, he would end up spending a lot of time on the bench. The future looks pretty bright with him though.

Bobby Simmons

• Currently the Nets' starting small forward. He was okay last season, but, better defense and more consistent shooting would be much appreciated. The Nets are going to need him and Hayes to be knock-down shooters to help the offense flow.
• Will slowly spend more time on the bench, because of his lackluster defense.

Jarvis Hayes

• He was one of the Nets' best wing defenders and shooters last season and this season, he has shown the responsibility of helping lead this young Nets team. Like CDR, Hayes will be one of the Nets' main shock troopers to start the season.
• By the end of the season though, Hayes and Simmons will switch roles, as Frank will look for more offense.

Trenton Hassell

• Enters camp to harass people defensively and to hit two point jumpers.
• Barring injuries to key players, Hassell looks to only sweat during practices.

Yi Jian Lian

• A bigger and more confident Yi enters camp as the Nets starting power forward. He's been working hard this off-season and has been showing great things at the start of camp. The Chinese forward will be one of the keys if the Nets want to succeed this year.
• Yi will show improvement from last season's post-injury performance, however, by the end of the season, he will still leave us wanting in terms of his defense and rebounding, but, this season will be a step in the right direction for Yi.

Eduardo Najera

• Najera must be so frustrated right now, he's been raring to go, but his hernia injury is still keeping him shelved. The Nets need him, especially his defense and leadership. He's injured now, but, he looks to be Yi's back-up when the season gets rolling.
• Najera will finally get to play quality minutes this year and he will help steady the Nets' ship the whole season.

Sean Williams

• Am I the only one that still believes in this kid? There have been reports that Williams has shown growth in many facets of his game, but, as we all know, it is in the maturity department where Sean needs to develop the most. I honestly believe that he can help this team, especially when the Nets decide to go small and run, but he needs to earn that trust again from not only the coach, but the players and the management as well.
• Sadly, Sean will get a chance to showcase his skills this season, but I see him getting traded before the season is over.

Brook Lopez

• Mr. Lopez was a revelation for the Nets last year and with the departure of Carter, this is going to be the year when we see if Lopez is really ready to be one of the most promising centers in the league. He's going to have to display more offensive moves, while at the same time being the defense's anchor. I have complete confidence in the Stanford stud, because, I haven't really seen anyone who's more willing to improve.
• Lopez looks to have a pretty smooth year, he'll have improved numbers this year, on all categories.

Josh Boone

• I find it funny how low Boone's self confidence is, just seeing him hunch his shoulders or shake his head EVEN after good plays confuses me to hell. Nevertheless, reports out of camp are saying that Boone has shown improvement both in his game and in his built. However, his Waterloo is still his foul shooting, but, Coach Frank will probably give him the back-up center job when the season starts.
• His name will get thrown around in trade rumors, but he will remain a Net this season, because of the fact that the back-up center position is pretty thin.

Tony Battie

• Currently sidelined because of a minor injury, Battie will share minutes with Boone as Lopez's main back-up. However, where he will be most useful is in the mentoring of the Nets' young bigs. He has already started, going out of his way to complement Yi Jian Lian on a good practice session.
• Another potential trading chip, but I've got a feeling he will still be a Net after the trade deadline.

A Final Note

To end this year's edition of the State of the Nets Address, I will just offer a few thoughts. First, the Nets are not going to be as bad as most people think. This team is confident and if they live up to their defensive potential, an 8th seed playoff spot is not out of the question. Of course, the big IF here is the defense. I like the fact that the Nets are choosing to run and gun this season, but that has to feed off their defense.

Next, the Nets have to have a team mentality here. It's a bit of a concern, because they have a lot of players on contract years and some players will tend to be more selfish and pad their own stats when they're playing for a contract, but, if the Nets just buy in and play as a team, I believe that they have the offensive tools to make up for Carter's absence.

It's going to be a very exciting season and StateNets will have more stuff for you guys as the season gets nearer. This is it for now, let's go Nets!

Look Out!

StateNets' season preview, better known as the "State of the Nets Address" will be up in its full glory soon.

I've got some interesting things on hand for you guys, so look out for it.

Honestly though, I don't think anybody would be able to predict how this upcoming season will shape up.

Nevertheless, go Nets!