Have Deron/nets just demonstrated they have no bball "heart"

slickvik · Post #1 » by **slickvik** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:36 pm

I am not necessarily referring to them "supposedly" loosing to put themselves in a position to face the "playoff untested" raptors and a heat team they have swept in the regular season. That has already been debated endlessly.

I am specifically referring to them avoiding a first-round rematch with the bulls. Last year the nets were favored against the bulls. The nets had home-court, were relatively healthy, had more talent and ofcourse had Deron Williams. The bulls were missing Derrick Rose, were completely beat up with several other players alos injured or missing time. We all know what happened in game 7, minus even luol deng, the bulls won. The bulls were beat-up, full of injuries but played with grit, determination.

Can we say the same for the nets? They have definitely retooled, played good basketball since the all-star break. Would a team with more competitive fire, pride or heart not try to avenge a playoff loss by playing the team that eliminated them? On the other hand you have the raptors, team with no playoff experience not playing to loose to better position themselves with an "relatively" easier first round opponent?

Definitely does not say much for team leader- Deron williams and the nets? There was a lack of "heart" last year and it seems the same this year as they are avoiding a match-up with the team that eliminated them last year. Anyone else concur?

robi · Post #2 » by **robi** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:40 pm

Baiting

isekii · Post #3 » by **isekii** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:44 pm

I'm going to say this as a Nets fan.
Deron is not a leader. A lot of Nets fan don't consider him a leader of the team.

Also who's to say the nets purposely tanked to avoid the bulls. Nets are an older team. If you watched the entire season, Nets players especially Paul and KG played limited minutes. A lot of the players were injured and some are still injured. If they needed rest before the playoffs why not give them some rest.

Nets weren't going to catch the raptors for the 3rd seed and grab home court advantage. They were going to be either 5th or 6th depending on how the other teams did and they drew the Raptors. So why not give the players some rest before the playoffs

BucksBrew · Post #4 » by **BucksBrew** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:52 pm

robi wrote:You know your team is full of p*ssies when they're scared to play the team that embarrassed them last year..

Sounds to me that the Raps fans are more scared of the Nets then the Wizards.

Which means the Nets are doing it right.

ATLHawksfan21 · Post #5 » by **ATLHawksfan21** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:52 pm

The Nets began the year with a goal to win a championship. They had an opportunity to put themselves in, what they feel is, a better situation for obtaining this goal. They would be stupid not to take advantage of that opportunity as it would also allow their older guys to get some rest before a grueling playoff run. I see no problem in them resting their old players and jockeying for better position. Besides, I'm more excited about a possible Heat/Nets matchup that a Heat/Bulls matchup.

Post #6 » by **Froob** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:53 pm

Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed? :crazy:

slickvik · Post #7 » by **slickvik** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 12:59 pm

Froob wrote:Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed?

im not saying this as a raps fan. Im actually as much a nets fan (or was). My point is don't you want to avenge your loss to the bulls from last year like any playoff competitor would want to?

Post #8 » by **Froob** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:00 pm

slickvik wrote:
Froob wrote:Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed?

im not saying this as a raps fan. Im actually as much a nets fan (or was). My point is don't you want to avenge your loss to the bulls from last year like any playoff competitor would want to?

Not when two of your most important players are over 36 years old. Beating the bulls would take a lot out of this nets team.

ATLHawksfan21 · Post #9 » by **ATLHawksfan21** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:04 pm

slickvik wrote:
Froob wrote:Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed?

im not saying this as a raps fan. Im actually as much a nets fan (or was). My point is don't you want to avenge your loss to the bulls from last year like any playoff competitor would want to?

They have bigger goals than some petty revenge angle against the Bulls since they lost to them last year.

therealbig3 · Post #10 » by **therealbig3** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:05 pm

Froob wrote:Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed?

Well, the Bulls had a bunch of injuries, not just to Rose, but Noah was hobbled, while Deng and Hinrich didn't play, AND that game 7 was in Brooklyn...props to Chicago for pulling out the win despite all that, but it was pretty embarrassing for the Nets. All of their key guys were able to play, and the only guy that was limited in any way was Johnson, just like Noah was. The Nets should have had the two best players in the series too (Deron and Lopez), and they still lost, despite everything being in their favor. It was heartbreaking as a Nets fan to be honest with you.

With that said, I think this team is completely different than last year's, and I would have liked a chance to get some revenge, but Kidd had other plans.

ChampionRed · Post #11 » by **ChampionRed** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:05 pm

OP you do realize that there was still a chance the Nets could have matched up with the Bulls last night. It wasn't a foregone conclusion that the Raps were going to be the third seed. I'm not saying they didn't prefer the Raptors over of the Bulls but if they drew the Bulls, their players would at least be rested for the long and grueling series. They wouldn't have been scared of the rematch. The Nets rested their vets. They didn't CARE who they played in the first round. They clearly believe as a team that they can reach the finals so I am pretty sure they weren't afraid of facing Chicago.

On top of all that, I don't understand what Deron's leadership qualities have to do with the Nets falling to 6th place? Are you saying Deron lead the charge of Kidd resting the Vets? I just don't understand. As you pointed out, last year's team was completely different. The Bulls were banged up but so were the Nets. Chicago also had the better coach BY FAR in the series. Last season and this season have nothing to do with each other.

WhateverBro · Post #12 » by **WhateverBro** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:11 pm

Does the fact that they "chose" the path which has them facing the Heat in the 2nd round demonstrate that Nets have bball heart?

isekii · Post #13 » by **isekii** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:16 pm

WhateverBro wrote:Does the fact that they "chose" the path which has them facing the Heat in the 2nd round show that the Nets demonstrate that they have bball heart?

Apparently not. The nets are heartless because they chose the raps

slickvik · Post #14 » by **slickvik** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:22 pm

WhateverBro wrote:Does the fact that they "chose" the path which has them facing the Heat in the 2nd round show that the Nets demonstrate that they have bball heart?

As i stated previously, im not trying to make this a raps vs nets. That's a separate discussion. I am just wondering why the Deron/nets did not want to avenge a humiliating loss to the bulls. I do put this on Deron because he failed to carry the nets last year. It goes back to his talent but lacking that killer instinct.

It def has created a impression that the nets avoided a first round match up with the bulls. Does not show a lot of pride when you dont want to play the team that beat you last time.

ATLHawksfan21 · Post #15 » by **ATLHawksfan21** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:31 pm

slickvik wrote:
WhateverBro wrote:Does the fact that they "chose" the path which has them facing the Heat in the 2nd round show that the Nets demonstrate that they have bball heart?

As i stated previously, im not trying to make this a raps vs nets. That's a separate discussion. I am just wondering why the Deron/nets did not want to avenge a humiliating loss to the bulls. I do put this on Deron because he failed to carry the nets last year. It goes back to his talent but lacking that killer instinct.

It def has created a impression that the nets avoided a first round match up with the bulls. Does not show a lot of pride when you dont want to play the team that beat you last time.

Half of their rotation, including their coach, were not on the team last year. Why would they care about a rematch with the Bulls?

Post #16 » by **Froob** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:31 pm

therealbig3 wrote:
Froob wrote:Raps fans are going to look dumb if they lose to the nets after all this bitching about the nets tanking/resting(w/e you wanna call it). Nets lost by six in game 7, that's embarrassed?

Well, the Bulls had a bunch of injuries, not just to Rose, but Noah was hobbled, while Deng and Hinrich didn't play, AND that game 7 was in Brooklyn...props to Chicago for pulling out the win despite all that, but it was pretty embarrassing for the Nets. All of their key guys were able to play, and the only guy that was limited in any way was Johnson, just like Noah was. The Nets should have had the two best players in the series too (Deron and Lopez), and they still lost, despite everything being in their favor. It was heartbreaking as a Nets fan to be honest with you.

With that said, I think this team is completely different than last year's, and I would have liked a chance to get some revenge, but Kidd had other plans.

Oh yeah forgot about that, that was kind of embarrassing. It was a pretty big shocker when the bulls won that game. Still like someone else mentioned, nets goal is to win a title not beat the bulls. They need as much rest as possible and the raps should be an easier opponent.

MaxZaslofskyJr · Post #17 » by **MaxZaslofskyJr** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:45 pm

slickvik wrote:im not saying this as a raps fan. Im actually as much a nets fan (or was). My point is don't you want to avenge your loss to the bulls from last year like any playoff competitor would want to?

Putting everything else aside, as a Nets fan, ....absolutely yes. I'd have rather seen the Nets play the Bulls for that very reason.

rarefind · Post #18 » by **rarefind** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:49 pm

A team that throws games doesn't care about avenging anything. The Nets' window is closing, so I can't say I blame them.

DeadHorse · Post #19 » by **DeadHorse** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:59 pm

They need to do whatever it takes to win... Raps fans wanted Washington (no disrespect to Wiz), Brooklyn wanted us and they got what they wanted. That's playing the game. You beat four teams to win, why not choose the right four teams? Brooklyn can see they have the experience against the raptors, and somehow Pierce becomes 2002 Pierce against the Heat, so why not?
This whole honor thing is baloney. Toronto is just scared of the refs and we know we'll get shafted.

It'll be a great series, easily the most competitive series in the eastern first round. Raps in 7.

ReaLiez · Post #20 » by **ReaLiez** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:13 pm

no heart and no stones...im worried about them this playoffs they might get blown out