Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

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Re: Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

Carter named Team Captain
By FRED KERBER

East Rutherford, NJ- The final precincts have been heard from.

The Nets have a different team captain for the first time since Jason Kidd was elevated to the honor in 2001. And, as expected, it's Vince Carter.

Hardly a shock, but coach Lawrence Frank kept it a guarded secret in the a.m. so he told the results of the voting before the Nets opened their season here against the Wizards.

"We'll have leadership by committee, but Vince is the captain," Frank said. "(There's) kind of a cross-section of guys on the team. They'll meet and talk about things. It's one of those things where you don't want slippage...Vince is the captain, but it's everyone's team. Everyone has to take the responsibility.

"Unofficially, in the past it was like Kidd-Carter-Jefferson. This is just a little bit different cross-section, different players. Everyone has to play a role in order for us to be successful."

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Re: Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

New Jersey Nets 08-09 Season Preview!

The Nets no longer are contenders or pretenders as some would say a couple of their past teams were. They are a team expected to go nowhere. They don't like it, but they like it because they're excited about the opportunity to prove people wrong.
The dawn of a new era begins Wednesday at Washington. The Vince, Devin and Yi era — at least for now. At least the Nets finally have a Big in their Big Three.

Here's a look at the 2008-09 Nets:

STRENGTHS .
1.The Backcourt: Vince Carter and Devin Harris make a very formidable pair because both can do so much. Carter has been an All-World player for years, and he's healthy after ankle surgery and relishing the role of leader. Harris can take anyone off the dribble and get into the paint at will. Both should set up their teammates for countless jumpers per game in the Nets' new dribble-drive attack. It's up to their teammates to knock them down.

2. Depth: Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, Eduardo Najera, Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson or whoever gives the Nets a pretty solid bench if they stay healthy. Figure the Nets will start the season going 10. Some serviceable if not talented players — Sean Williams, Stromile Swift (if healthy), Trenton Hassell — may get spot duty or just be used as specialists until a trade occurs.

3. Shooting/Offense: We say this with some trepidation since every year the Nets upgrade their shooting and then they can't shoot for, well, you know. And scoring was supposed to be their biggest weakness coming into this season, but they looked potent in the preseason. Yi Jianlian, Hayes, Anderson, Simmons and Lopez have shown they can shoot. Dooling, Najera and Chris Douglas-Roberts also can knock down shots and we know about Carter and Harris. If the Nets don't stand around and watch Carter, they have guys that can shoot and they should score points.

WEAKNESSES
1. Defense: This could be Nos. 1 through 3. Their ability or inability to stop people was a given and it better change or you can scratch off all the above strengths. Dooling and Najera — who didn't play in the preseason — should make a big difference, but the Nets need to be better on the ball and may have to allow some paint touches if it eliminates some open threes because they were absolutely buried from downtown during the preseason, much like last year.

2. Inexperience: The veterans they have are solid and come from winning teams — Harris (Dallas), Najera (Denver, Dallas), Hayes (Detroit, Washington), Dooling (Miami, Orlando) — but at least three and as many as five rotation players will have under two years of NBA experience. And the two non-rookies — Yi and Williams — played on the East's third- and sixth-worst teams. In other words, they're going to make mistakes, be out of position on offense and defense and could find themselves in foul trouble.

3. Lack of familiarity: Although they got together to play pick-up games in August and September, injuries and illnesses have kept the Nets from having their entire team or even their projected top 10 players for one practice. That would be difficult under normal circumstances. Then add that eight players were not with the Nets last season, and the lack of playing time and practice time together, becomes a concern and could be a problem early.

BIGGEST PLUS
They have a mix of veterans looking to resurrect their careers, prove they're back to their old form, and are upset that they're being overlooked and young guys hungry to show what they can do. If they mesh, they could surprise.

BIGGEST MINUS
They're young, very young, so expect mistakes. You have to live through some of them if you want the young guys to keep playing and developing.

OVERALL
They had a very good draft and did well in free agency by bringing in winners, good locker room guys and leaders. But the biggest keys to the Nets' success will be whether Yi develops into a No. 2/3 option, whether Harris can take the next step in his career and become a marquee-type player who makes his teammates better, and how Carter's body and mind hold up.

PREDICTION
They could be better than everyone's expecting, but the playoffs seem like a long shot at this point since it will take them some time to click and they have a tough schedule early, mid and late. Figure 29-34 wins and some more in-season changes.[/B]

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Re: Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

What's up guys, I'll be playing my first game of the season right now. I'll be facing the Washington Wizards on the road. Back for updates tomorrow!!

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Re: Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

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Re: Nets Baskeball: "More Than Just a Game"

Next up is another run and gun team, the golden state warriors which will be a fun game to watch. Keep checking for updates tonight!!