Official Game Thread: Nets 96 Spurs 106 Final

[Neon Black]

I'm here to offer the alternate take on the above comment...yonex is a huge Deron hater. I'm not saying he isn't justified or wrong, either, I just feel a little differently.

Yeah, Deron will have problems this season. And it's going to be mostly because of his wrist and the different system. He's said multiple times after seeing multiple specialists that his wrist WILL NOT heal this season, unfortunately. He needs at least 1 months rest.

I don't think Deron has the best leadership skills or attitude all the time, but I have never questioned his desire to win. He won't ever fake an injury. It's a little pathetic how some Jazz fans crucified Boozer for always being hurt, then criticize Deron for his poor play despite playing through a legitimate injury.

Anyway, my point is that as good as you think Deron was tonight and is in other games, you aren't even seeing him at full strength. I don't personally believe he's going to extend, but I could be wrong. So hopefully there's no lockout, Deron gets better and builds more chemistry w/ Lopez and Morrow, and the Nets add one or two more solid pieces.

Good luck guys, you have a lot of reasons to be optimistic! Oh, and thanks for Favors he's a stud.

[Lamak]

Deron had a good game last night, but boy do I hate Outlaw. Hate hate hate.

[Netaman]

Deron had a good game last night, but boy do I hate Outlaw. Hate hate hate.

basically sums up the game.

hump needs to not handle the ball. ever. open shots and layups. that's it for him.

Seems like right now it's pretty clear what this team needs to do to upgrade - find 2 new starters out of 3 open positions (2, 3, 4) and slide Morrow to the bench as a 6th man. Hump & DJ to me are in competition the rest of the season to see if they show they can be starters on a good team. If Hump continues to play like he did last night I would replace him swiftly (maybe in a larger sign and trade?) in the offseason. His ticket to this team is defense, intensity, rebounding. Not 13 FGA. I like James' edge and when he makes confident moves he looks good. He just needs to settle down. Hopefully he and DWill can get some chemistry on the fast break. That's an untapped dimension this team has never showed.

[SpeedyG]

I think, everyone who's watched the Nets all year, and the game last night, despite Deron's shooting and the early familiarity issues (turnovers, missed assignments, etc), you can already tell. There's a HUGE difference in the way he affects the game. We said this before when we got Kidd, and we heard it from Dallas when they got Kidd.

You get a player like that who is a willing passer, and suddenly, everyone on your team wants to make the right pass. It's contagious.

I have no doubt that this team, by the end of the season, playoffs or not, will be markedly improve from the team we saw early in the season.

As far as going forward, I agree, obviously, Deron is the PG that this whole engine is going to be built around. Brook should be fine at center, but as VC said, he's more than likely going to be the piece used to acquire the player that ultimately will be Deron's partner in crime. As far as the other positions, Morrow I would LOVE to be our 6th man off the bench. He could be one of the best 6th man in this league.

The SF position and PF position needs clear upgrades. Right now, aside from Deron and Brook, everyone on this team is suited for a bench role. Humphries would be an ideal PF off the bench. A guy who would come in, block some shots, grab some rebounds, hit a jumper or two, and get some put-back dunks. Never should he take more than 10 shots a game, and never should the offense be run through him (like we saw late last night, when he posted up when Brook was on the other side). That ball should have went to Lopez, not Kris. At SF, I think Damion James reminds me of someone, who again, can be a valuable roleplayer: Erik Williams. I think he can use his size, strength, and short-area quickness if given the ball in the post against smaller SFs and mismatches. Don't feel comfortable in him creating his own shot in face-up situations though.

[jeff1624]

I want to see James slash more.. Instead of imitating Courtney Lee of last year, where he would be around the three point line, ask for the ball, dribble for 3 seconds then pass it back to the PG. He should be studying tapes of Landry Fields. That kid knows how to move without the ball and position himself for the easy pass.

[vincecarter4pres]

Eh, if you're envisioning long term starter with James I think you're going to be disappointed. Although it remains a must to try and keep some decent role players on rookie deals, I think he becomes a throw in, in another trade around draft night.

I'm not basing this off last night or really anything we've seen this season either.

Sure he could develop into a good player, but I don't see much upside here, I hated the move on draft night and still do even with the lack of good players selected after him.

He's an 8th man type.

[Netaman]

Eh, if you're envisioning long term starter with James I think you're going to be disappointed. Although it remains a must to try and keep some decent role players on rookie deals, I think he becomes a throw in, in another trade around draft night.

I'm not basing this off last night or really anything we've seen this season either.

Sure he could develop into a good player, but I don't see much upside here, I hated the move on draft night and still do even with the lack of good players selected after him.

He's an 8th man type.

I don't know I'm slightly intrigued by him. He plays a chippy game and when he has plays called for him he makes confident moves. He had a post up and baby hook last night that was more confident then any offensive move Outlaw has made all season. It's hard enough for rookies to contribute and he's missed a ton of time. I'd like to see what he has the rest of this year.

I know Josh Howard fizzled out but there are some similarities there, apparently without the off the court problems.