Assorted thoughts on the game (C's vs Nets preseason)

[max215]

- Imagine a train filled with flaming garbage derailing and killing everyone on board. That, in a nutshell, is the Nets. I seriously can't wrap my head around the fact that some people believe they'll make the playoffs this year. Even if Lopez plays 82 games, this team will be awful. They've got a couple of nice young players, but they've got no sign of life, no leadership, no defensive talent or intensity, and poor ball movement. I would be shocked if the C's didn't end up with a high lottery pick next summer.

The best thing about the Nets is that Thomas Robinson and Andrea Bargnani are going to play for them. A lot. From everything we've seen so far, that will clamp down and lower the level of play of their already mediocre teammates.

I actually like Thomas Robinson as a rebounding specialist.  Not a guy you want playing more than 10-15 minutes a game, but he's not horrendous. 

Bargs, though, I don't know why he's still in the NBA.

Bargs was described as their 'first big off the bench' during last night's broadcast. That says all you need to know about the Nets this year.

[slamtheking]

The one factor that should make the Nets better than they appear to be on paper is this:  They can't tank, because they have no first round pick.  So unlike other bad teams (especially owners, coaches or GM's) who, consciously or unconsciously, are motivated to lose when they know their season is going bad, the Nets will have none of that. For that reason I think they will battle hard for a play-off spot. Not saying they have talent to do it, but will try like heck to get in.

Oh, they'll try to win if for no reason than every team tries to win and the franchise has no reason to tank and if anything they need their players to look good to maximize trade value but the extremely likely reality is that try as they might, they're still going to lose a lot.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Tommy's comments on how The C's are going to throw WAVES of players at other teams was spot on...You just know This is the type of team he would love to be coaching.

I was actually impressed with James Young---for the very first time...He looked like he was engaged in the game---from diving into the jump ball--to that great Block....even his up and down the court running looked good for a change.

[chambers]

Interesting to see that some people thought last night's game was reason to believe the Nets won't be as bad as we'd hope they'd be.

Personally, as someone who's watched all their preseason games (of which they've won zero, including a loss to a Euro team), I think they are absolutely stinking hot garbage as the OP states.

They have terrible defense on the perimeter. Young and Lopez are decent, but Johnson is geriatric and the rest of their squad is just sad.

Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. was Jarret Jack doing? Shane Larkin just wants to stay in the league.
They'll get Markel Brown back, and Ellington is good, but they are 100% in the same league as New York last year, before Melo went down. Utterly Terrible.
If Lopez or Young go down then we are all but guaranteed a top 5 pick in my opinion.

Young helps their offense with his outlet passing, but they have no 3 point shooters. They have Shane Larkin and Jack as their PG rotation.

They are a terrible defensive team- and I will bet my house they are a bottom 3 defensive team at the end of this season.

It's their terrible defense, combined with a lack of shooting.
Seriously they are a bottom 3 defensive team and this is where our pick's future rests.

side note:
Amir Johnson was great vs the Nets, but his ankles are cooked. Expect him to miss time and play limited minutes throughout the season at certain points. I think we'll be happy to get him to the playoffs without too many ankle problems.
Amir is on a significant decline in his career, but I'd love him on the court for his defensive influence over the rest of our team.