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I know there are many reasons for NJ's terrible start this season. I know you traded VC, and Devin Harris has struggled this year; but it's not like you guys didn't get players back in the VC deal, you got Courtney Lee...and CDR and B. Lopez have improved.

Just curious to see how much losing VC affected (if any..) this team..

The loss of Vince Carter directly? No, it's not that important. The loss of a play-maker? Yes, it was that important. This team lacks a play-maker.

This is an interesting question because you can take it two ways. Yes, Vince was important, but it's not directly him...in reality it's that it is important to ANY team to have a TRUE NUMBER ONE SCORER. If we had one, we may still not be very good, but we'd have more wins than we do now. Offensively, they create so much more opportunities for the rest of the time. I always believe, to win a title, you need a #1 scorer, an above average pg (doesn't mean he needs to score, just manage the game ala Derek Fischer), an above average big man who can finish down below, 1 more starter who you are fine with taking the last shot (like when we had RJ...remember his drive to the basket in the Toronto series. That drive still gives me chills) or pick up the slack if the #1 has an off night and a bunch of glue guys.

Now don't get me wrong, I love our team, but I don't see a #1 scorer on young team. That obviously can change, but I see an above average PG, C and a few glue guys. CDR could evolve into what RJ did for us...but we're lacking that #1 scorer. Vince, in theory, we very important to us, but in reality it's really a #1 scorer that is important to us...not directly Vince Carter.

Um, yes, he was easily that important. Notice our record, Devin's ineffectiveness and the other teams ability to double and triple team Brook.

Preludepunk27 wrote:This is an interesting question because you can take it two ways. Yes, Vince was important, but it's not directly him...in reality it's that it is important to ANY team to have a TRUE NUMBER ONE SCORER. If we had one, we may still not be very good, but we'd have more wins than we do now. Offensively, they create so much more opportunities for the rest of the time. I always believe, to win a title, you need a #1 scorer, an above average pg (doesn't mean he needs to score, just manage the game ala Derek Fischer), an above average big man who can finish down below, 1 more starter who you are fine with taking the last shot (like when we had RJ...remember his drive to the basket in the Toronto series. That drive still gives me chills) or pick up the slack if the #1 has an off night and a bunch of glue guys.

Now don't get me wrong, I love our team, but I don't see a #1 scorer on young team. That obviously can change, but I see an above average PG, C and a few glue guys. CDR could evolve into what RJ did for us...but we're lacking that #1 scorer. Vince, in theory, we very important to us, but in reality it's really a #1 scorer that is important to us...not directly Vince Carter.

Yup, exactly what I meant.

bottom line is the attention VC demanded...you think about all those ISOs, ect...it made it a lot easier for Devin to score...

Though individually, Brook and Devin are both underachieving right now...

Yeah you have to think a % of those W's go along with the loss of Vince / #1 Scorer. But you look at VC in Orlando so far this year, and it's not quite adding up..

Just goes to show you how different players react in different situations, and how player's value doesn't always show up in a box scores / highlights.

Devin and Brook have never played in the NBA without another teammate gaining more defensive attention than themselves, until this year. Growing pains are to be expected.

Also, VC has never operated with a dominant bigman on his team, or anything close, really. CB4 was still a fledgling when Carter left T-Dot, and with all due respect... he's no Dwight. I had a feeling his transition would take time, as well.

I think both teams are in for an upswing as the season wears on (lord knows the Nets are due for one...).

Orlando's record is still top notch, they're just on a little cold streak.