DeRoma wrote:GoodDayLa wrote:Prokorov wrote:
winnign should be second to development, and luckily that has been marks message and its the reason atkinson was his choice for head coach. i agree there is a benefit fo winning for development pruposes, but htats secondary and we arent at that point yet. these young guys need minutes. and this year is about development, not winning.
I strongly disagree with this statement. If that was the case, you don't need to get guys like Lin, Foye, Scola, or Vasquez. You can just get Gary Neal or Brandon Jennings on a low ball 1 year deal while letting the rookies play max minutes to develop the new kids like what the Lakers are doing this season rolling it out for the young guns to go on a development year.
The Nets are not doing that. For one, there's no purpose in tanking since they got no picks.
Second, you don't sign Lin for 3 years and get Foye and backup vets like Vasquez and Scola (not big fans of either V or S but they are vets with history esp. Scola) and play them in the preseason as much as they have if you are planning on the youth movement.
The guys playing in preseason are the vets. The only new kid is RHJ. Everyone else is an old timer player playing much of the preseason or at least have 2-4 seasons. That's because the Nets plan to be competitive and try to win.
For anyone thinking this is a redevelopment year or that the Nets can't get that 7th or 8th seed, its because they have never really followed or watched Jeremy Lin that closely. Nets fans thinking this year will be 20-30 wins believe Lin is a 2nd rate point guard on the level of Ramon Sessions, Jarrett Jack, or worse. Boy are these Nets fans in for a pleasant surprise. You got to look beyond his airball layups and jumpers and his unorthodox movements and see the results. It's too easy to get stuck on those things I admit.
Lin cannot do it alone. He's not a singular talent. But he has game changing ability. His talents require a team based game and then he'll use his hyper quickness and pick and roll savvy just enough to create headaches for other teams and eek out wins. That's what the Nets have.
For those watching Lin for that long, we all know it's coming. And then those same Nets fans will be wishing Marks did more at the trade deadline to improve the team for the playoff run they're going to have.
Granted Lin needs to play almost all the games for them to be competitive. Otherwise, I think this team is going to stink.
The one thing I dont love above the team so far is that the pieces dont fit perfectly together (but its only been 2 little pre season games to base this on) and I'm not sure that Lin and Brook are perfect compliments to one another.
I also have reservations that Lin's pick and roll talents cant be really maxed out that well here in Brooklyn. There is no bouncy athletic long and tall big roll man who dives hard on this team. Booker is not that big though he has the motor. Brook is definitely more plodder than quick and limber.
Lin's had Zeller last year who runs really hard even if it's unnoticed. He had Ed Davis before that in LA. The Nets really have nobody like that.
But I'll reserve judgment till the season starts. We'll know 5-6 games in what we have.
I expect a playoff birth regardless as long as Lin is playing most of the games. This is not delusion talking. Who am I? Just an NBA fan. But this is coming from someone who follows the NBA closely well before Kenny A and D Coleman were doing there thing with Drazen. I've seen enough to know what Lin can do with a team supporting him and built to give him some freedom, as this team is poised to do.
I agree with some the things you are saying. Yeah you are right that life would be easier for Lin having a big that is explosive catching the basketball, can jump over the ceiling catching lobs. However, it's not necessary. Yet, for from the games i've seen Jeremy Lin plays, I don't necessarily believe he is a true pick n roll player. He thrives on a system where the coach let him have the ball and and has options that will let him make good decision. I don't think he is a full pledge playmaker that you let him run plays. I don't even think he is even that creative or great passer. I just think he has a knack on making the right decisions quickly. An athletic may give you 2-3 dunks a night but its not necessary. If you look at D-Will back in the Jazz he was able to have 10-11 assist per night with bigs like Boozer and Okur or even Millsap and Okur. I think that is the right direction the Nets are trying to get at.
Also even with Lin being highly impactful on the offensive side. In order for this team to win, they need to be able to learn Atkinson's defensive scheme much quicker. With our roster set and an uptempo offense, There is no doubt in my mind we will probably top 5 in the league. It really all depends on how good our defense is. Last year, the Hawks were top on defense. We need to do the same in order for us to make the playoffs.
This is where NBA bodies come into play. In order for us to be good on defense, we need NBA body players that are capable of stopping opposing players. This will simplify rotations given that Brook and Lin(bad defenders) our center core players. This is why i'm not huge on Bojan and banking on LeVert to be really good. If that happens, no doubt in my mind we will be atleast a 9th seed in the east.
First, 100% agree on defense. They need to improve A LOT. It looks average at best and that's being nice through 2 games.
At the same time, I've seen enough as you probably have as well that offensive efficiency can go a long way. If Bojan and other shooters like Harris and Skil or even Foye and Lin become very efficient offensively, it will be tough to keep pace. Sure the Warriors can play defense, but they also keep scoring and raining points at times. I'm just talking about winning enough to make the playoffs, not do anything necessary once in.
As for bigs, I prefer the long tall mobile big probably just because of personal preference and keeping tabs on what kind of players usually make a big difference at the NBA level. Brook reminds me more of a bigger plodding older version of Karl Malone than he does of today's effective high flyers. Even though Bogut is not a high flyer, he is MOBILE and even he gets like 1-2 lob dunks a game off his old Warrior teammates. The mobility from bigs is so important on both ends in today's NBA. It's why Charlotte Hornets did well last year because Zeller did so much that went unnoticed covering everywhere being so mobile. Hibbert, the big stiff is killing that team in preseason though I like Hibbert's game overall. Once Zeller gets back, they will be better overall if you keep tabs.
Now I don't just want high flyers just so Lin can do LobCity. Its like you said, make Lin and the team's life easier & win games. It's nice to have weak side options to throw lobs and catch weak side passes. But more importantly, a physical roll man creates space and mucks things up when Lin drives down the lane. This is when Lin is very effective scoring over his guard defender or drawing the foul. And if the big comes over, Lin dumps off to the big who dunks or gets fouled. You also put the other team in the bonus quicker that way as the fouls rack up. It's one of Lin's best strengths and it will be crucial Coach gets this out of him to win games because the other options are bleak.
If the PnR partner always fades like a Booker or Okur as you mention, you end up with tons of mid range jump shots by the big when Lin passes out. And when Lin tries to take it to the rack (one of his best skills) he's going 1on 2 with the 2nd man being a long tall body who will probably block Lin or force Lin into a miss. And again, even if Lin dumps off, you got a midrange jump shot from your big man (granted Brook and Hamilton Scola can all shoot ok). Basically there's not as much pressure on the defense with a midrange open jumper, even if they make alot of them like Lamarcus Aldridge.
I think Lin will get some solid stats no matter what whether assists or points. His work load no matter the system or role will be heavy. But I'd rather see this team win.
I also agree Lin is no spectacular playmaker. He is just talented at what he does well. His key skill is offensive pressure and knowing how to make good decisions generally in tough situations or split second situations. Sometimes on basic plays, Lin looks super ordinary. After 5-6 years in the league, he still makes ugly aesthetic jump passes off the weak foot or whatever whereas CP3 will do it under control and reverse pivot against 2 trapping defenders to look completely under control at all times.
But Lin more than makes up for it with the rest of his attacking game. The Nets just need to use motion offense for most of the game and use just enough of Lin's skills when needed not to overdo it and also to preserve Lin for the season.
The best advise I can give you is to watch other NBA players first before making this dumb statement instead of licking Lin's @ssh0le.
