HOOPLOG: New Jersey Nets

Playoff Pants Party: Heat Vs. Nets

Mon, 08 May 2006 10:43:59 -0800

The Nets and Heat tip off tonight in Miami, and it’s fun to play the game of “Who’s it less painful to root for: Pat Riley or Vince Carter?” Tough call, really; we tend to veer toward cutting Vince Carter some slack, if just because the guy clearly knows how to have a good time.

We don’t mean to say that people aren’t as excited about this series as they are the other three, but … well, tickets in East Rutherford are still available.

Here’s a look at the series from around the Web:

• Daily Quickien six.
• YAYSports!: Nets in seven.
• The Association: Heat in five.
• J.E. Skeets: Nets in seven.
• Complete Sports: Heat in seven.
• Chris Sheridan: Nets in seven.
• True Hoop: Heat in seven.
• Deadspin: Heat in six. Even though Gary Payton is the only point guard we know more tired and washed up than Jason Kidd, we have a feeling the Nets, deep down, kind of stink.

Your predictions in the comments, if you can work yourselves up to it on a Monday.

Heat advance, prepare for Nets (AP)

Fri, 05 May 2006 12:14:44 -0800

The charter flight landed in the wee hours Friday morning and Miami Heat players scattered for a well-deserved day off, finally knowing their spot in the next round was secure. Another opportunity to relax probably won't be coming for a while. "It gets tougher from here," forward Antoine Walker said. Needing six games to oust Chicago, the Heat face the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference...

Elimination Time? Pacers Looking to Force Game 7

Thu, 04 May 2006 09:34:51 -0800

In the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, Mike Wells writes that "moments like this are why stars spend countless hours after practice in the gym, working on new moves and improving old ones. This is what it's all about," said Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird, who thrived in pressure situations throughout his career with the Boston Celtics. The New Jersey Nets lead Bird's Pacers 3-2 in their first-round series and can eliminate Indiana tonight (NBA TV, 7:00 ET) at Conseco Fieldhouse."

Pacers to Face Nets, Heat or Pistons

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:17:22 -0800

In the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, Mike Wells writes that "five months ago, who would have thought that the Indiana Pacers would be battling to avoid the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs?" The Pacers figured they'd be pushing the "Pistons for the Central Division title and priming for a run to the NBA Finals. Instead, they are entrenched in a numbers game in which they could finish as the sixth, seventh or eighth seed in the East playoff race. Their first-round opponent won't be determined until later tonight, but they know it's one of three teams: New Jersey, Miami or Detroit."

Wilcox Named WC Player of the Week

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:44:56 -0800

CHRIS WILCOX NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SEATTLE – The NBA announced today that Sonics forward Chris Wilcox has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, April 3 through Sunday, April 9. Wilcox averaged 23.0 points and 15.3 rebounds while shooting 75.0 percent (27-of-36) from the field during the week to help the Sonics extend their winning streak to a season-long four games. The league honor is the first of Wilcox’s career and the first for a Sonics player this season.

Wilcox began the week by posting 26 points and a career-high 24 rebounds in a 104-87 win over Houston on April 4, becoming the first Sonics player to post a 20-point/20-rebound game since Shawn Kemp did so on Nov. 15, 1995. Wilcox’s 24 rebounds were also the most by a Sonics player since Jack Sikma grabbed 25 boards on Feb. 10, 1983. Wilcox also dished out a career-best six assists at Portland last Friday, April 7, and has recorded double-doubles in scoring and rebounding in four consecutive games.

After averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 48 games with the Clippers this season, Wilcox has posted 15.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game since joining the Sonics on Feb. 23.

The New York Knicks’ Jamal Crawford was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 26.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.25 steals per game. He hit two game-winning jumpers to lead the Knicks to a 3-1 record during the week. Crawford grew up in Seattle and was a prep basketball star at Rainier Beach High School

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s LeBron James, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, New Jersey’s Jason Kidd, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Sacramento’s Mike Bibby and Seattle’s Ray Allen.

The Seattle Sonics & Storm organization manages the Puget Sound region’s professional basketball franchises – the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. The organization oversees all sales, marketing, finance, public relations and basketball operations for the teams. The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC owns both teams.

Luke and Earl

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:44:48 -0800

There was considerable talk around the time of the Earl Watson trade that this move was going to spur Luke Ridnour to greater heights; that the reason he wasn’t playing to the level people expected this season was because he lacked adequate motivation, unlike the past two seasons when Antonio Daniels was there to spur him on.

Well, has adding Watson made a difference? Let’s take a look.

For simplicity’s sake, I’ve marked the cutoff point as March 1st, even though Watson’s first game in a Sonic jersey came on February 28th. Actually, I did this because I’m too lazy to add up all of Ridnour’s stats from the beginning of the year through February 20th; it’s just too darn hard. It’s a lot easier just to take his numbers on a monthly basis.

Anyway, it’s a relatively small sample size (18 games) to look at, but the numbers do show some intriguing insights.

1. Luke Ridnour is having a terrible April. If you include the March 31 game against the Lakers when he went 0-for-8, Frodo has shot 15-for-43 in his last five games, which isn’t great even for 3-point range, let alone inside the arc. While his assist figures are still admirable, he’s been turning the ball over way more often this month than normal.
2. Overall, Watson’s arrival has put of an offensive push into Luke’s game, specifically the passing game. After averaging between 8.9 and 9.7 assist per 48 minutes for the first four months, Ridnour jumped out to 11.3 assists per 48 in March, without a corresponding increase in turnovers. That’s a great sign.
3. His three-point shooting is as inconsistent as ever. Here are Luke’s numbers per month from 3-point land, percentage-wise: 23, 31, 33, 16, 41, 14. That’s borderline Jason Kidd circa 1995. As a reference, here’s Earl Watson’s numbers this season: 33, 43, 39, 40, 39, 53. Much better, obviously.
4. Luke’s steals and points per 48 minutes are essentially unchanged.

But back to the point of the story: Has Watson’s presence made any difference in Ridnour’s game? The honest answer: No, at least beyond a decrease in minutes. Obviously, it will take more than 18 games to tell us the impact the one point guard has on the other, but from this vantage point it is clear that Watson is outperforming Ridnour, and that Watson’s arrival has not coincided with an improvement in Frodo’s game.

Whether Ridnour will continue to improve on his own just from maturity is unknown, and of that his detractors should take heed. However, it seems to be clear that adding Watson to the equation is not making difference.

Nets' Frank Cares About History

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:55:01 -0800

Dave D'Alessandro of the NEWARK STAR-LEDGER writes, "If anyone objected to Jason Kidd joining the garbage time brigade so that he could grab a single rebound and record his 74th triple-double, the guys who know him offer some advice: 'He was going for NBA history,' said Richard Jefferson, whose 40 points were a direct byproduct of Kidd's 12 assists. 'I'm going for personal history. NBA history is another thing.'"

Ilgauskas Unsure of Status After Hurting Ankle

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 09:56:12 -0800

THE PLAIN DEALER in Cleveland reports, "Zydrunas Ilgauskas left Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers after spraining his left ankle early in the first quarter. Ilgauskas did not return and he did not play Wednesday night against the Knicks. Ilgauskas is not sure if he will return Saturday against the New Jersey Nets."

Cavs' Ilgauskas out with sprained ankle (AP)

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 19:16:13 -0800

Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed Cleveland's game at New York on Wednesday night with a sprained left ankle, but the Cavaliers hope to have him back Saturday at New Jersey. Ilgauskas was hurt in the first quarter of Cleveland's victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and the Cavaliers decided to sit him out against the NBA-worst Knicks.

What's Right With Nets? Just About Everything

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 09:34:31 -0800

John Eligon of THE NEW YORK TIMES writes, "The Nets are doing things right, and doing them with style. Their game-breaking run in the second quarter similar to the one that knocked out the Phoenix Suns two nights earlier included plenty of highlight-reel footage."

Justice and Injustice: The Ides of March in the NBA

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 08:30:26 -0800

I almost died laughing when I saw the headline of Tim Thomas getting waived. But, when I saw Bo Outlaw and Jim Jackson receive the same treatment the laugh got caught up in a semi-WHAT! Granted Bo isn't the prototype anything but (as a personal friend) I admire his tenacity and his integrity. In college he led his CONFERENCE in blocked shots and as a high schooler he DOMINATED Shaquille. The odds of him doing either now are very slim (as is he, although he has bulked up since then) but you have to admit he is a hard worker.

Jim Jackson, on the other hand, is the prototype 2-guard. Strong, athletic, and a tenacious competitor, Jim Jackson has stepped in admirably for every team he has graced. I'm not swingin' on his jock mind you, when he was at Ohio State he was good but I never expected much more than a mediocre career. But, after seeing him during his tenure Dallas go crazy and score at will on occasion while playing with Jason Kidd and Jamaal Mashburn (despite the drama) and then with Sacramento SMASH on DIRK and the entire DALLAS MAV squad without so much as a replay on ESPN, and after watching him step in in Houston and play quiet minutes very effectively, and finally in Phenix. After watching Joe J. go down on his face and crack his mug, Jim Jackson stepped in and hit major 3's and played major "D." What is the problem? Why is there so much disdain for this fella in the league? I questioned that with a friend of mine who had recently tried out for a league team and faced Jimmy. He was as perplexed as I was. He described Jim as strong, effective, and an awesome physical specimen who could flat out play.

Oddly enough, Tim Thomas is none of the things that these two gentlemen are and yet they share his fate. Jim may get another chance soon I suspect but my friend Bo... unknown. BO, if you read this brotha, know that the fellas from the WARHAWK luv ya as much as we loved punishing you when you stepped on the floor.

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Frank Ready to Net 100th Career Victory

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 13:09:19 -0800

Ohm Youngmisuk of THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS writes, "Lawrence Frank already holds the record for best start by a head coach in any of the four major professional sports. Now he can add another distinction to his resume. With a victory tonight over the Sacramento Kings, Frank can become the Nets coach to reach 100 career victories the fastest."

Nets send Jackson to Hornets

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:11:08 -0800

According to ESPN.com the New Jersey Nets have agreed to send Marc Jackson and forward Linton Johnson to the New Orleans Hornets in for Bostjan Nachbar.

The Nets' motive for the deal was to get under the tax level to sign Tim Thomas if and when the Bulls buy out his contract.

Nets clear cap room, send Jackson to Hornets [ESPN.com]

Don't Look for Nets to Swing Deal

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:47:13 -0800

Fred Kerber of THE NEW YORK POST writes, "Don't expect help for the Nets by tomorrow's trade deadline. But don't think that's a bad thing; at least, that's what Jason Kidd says."

Head-to-Head's Up (2/20-2/26): Trade Deadline Edition

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:54:14 -0800

Well I’m glad the NBA (David Stern) came to its senses and invited Gilbert Arenas to play in Houston this weekend after all. Too bad Gil had to go and finish the first half of the season with a 4-for-22 effort and 6 turnovers at Dallas. Ouch.
So we have All-Star festivities to get through this weekend and then we’re back to the real games and hopefully an exciting week full of blockbuster trades. Here’s looking at you, week 2/20-2/26.

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, LAL, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland, Seattle.
Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Golden State, Houston, LAC, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Utah, Washington.
Two Games: Denver, Miami, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto.

Season-long trade rumors are finally coming to fruition this week. Darko is moving to Disney World, former Terrapin Chris Wilcox swapped area codes with Vlad Rad, and Stevie Franchise just may get another ‘change of scenery’ if Isaiah Thomas continues his quest to bury the Knicks six-feet-under. Keep a close eye on pending trades as several players are sure to find themselves in new situations that could really boost their second half value.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Josh Smith/Childress, G/F – The reigning Slam-Dunk champ just put up career-highs of 21 points and 15 boards, while fellow swingman Josh Childress also scored a season-high 21 in a win over the Lakers Wednesday. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Al Harrington will be asked to pack his bags before the Feb. 23rd deadline. Josh & Josh would immediately reap the benefits should Harrington (and his 37 mpg) depart. Smith averages an incredible 2.3 blks in only 27.5 mpg, and Childress contributes across the board but especially in steals with 1.2 spg in 28.4 minutes. Hopefully both will see 30-35 minutes a night the rest of the way and improve on their already respectable numbers. The youngsters have four games next week so get them in your lineups.

Delonte West, PG – LeBron (43/12/11) and Paul Pierce (50/7/8) may have stolen the show in an overtime thriller the other night, but Delonte also filled his stat line with 15/10/8 and 3 blocks. One of the best waiver wire pickups of the year, the versatile guard just keeps on truckin’. Jefferson, Perkins, and Wally are banged up, so West should have plenty of scoring chances in four contests next week.

Anthony Johnson, PG – Jamaal Tinsley is starting to make Marcus Camby and Fred Taylor look like iron men. He’s only appeared in 23 games this season and hasn’t been healthy for a full year since his rookie campaign. Veteran point guard Anthony Johnson has been handed the reins and asked to do what he can to help salvage Indiana’s season. A.J. has been a member of the Pacers’ starting five since the end of December and averages nearly 30 mpg as a starter. Usually just a borderline fantasy starter in deep leagues, Johnson’s hot hand (19/4/5 with 2 threes and 1.3spg in last 3 outings) makes a decent plug-and-play for four games next week.

Darko Milicic, F/C – If there ever was an ideal situation for the young 7-footer, Orlando is it. Darko’s playing time was so limited in Detroit that analyzing his stats does not really give you an indication of his potential. He’s shooting an impressive 51.5% from the floor, yet a miserable 37.5% from the charity stripe this season. But of course, his 17-of-33 FGs and 3-of-8 from the line are such small samples that they are essentially rendered meaningless. If one were to ascertain anything from his stats it would have to be his impressive 15 blocks in only 140 minutes of play this season. He’s sure to see plenty of playing time on his new team, and starting alongside league-leading rebounder Dwight Howard (12.6 rpg) seems to be a perfect fit for the Serbian big man. If you’re feelin’ Darko, get him in your lineups right away. Let's just hope for the best.

Chris Wilcox, F/C – Assuming Evans/Fortson get shipped out of town sometime before next Thursday, Wilcox will have a great opportunity to excel as the new starting PF in Seattle. Now that he lives in Starbucks capital, USA, maybe some grande caramel macchiatos can help Chris wake up and get his head in the game. The former Terp has immense talent and this appears to be a good situation for him. The Sonics frontcourt has lacked athleticism and been clogged up with the likes of Evans/Swift/Collison/Petro/Fortson for too long. Wilcox brings much needed explosiveness up front and could average 15 and 10 if he's focused and motivated. Think of him as a younger/healthier Kenyon Martin, with center eligibility to boot.

Stash ‘em or at least keep on your radar:
Antoine Walker – He was back in the SLU for a couple games before the break (scored 26 pts and hit six treys on 2/15). Employee #8 needs a starting gig to be a consistent fantasy contributor, and he may just land one if traded to the right team.
Shaun Livingston – Prep-to-pro point guard struggling in his second season, "the next Magic Johnson" has started three of the Clips last five games, averaging 6.7 assists in those contests. The potential is there for a monster second half if 36-year-old Cassell were to go down with an injury.
Earl Watson – Incessant trade rumors surrounding Denver’s reserve PG are making me nauseous. He could have some value if given a starting job somewhere (New York?)
Nazr Mohammed – The big man averaged 11 pts and 8 rebounds for the Knicks last season. He has been stuck on the Spurs’ bench all year, but exploded for 18 pts and 20 boards Wednesday night at Philly. He could make some noise if he were to take the starting spot from Rasho, or perhaps filling in for an injured Duncan.

Forget about ‘em and move on:
Larry Hughes – just went under the knife again and will be lucky to return for the playoffs.
Emeka Okafor – they’ve been saying he’ll be back in 3-5 weeks for over a month now. Word out of Charlotte is that he’ll likely sit for the rest of the season.
Jameer Nelson – Specialists can’t figure out what is wrong with his foot, and he is out for at least another three weeks. Even if he returns, he’ll have to fight for playing time with a crowded Orlando backcourt.
Sebastian Telfair – Stephon Marbury’s little cousin was benched in favor of the Blake/Dixon combo. Bassy needs to learn the pro game and improve on his "Dick Cheney-esque" shooting (36.6%FG) before he can be a reliable fantasy force. Maybe next year.
Marko Jaric – Yes, he may be traded, but he is just stinkin’ it up this season.
Deron Williams – Did they really draft him ahead of Chris Paul? Williams is simply not a good fit for the Jazz and Jerry Sloan is not a good fit for fantasy owners.

Also… the Knicks/Magic exchanging Jamal Crawford and Steve Francis would help all parties involved (especially their fantasy owners).
Enjoy the All-Star festivities and be ready to pounce once those trades are announced.