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http://www.netsdaily.com/2010/7/17/1574548/netsdaily-off-season-report-14#storyjump


We spent some time Saturday morning listening to and watching Avery Johnson interviews, one a conference call with questions posed by season ticket holders and moderated by Gary Sussman; the other a video interview with questions from Chris Carrino, the radio voice of the Nets.

Johnson said something nice about virtually every player on the roster but noted that while the Nets will be "so much better than we were better last year", making the playoffs remains a "really, really lofty goal.". Still, Johnson said the Nets may not be "done" this off-season, even though the team has 12 players on guaranteed contracts and two more on partially guaranteed deals.

"Down the road, if there's an opportunity to get a superstar, believe me, Mikhail Prokhorov is going to be the guy who's gonna pull the trigger and we have cap flexibility, we still have 14 and a half, 15 and a half million dollars in cap space," he told season ticket holders, audibly pounding the table as he spoke. "Believe me, we're not done yet. We're still going to address our starting power forward needs, if we dont decide to start (Derrick) Favors."

There was even a couple of pieces of news buried in the audio and video files: Larry Krystkowiak has been added to the coaching staff and the Nets are "probably going to bring in" a veteran point guard (and it sounded like Johnson has someone in mind). He's also got Devin Harris on a weight and strength program to cut down on his injuries and has dispatched Sam Mitchell to Atlanta to work with Favors.

As far as the starting lineup, he said right now, there are four players he likes, but didn't rule out changes. "Early on, Devin, Courtney Lee, Outlaw...not sure about he four...Brook Lopez. Anthony Morrow could come in beat everyone out at the 2. There will be a lot of trial and error. Maybe we don't get there (a set starting lineup) til the All Star break".

One thing is for certain: defense will matter and already Johnson thinks some of his players who can play it. "Damion James is a good defender. Johan Petro, our back up center, is a good defender. Derrick Favors is a good defender. Devin is capable of being a first team All Defense. And they'll get a defensive rating sheet after every game".

Probably the most interesting thing about the interviews was Johnson's thumbnail descriptions of individual players. Here are some of them, with bits and pieces of the two interviews stitched together:

Devin Harris: "Devin has the capability to be one of the top five to seven point guards in the NBA. We need to get him back to playing at a really high level at both ends of the floor.. and keep him on the floor. We got him on a serious weight training program. It's a matter of getting in the weight room and take a licking and keep on ticking. We will see him again in August. It's a mtter of him really building muscle. We need him to play upwards of 80 games. Devin is capable of being a first team all-Defensive team."

Jordan Farmar: "Don't call him a backup. Jordan is a guy who's capable of starting, capable of pushing. He's played in pressure situations before. We hope that that point guard tandem can be as good as any point guard tandem in the league."

Derrick Favors: "Derrick is purely in the development stage. He's a young kid who we feel has star potential. He's going to be add 15 or 20 pounds in the next few years. Favors has that type of body. He's a guy who can rebound, get what we call dirty rebounds, block shots. He already has a pretty advanced jump hook shot, both lefty and righty. In Orlando, it was night and day between games 1 and 5. I told him before game 5 'play like you did in high school' and he looked like the best player in the draft. He has a huge upside." At one point, he compared Favors to Kevin Garnett, another to Amare Stoudemire.

Damion James: "He was the best player in Orlando by far. He really was outstanding and out of all the rookies down there, I didn't see anyone player better than Damion. I don't know what Damion's celing is but he looks to be a Robert Horry type of 3 man, a winner, a guy who can play multiple positions defend multiple positons. We're really excited about Damion". He admitted he might be "biased" but it didn't stop him.

Terrence Williams: "Terrence came and participated in our summer league process. It gave me a chance to see Terrence. I'm leaning to 1-2 or 2-1 with Terrence. He is not a 3 man. He has a pretty high basketball IQ. We're trying to get him to where he is consistent at both ends of the floor." He emphasized TWill is "definitely" not a 3.

Anthony Morrow: "A guy who can play the 2 spot or the 3 spot. He has an ability to consistently make three's and that's rare in this league. He can make them off balance, he can make them from anywhere on the floor. Also, he just has an ability to score."

Travis Outlaw: "He has a lot of size and he's played some 3...he's played some four he played against stronger 4's but we think he's better at the 3. He can run the wings, can score. I had that with a guy in Dallas with Josh Howard who had that same ability to play athletic, to be and athletic 3 man. When we evaluated all the free agents, spent a lot of time with our scouts durin the season. Then at the end we had rankings. With all the big boys coming off the board, Travis was the best available 3 man, a player with size who can score the basketball. If need to utilize him at the 4, he can play the 4. We've got to have options, but my hope is to utilize Travis at the 3." He seemed reluctant to talk about Outlaw at the 4, quickly trying to dismiss it.

Johan Petro: "You've got ot have multiple bigs that you can put out there on the floor. And johan he gives us that ability to--when Brook is not in the game--to put another bigger body in who's mainly a defender and a rebounder. And we feel with zoubek coming on in our summer league we feel we're really deep at that position."

So, what's next?

"We're focused on training camp, our off season development, our off season training--getting our guys stronger, getting them our playbook offensively and defensively so that when we hit the ground running in training camp, we can be ready to go. Right now, the goal is to develop our young talent, to get guys to compete at a high level on the court, to play an exciting brand of basketball".

"Hopefully that will lead to more wins than losses. With our young players, that may taken some time".

"We'll use the same offensive scheme we had in Dallas: ball movement, player movement. We want to push the ball as much as we can. Expect quite a bit of variety in our offense. We make guys battle it out. We think it's a good problem to have. (depth)"

"The team has to get an identity first. We have to take some baby steps before we get there."

"We're just trying to get through one practice, just one practice, and not screwing up everything. Then we want to get to our first preseason game."

Is he optimistic?

"What's the goal. (in Dallas, I won) seven out of every 10 games...right now that's the goal, that's the standard. We don't want to go from 12 to 22. We want the opportuntiy to comepte for a playoff spot...right now, that's a really really lofty goal.

"The Thunder didn't become competitive overnight. We're at the beginning stages of that. To be an Oklahoma City, got to have a superstar like they have with Kevin Durant. Right now we don't have that kind of guy on our roster. We hope that Derrick Favors can in a year and a half be that type of superstar. That's why we drafted him. We hope to get there one day but that's a good model to follow.

"Yes, we can make a run at he playoffs, but you look at the guys ahead of you."

Does he have the staff he needs?

We're going to have a coaching staff that has a lot of experience, especially head coaches, with Sam mitchell on my staff and Larry Krystkowiak, who was the head coach at Milwaukee. We retained John Loyer, we brought in Popeye Jones from Dallas who's going to be a really good big man's coach and Tom Barrise, who's going to be my do-it-all caoch in every facet of the game. So we feel we have a really competent coaching staff that's going to be energized and are really good teachers."

He subtley took a steaming loaf on Lopez at the end of that, whether intentional or not.

I still think you're going to have to play Outlaw + James some time at the four or else someone is going to end up being completely out of the rotation...

Also while I don't agree with the statement that T-WILL can't be a 3, I do appreciate the fact that Avery is trying to define his role with the team.

yeah i thought the same thing. why did he only mention Favors as a potential superstar and not Lopez. 18 and 8 in his second year in the league for a center come on thats great. hes gotta be in the top 4 among centers. id say Favors will be a good to maybe great player but Lopez is going to be a SUPERSTAR IMO

Top Centers( not in order just throwin names)
Dwight howard
Andrew Bogut
Brook Lopez
Yao ming
Al jefferson
Al Horford( natural PF)
Marc Gasol
Pau Gasol (but he plays PF)
Andrew Bynum
Tim Duncan( Plays PF)

am i missin anyone?

That was weird. Brook is the franchise. If Avery runs Brook out of town I will kill him.

vincecarter4pres wrote:He subtley took a steaming loaf on Lopez at the end of that, whether intentional or not.

Call me old school. But to me that was a challenge to his best (but sometimes immature) player.

I would like to think that Brooke just upped his off-season work rate by 20%

I think there's a difference between superstar and all-star. I don't see brook ever being a top 5-8 player in the league. However, I think he can be a perennial all-star. The hope is that the young Favors can get to that next level. Obviously I hope brook proves me wrong and becomes an unstoppable beast who significantly upgrades his ability to pass out of the double team, but that's something I'll have to see first.

James is like Robert Horry? Try Jeff Green.
Lopez will be a top 10 player in the league. I hope Favors to because that would be sick.

Liked most of the interview. As been pointed out, subtle dig at Brook (and Devin actually)? He goes out of his way and calls Devin a top 5-7 PG (potentially) but eliminates him as the "franchise". Or maybe, this is more of an attempt to get Derrick in the right track, back to his dominant self in HS as opposed to his "contained" version in that GT team.

Also, ugh at not looking at Twill at 3. So Twill, who is stronger, more explosive, and longer can't play 3 but Anthony Morrow, who is shorter, less athletic, and smaller can? So Twill, who's a bad shooter at 2 but adequate at 3, is a better 2? Who's playmaking, dribbling, and passing is good to very good at the 2, but becomes exceptional if he matched-up with 3s? Makes no sense to me.

I don't think he meant to downplay either harris or
lopez. Either way I hope Lopez can indeed take his game to the next level and Harris back into allstar form.

So far I don't like what our new coach is saying.

First don't say that making the play-offs is a "really, really lofty goal." His comments make it seem like he is not happy with the players we have and that he doesn't believe they are good enough to make the play-offs. That shows such great confidence in the players and trust me they probably feel the same. Its like byron scott all over again when did never believed that the nets could even take a game from the Lakers. He spoke like they couldn't and guess what none of the players believed it either. That's why kidd wanted him out.

Avery seems to not have any confidence in the players we have. Now I'm not saying that they are a great team, far from it, but come on if the coach doesn't even believe in them how are they supposed to believe in themselves. He should be saying we are good enough to make the play-offs this year without any other players. But he didn't. Great coach.

what if now we go into the season with the players he just put down, what then.

Saying that we have no star players was another problem. WTF. what about lopez. He will be a star if avery doesn't knock him down. Harris had to leave dallas to develop into an allstar. Now he took a giant step back last season but hopefully he can recover. It just shows avery's confidence in his players. He held back devin he better not hold back lopez. Lopez is our star. He should be the player we are building around. its that simple.

He must really want to get rid of twill. the best player on our team at the end of the season last year. He has continued to work and get better. He was so good in summer league that numerous teams want him now. We will not get a star pf in return for him and if they get some role player for him I'm going to flip out. All his comments so far have not been positive for Twill. Again another potential star player we are going to crush with a bad coach.

We didn't get the players and now we should focus on development of Lopez, Twill, lee and favors. Those are the players that have the potential. Lee is a good defender and can shoot he can develop into a nice role player for this team. Lopez is our star and we should build around him. Favors has the potential, he needs to work hard and he needs to play free of what they did to marcus williams, bench him every time he made a mistake. Twill can be our second star to lopez. So many championships happened with a star big man and star guard. He is it next to lopez. Not saying Shaq and Kobe but something like that.

Sharcm1 wrote:So far I don't like what our new coach is saying.

First don't say that making the play-offs is a "really, really lofty goal." His comments make it seem like he is not happy with the players we have and that he doesn't believe they are good enough to make the play-offs. That shows such great confidence in the players and trust me they probably feel the same. Its like byron scott all over again when did never believed that the nets could even take a game from the Lakers. He spoke like they couldn't and guess what none of the players believed it either. That's why kidd wanted him out.

Avery seems to not have any confidence in the players we have. Now I'm not saying that they are a great team, far from it, but come on if the coach doesn't even believe in them how are they supposed to believe in themselves. He should be saying we are good enough to make the play-offs this year without any other players. But he didn't. Great coach.

what if now we go into the season with the players he just put down, what then.

Saying that we have no star players was another problem. WTF. what about lopez. He will be a star if avery doesn't knock him down. Harris had to leave dallas to develop into an allstar. Now he took a giant step back last season but hopefully he can recover. It just shows avery's confidence in his players. He held back devin he better not hold back lopez. Lopez is our star. He should be the player we are building around. its that simple.

He must really want to get rid of twill. the best player on our team at the end of the season last year. He has continued to work and get better. He was so good in summer league that numerous teams want him now. We will not get a star pf in return for him and if they get some role player for him I'm going to flip out. All his comments so far have not been positive for Twill. Again another potential star player we are going to crush with a bad coach.

We didn't get the players and now we should focus on development of Lopez, Twill, lee and favors. Those are the players that have the potential. Lee is a good defender and can shoot he can develop into a nice role player for this team. Lopez is our star and we should build around him. Favors has the potential, he needs to work hard and he needs to play free of what they did to marcus williams, bench him every time he made a mistake. Twill can be our second star to lopez. So many championships happened with a star big man and star guard. He is it next to lopez. Not saying Shaq and Kobe but something like that.

Could't agree more. Even th owner said we will make the playoffs this year. This is what Dallas fans warned me about, that he treats people like crap and will take away and want to trade a talented up and coming star for a role player.
his james to horry comparison and TWill is a 1-2 and Morrow is a 2-3 is just plain ignorant. Williams is a 1-2-3.

I like Avery Johnson, but at the same time he scares me. I don't want to screw up and prolong our rebuilding. I think Lopez is a star on our team, but needs a guy to compliment which I hope we have in TWill or James. I'm ready for the season to start.

SpeedyG wrote:(and Devin actually)?

Well probably cause he deserves it and Devin has had a lot of years in this league, so it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he's not a franchise player or true elite level point guard, where as Brook as a second year center is FAR from a finished product.

I don't know that Brook is ever some elite Durant level franchise player, but I certainly think he's capable of being one of the absolute top big men in the game a la Pau Gasol, and so I don't really see the point to either take digs at the kid or write him off as less, especially when it's known Brook can personally have a semi-fragile psyche.

I don't like Avery or his style.

Edit: I also don't think Brook should be coddled or babied, I'm just saying he's not the type of kid you want to set up for the fall and then think he's going to respond to these types of mental games.

You guys are blowing this way outta proporion..all Avery is doing is challenging our players...something that hasn't been done in years.....he knows the importance of a young promising big man...he played with one in Duncan....he also knows Devin really well... He's just shaking it up...dont kill the guy just yet...he hasn't coached his first game yet...in a way he's telling this team...you wanna be playoff bound? Show me...he wants guys to battle it out...hes showing tough love...he wants to hold people accountable....he has evry right to come in and shake things up....this team won 12 games last year....let him breathe...

Durant isn't a good comparison because he's a wing but I see him being better then Gasol and a hall of fame franchise C you build a team around which could be the only reason why I would see having Morrow and Lee over Williams because ala Dwight Howard surround him with shooters.

Dexmor wrote:Durant isn't a good comparison because he's a wing but I see him being better then Gasol and a hall of fame franchise C you build a team around which could be the only reason why I would see having Morrow and Lee over Williams because ala Dwight Howard surround him with shooters.

Thats exactly right. we have to surround Lopez with many 3pt shooters just like the Magic. Thats why i have loved the signings of Outlaw, Farmar, and esp. Morrow. We need to open the floor up for Lopez. Even though he had a great second season with avg 18 and 8 and 2bpg he did struggle his shooting FG% was only 49.9% thats not good at all for a Center. it was tough last since we didnt really have consistent 3 point shooting. we were last in the league so Lopez faced double and sometimes triple teams and had no confidence to give it to his teammates since they werent makin shots so he threw up a bunch of tough shots. im expectin a MUCH better FG% this year. hopefully 20 and 10 with 2 blocks and shooting around 55% from the field. that would be a tremendous all star season for him.

I understand the thinking about surrounding lopez with good shooters to open the court but you also need that slasher that can create on his own and provide passes to him for easy baskets in the paint so he doesn't have to do everything.

For get howard, think Duncan. I used to think that Harris could be a tony parker type player and then he had last season. Hopefully he can recover. But what about Twill filling that role or a role of Manu. Brooks game is more like Duncan than it is Howard. He can play inside and he can play outside. But he will get doubled anyway even with a whole team of shooters and do we really want our team to become just a one dimensional team with the ball going to brook and then him doubled and all we do is take threes. Harris and Lee are very inconsistent 3 pt shooters. Morrow will still be the only consistent 3pt shooter on the team. Outlaw is not a great 3 pt shooter and favors can't shoot period.

we need slashers also and twill is that player. Not only can he slash he can dish it to lopez and those shooters for easy baskets. He is the only one on the team that can. Harris can get to the basket but he is a horrible passer. When he gets to the basket he is only thinking about one thing and that's to score. Twill thinks to pass and score.

We need to build around Lopez like the spurs built around duncan. Harris is our lesser parker and twill is our Manu.

Courtney Lee was very inconsistent at times last season and i have a feeling that Morrow will beat him out for the starting spot...but i think avery knows exactly what to do with brook..brook is like a poor mans duncan...great comparison...

SpeedyG wrote:Liked most of the interview. As been pointed out, subtle dig at Brook (and Devin actually)? He goes out of his way and calls Devin a top 5-7 PG (potentially) but eliminates him as the "franchise". Or maybe, this is more of an attempt to get Derrick in the right track, back to his dominant self in HS as opposed to his "contained" version in that GT team.

Also, ugh at not looking at Twill at 3. So Twill, who is stronger, more explosive, and longer can't play 3 but Anthony Morrow, who is shorter, less athletic, and smaller can? So Twill, who's a bad shooter at 2 but adequate at 3, is a better 2? Who's playmaking, dribbling, and passing is good to very good at the 2, but becomes exceptional if he matched-up with 3s? Makes no sense to me.

My overall take on all that I read wasnt Brook that got the bad deal...it ws TWILL. I felt after reading and moving the pieces around the board through Avery's comments...that Twill is the guy who is on the outside looking in right now. A shame.

But...I think a big part of that is...Avery has to justify Outlaw. I think Avery went to bat there. I think others liked him...and Avery used some muscle...and said...I WANT THAT GUY.

And you know how that goes with most coaches. My fear is...Twill is his next Devin. Not appreciating him enough...and then deals him...only to have him bite him in the ass. I just hope we love what we get if a deal goes down. If its for that veteran role guy...I will be pissed.