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Does anyone besides me believe that Brook Lopez is useless? The guy is a 7 footer that doesn't rebound, slows up the fast break, isn't physical in the paint and plays zero defense. All he does is set horrible screens. Would you be willing to include him in any trades?

For the right deal, yes (especially if it means keeping Favors).

biggest disappointment of this season by far. No close second. The guy disappears whenever you need him.

Talk about being shortsighted...

If you're going to jump off the boat don't come swimming back to it later.

I'm in a floating lounge, umbrella-ed drink in hand while Brook's yacht is on direct course for an iceberg.

Alright, I'm just joshin' ya a little, but he is a major disappointment and to deny it is pure homerism, extenuating circumstances aside.

8 Mile Ilic wrote:Talk about being shortsighted...

If you're going to jump off the boat don't come swimming back to it later.

What people don't seem to realize is that last year Brook was still relatively unknown as a force. Now they know to double team him and box him out and the Nets will lose. Obviously Hump and Favors are more aggressive than Lopez but then again, our opponents don't gameplan to stop them. They gameplan to stop Lopez though.

The same thing happened with Chris Bosh at the beginning of the year. No one knew really how to stop Miami but everyone wanted to prove that Bosh was not a superstar and the Heat were really the big 2.5. As soon as wade and lbj raised their level of play, Bosh's rebounding numbers increased because teams began to gameplan more for wade and lbj more. Both Bosh and Lopez are more finesse big men and can't really dominate and grab a ton of rebounds if they are the main focus of the opposition. I guarantee if this melo deal goes through and our opponents are forced to gameplan for melo, Lopez numbers will increase.

^ i agree and the same would happen for Devin if he stayed.

I may be in the minority then. Brook stinks. He is the softest "center" in the league. I wish he would go instead of Favors.

jerseymike wrote:I may be in the minority then. Brook stinks. He is the softest "center" in the league. I wish he would go instead of Favors.

I'd only give you credit if you thought the same last season.

Can't say I really agree entirely. He has been disappointing this season, but its hard to forget how well he did last season. I don't really mind the rebounds just because I think that as long as we have a PF that compliments him well it'll be ok. And we've seen that Humphries and Favors (in limited time) have been to pick up Brook in terms of rebounds. And as NyCeEvO said he's been getting double teamed much more often than last year especially since we have no other reliable scorer.

Lopez hasn't played well this season, that's not what I'm trying to say.

What I am saying though is that it doesn't make sense to throw out his last two seasons in the league and to ignore the circumstances of his current situation (mono, a coach who thinks he's Dirk Nowitzki, etc.) and call for his head.

Lopez is no Tim Duncan but to think that he was ever going to be like him is just as insane as saying that he should be traded because of his play this year.

Even if you don't like the guy and want him gone, what kind of idiot trades a young center with no off-the-court issues when his value is down?

Lopez isn't soft the way KVH was soft. He just doesn't play strong. I'm sure that will change as his body develops more, especially if he can have a good offseason without mono. Just disappointing because we obviously would have liked to see improvement there this year. He also hasn't improved his defensive technique as much as I would have hoped.

I'm not ready to give up on Brook at all, but his play or lack of has been killing me...I'd say wait to see how things go once we get this monkey off our backs...If he was involved in a CP3 trade I need a big back...

Lets keep everything in perspective...the kid is struggling big time, he's still growing mentally and probably could use some weight training with the double teams he's facing (though I think thats a pipe dream, he's hasnt done any serious strength training in his life)...I truly believe this year's circumstance, new coach and new system has gotten the best of him (to think I thought it would of been the opposite)...no excuses, he's just slumping bad...I dont know about that iceberg, he just needs to focus more, as does our team...

Regroup...

Netaman wrote:Lopez isn't soft the way KVH was soft. He just doesn't play strong. I'm sure that will change as his body develops more, especially if he can have a good offseason without mono. Just disappointing because we obviously would have liked to see improvement there this year. He also hasn't improved his defensive technique as much as I would have hoped.

its amazing how he forget to play big, its like he doesnt realize he's a 7footer...Obviously he has a finesse game and has trouble with establishing his post position...in the process I truly believes he forgets to play physical because he does get pushed off the blocks, when all he has to do is utilize his size...

jerseyjac wrote:

Netaman wrote:Lopez isn't soft the way KVH was soft. He just doesn't play strong. I'm sure that will change as his body develops more, especially if he can have a good offseason without mono. Just disappointing because we obviously would have liked to see improvement there this year. He also hasn't improved his defensive technique as much as I would have hoped.

its amazing how he forget to play big, its like he doesnt realize he's a 7footer...Obviously he has a finesse game and has trouble with establishing his post position...in the process I truly believes he forgets to play physical because he does get pushed off the blocks, when all he has to do is utilize his size...

Totally. Leverage wins 9 times out of 10 and Brook just hasn't learned how to use his yet. Once or twice a game he will flash the ability and the toughness we are all looking for, he just needs to refine his technique to get himself in better position.

If the Melo deal does indeed go through, and there's a CP3 deal out there for Lopez, I would seriously consider it, but as you said, we would need a big man/other assets coming back.

jerseymike wrote:Does anyone besides me believe that Pau Gasol is useless? The guy is a 7 footer that doesn't rebound, isn't physical in the paint and plays zero defense. All he does is set horrible screens. Would you be willing to include him in any trades?

Don't be the Grizzlies.

the thing about brook to me is he is an amazing talent but he has absolutely no mental toughness... when he gets down he stays down and i really think unless something dramatic happens here he will keep spiraling until his contract is up and he leaves. obviously this happens to a lot of people but someone like paul pierce for instance (who i hate) went through a few horrible years in boston and came out of it a champion. maybe we shouldnt give up on brook just yet but if things stay the way they are around him then i think his talent is lost for the nets

xam2k7 wrote:the thing about brook to me is he is an amazing talent but he has absolutely no mental toughness... when he gets down he stays down and i really think unless something dramatic happens here he will keep spiraling until his contract is up and he leaves. obviously this happens to a lot of people but someone like paul pierce for instance (who i hate) went through a few horrible years in boston and came out of it a champion. maybe we shouldnt give up on brook just yet but if things stay the way they are around him then i think his talent is lost for the nets

The fact that people are actually saying "trade him now" is ridiculous. He is leagues and miles ahead of Twin who we were stuck with as a center for years. And he's only what 22/23 years old? Give me a break guys. The guy is on his rookie contract so we're still getting a lot for almost nothing. It's not like he's Outlaw even though he makes less money than Outlaw.

Can we merge this thread and the "Billy King Doesn't Think Much of Brook's Rebounding" thread since they're basically the same complaints about Brook?

Hawks fan here, with a question: I thought Lopez had mono last summer; is that right? Mono can take a year to recover from.

Seems to me a legitimate NBA Center is so hard to find that you should never trade him but, if you're determined to trade him, would you please consider the Hawks?