GT#70: Nets @ Phoenix |3/24| 9:00pm | YES

[Paradise]

Brook was supposed to focus on denying lobs to Jordan, so he atleast had a reason not to go after rebounds

Yesterday was just bad. He will do better but he has to stop relying on Reggie and Kris to do the majority of it.

[PetroNet]

Brook was supposed to focus on denying lobs to Jordan, so he atleast had a reason not to go after rebounds

Yesterday was just bad. He will do better but he has to stop relying on Reggie and Kris to do the majority of it.

reggie was supposed to focus on denying lobs to blake. he had 16 rebounds. also, if it was brooks first job to contain deandre, well... jordan had 5 offensive rebounds, and 6 points off of offensive rebounds.

if you wanna give brook a pass for not grabbing 10 boards because he was focusing on defense, ok, i can sorta buy that... but getting just ONE defensive rebound while the guy your supposed to be stopping had 5 rebounds on the offensive side alone? sorry, that doesnt jive for me

[M I K E]

Brook Lopez is a work in progress...I'm just very happy that he's healthy and playing well...A few short months ago I was fearing the worst...IMO Lopez is the most important player on this team especially when you look towards the future of this franchise...Five years from now Brook will still be under 30 while Deron, JJ, Wallace etc. will be on the wrong side of thirty.

[MGrand15]

But I still think Reggie has made him more passive, which is a big problem.

If you remember a couple of seasons ago Lopez said that Humphries made him "lazy" because Kris would get to all the rebounds first...Lopez has been playing with two pit bulls who know that rebounding is their main reason for being in the NBA...I'm pretty sure if Lopez was playing with a stretch PF he would end up adjusting his game and snare more rebounds...Right now Lopez is the stretch PF.

This is the more annoying part about playing Evans so much. Since he needs to be right next to the basket at all times, Lopez has to camp out 15-18 feet away all the time. It works out okay some times because Brook is so damn skilled but I'd prefer he catch the ball on the block without another big man breathing down his neck.

[M I K E]

R.I.P. Ray-Ray.

[PetroNet]

Brook Lopez is a work in progress...I'm just very happy that he's healthy and playing well...A few short months ago I was fearing the worst...IMO Lopez is the most important player on this team especially when you look towards the future of this franchise...Five years from now Brook will still be under 30 while Deron, JJ, Wallace etc. will be on the wrong side of thirty.

thats a good perspective on it... i think its just more frustating when the growing a player needs to do is like 95% attitude, approach, and motivation. like i think its easier to watch him say not pass well and be like "ok, he need to work on passing" or watch him make the wrong rotations and say "he just eneds to learn where to be on the floor."

but when you watch him dominate the mavs, then come out and look like a high school player against hadaddi, its much more frustrating. he should be throwing down on the entire league on a nightly basis... it gets to the point where he will come out of nowhere, take 1 poer dribble, throw it down with power on a guy and then go back to that quick flip shot. like...why?

[M I K E]

it gets to the point where he will come out of nowhere, take 1 poer dribble, throw it down with power on a guy and then go back to that quick flip shot. like...why?

Life is full of unexplained mysteries...Some players like to bang down low (Reggie Evans) but Lopez plays more like a stretch PF...I hate to use the word soft when speaking about Lopez, but when have you seen him use his body to bang down low..He's more a finesse big man than big bruiser...Maybe in a couple of years he will use his bulk more, especially when playing defense and rebounding...I remember Walt Fraizer saying many years ago that it hurts going down low when getting hit by those big boys.

[NyCeEvO]

Dude, Walt Frazier was a 6'4 PG and barely (if at all) 200lbs.

Lopez is a 7' C and weighs 265lbs.

There's a big difference lol. Yes, Lopez is a finesse player, but that doesn't mean that he can't use his strength to impose his will on players.

LBJ, Wade, Kobe and many others are finesse players when the situation calls for it, but when they realize that they need to use force to make a play, they do it without even thinking about it.

The funny thing about Lopez is that he loves to draw fouls with the opposition hitting his hands or forearms. But if they start bodying him up, he doesn't like it.

We've seen him dunk hard, have major blocks, and make some power plays, but we're asking for consistency. Don't bully around the Mavs and then take the next several games off and playing as soft as tissue paper.

We need him to play like a man all of the time.

[MrDollarBills]

Why can't we win every game like Miami does ?

Considering that this team's payroll is 300+ and the amount that they charge for tickets, I agree.

[MrDollarBills]

Our schedule is really not difficult at all once we finish this road trip...a game each against the Celtics, Pacers, and Bulls stand out, but that's it for the playoff teams we face.

@Portland
@Denver
@Utah
@Cleveland
Chicago
Charlotte
Philadelphia
@Boston
@Indiana
@Toronto
Washington
Detroit

We're still on pace for the 49 wins I predicted a few days ago. I'm conceding the Denver game, but as long as we go at least 2-3 against Portland/Utah/Chicago/Boston/Indiana, and as long as we beat the bad teams (Cleveland/Charlotte/Philadelphia/Toronto/Washington/Detroit), we'll be in good shape.

@Portland- W
@Denver- L
@Utah- L
@Cleveland- W
Chicago- L
Charlotte- W
Philadelphia- L
@Boston- W
@Indiana- L
@Toronto- W
Washington- L
Detroit- W

And I'm being generous about the games against Toronto and Boston. It's hard to have faith in these guy to handle business after the way they pissed away opportunity over the last month.

[PetroNet]

Our schedule is really not difficult at all once we finish this road trip...a game each against the Celtics, Pacers, and Bulls stand out, but that's it for the playoff teams we face.

@Portland
@Denver
@Utah
@Cleveland
Chicago
Charlotte
Philadelphia
@Boston
@Indiana
@Toronto
Washington
Detroit

We're still on pace for the 49 wins I predicted a few days ago. I'm conceding the Denver game, but as long as we go at least 2-3 against Portland/Utah/Chicago/Boston/Indiana, and as long as we beat the bad teams (Cleveland/Charlotte/Philadelphia/Toronto/Washington/Detroit), we'll be in good shape.

@Portland- W
@Denver- L
@Utah- L
@Cleveland- W
Chicago- L
Charlotte- W
Philadelphia- L
@Boston- W
@Indiana- L
@Toronto- W
Washington- L
Detroit- W

And I'm being generous about the games against Toronto and Boston. It's hard to have faith in these guy to handle business after the way they pissed away opportunity over the last month.

a loss against utah would be infuriating the way they have laid down as dormats recently. that teams is beyond awful.

in gerneal, i can see us losing our share of winnable games though.

[Paradise]

We are 3-1 on this current 8 game road trip and I'm still upset...Why can't we win every game like Miami does ?

At this point in the season it is time to get behind PJ and the Nets and leave behind all the bickering and complaining (I have done my fair share) and support this team and it's coach 100%...When the season is over we can then hang them all after shooting them first.

Thank You.

We are currently on pace to finish with the best record on a west coast road trip than ANY of the Eastern Conference playoff teams.

Nobody thought we'd even start off 3-1.

If we can't get behind with some sort of optimism knowing we are on the final stretch, clinched birth the fastest in franchise history, 9th best record in the league, battling for home court and striking distance away from 2nd with the issues we've had then you can't enjoy a team then.

The only team that has had a successful first year with a entirely whole new roster is Miami. The Knicks, Sixers, Lakers, Celtics have failed badly with their roster turnover.

We need step back for a little bit.

[PetroNet]

We are 3-1 on this current 8 game road trip and I'm still upset...Why can't we win every game like Miami does ?

At this point in the season it is time to get behind PJ and the Nets and leave behind all the bickering and complaining (I have done my fair share) and support this team and it's coach 100%...When the season is over we can then hang them all after shooting them first.

Thank You.

We are currently on pace to finish with the best record on a west coast road trip than ANY of the Eastern Conference playoff teams.

Nobody thought we'd even start off 3-1.

If we can't get behind with some sort of optimism knowing we are on the final stretch, clinched birth the fastest in franchise history, 9th best record in the league, battling for home court and striking distance away from 2nd with the issues we've had then you can't enjoy a team then.

The only team that has had a successful first year with a entirely whole new roster is Miami. The Knicks, Sixers, Lakers, Celtics have failed badly with their roster turnover.

We need step back for a little bit.

its hard to get behind a team that doesnt play hard consistently, doesnt play with much intensity, doesnt play with much consistency, lays eggs as often as we do, fails to rise to the level of good opponents almost exclusively, and whom is pretty much first round fodder.

its great to be a good team. a playoff team again. but this team still has the stink of the past couple years on it as far as competitiveness. personally, i find it easier to root for a 7,8 seed or even a team just missing the playoffs, but who busts their behinds every night. lack of effort makes it hard for me as a fan to get excited about a teams chances, because if you dont consisntly bring it, and play poor defense, you arent going anywhere. and thats why we only really beat bad teams.

[Paradise]

its hard to get behind a team that doesnt play hard consistently, doesnt play with much intensity, doesnt play with much consistency, lays eggs as often as we do, fails to rise to the level of good opponents almost exclusively, and whom is pretty much first round fodder.

This post goes right up there with the Chris Paul ones.

1. This is the NBA. There is literally no team that has consistently played great A+ ball for 82 games. There is ups and downs. You honestly expect a little too much and don't get me wrong, I am very hard on them as well but I atleast understand half of the league is up and down and that's just how it is. There is only TWO teams in the East that is playing above .500 ball and it's us and Miami.

There is only a few teams in the West playing above .500 ball lately.

its great to be a good team. a playoff team again. but this team still has the stink of the past couple years on it as far as competitiveness. personally, i find it easier to root for a 7,8 seed or even a team just missing the playoffs, but who busts their behinds every night. lack of effort makes it hard for me as a fan to get excited about a teams chances, because if you dont consisntly bring it, and play poor defense, you arent going anywhere. and thats why we only really beat bad teams.

That is the worst logic I have ever hard. ave you considered owning the Milwaukee Bucks? They are certainly going for your logic.

The stink are called Billy King, Avery Johnson, PJ Carlesimo, Popeye Jones and Maro Elle (to a certain degree). Throw in Reggie Evans getting star minutes as well. Again, 16-25 against playoff teams in the West/East BECAUSE they exploit the poor coaching. It was never due to a lack of poor effort.

Did we lose to the Clippers due to poor effort? No. Did we lose to the Grizzlies at home due to poor effort? No. Did we lose to the Knicks at home due to poor effort? No.

Does this team play with poor effort in certain games or stretches? Yes but again, acting like the Nets sleepwalk EVERY game is being ridiculous. The Heat should be labeled for poor effort through the last 15 games of this win streak considering they have played no defense and relied on 3 point shooting or superstar plays to squeak by lottery teams...But again that is using your logic there.

And again, just to let it be known we have a Top 3 record in our conference against playoff teams in our conference which is what matters.

Clearly, we have only beaten bad teams like Boston, Indiana, Chicago, NY, LAC, OKC, ATL and other teams multiple times. I mean hell, we are so bad we might as well ask for those to be changed into losses.

Fact of the matter is this is the FIRST year and they have done incredibly well after a jackass coach being fired, a HUGE injury scare to Lopez, Deron having the worst season of his pro career, Wallace having one of the worst seasons of his career.

Complaining and complaining about everything at the end of the day is too easy and actually embracing the good of the team is not being done enough. Which is my point. I am simply happy to be in a position to see a healthy Lopez, healthy Deron and soon a healthy Joe make a statement going forward and seeing if they are made of the New York state of mind they represent.

[PetroNet]

1. This is the NBA. There is literally no team that has consistently played great A+ ball for 82 games. There is ups and downs. You honestly expect a little too much and don't get me wrong, I am very hard on them as well but I atleast understand half of the league is up and down and that's just how it is.

its one thing to have some let downs, and to rest and take a few nights off over the course of 82 games. thats not the case. we consistently have played with poor effort. its not like we bring it then look lathargic on a back to back. this team consistently plays uninspired ball

There is only TWO teams in the East that is playing above .500 ball and it's us and Miami.

you either typed this wrong or im not understand it. there are plenty of teams playing above .500 in the east.

That is the worst logic I have ever hard. ave you considered owning the Milwaukee Bucks? They are certainly going for your logic.

The stink are called Billy King, Avery Johnson, PJ Carlesimo, Popeye Jones and Maro Elle (to a certain degree). Throw in Reggie Evans getting star minutes as well. Again, 16-25 against playoff teams in the West/East BECAUSE they exploit the poor coaching. It was never due to a lack of poor effort.

Did we lose to the Clippers due to poor effort? No. Did we lose to the Grizzlies at home due to poor effort? No. Did we lose to the Knicks at home due to poor effort? No.

Does this team play with poor effort in certain games or stretches? Yes but again, acting like the Nets sleepwalk EVERY game is being ridiculous. The Heat should be labeled for poor effort through the last 15 games of this win streak considering they have played no defense and relied on 3 point shooting or superstar plays to squeak by lottery teams...But again that is using your logic there.

i just simply dont agree with the statement that we dont consistently play with a lack of effort, energy, and intensity. im severely disappointed in this team, and watching us lay so many eggs makes it difficult for me to really get super invested in them and stay positive... especially when they blow games vs teams like philly everytime we get withing striking distance of the division lead. competitiveness, mental toughness, and effort are issues. is coaching the reason we dont play with constant effort? maybe? yes? to me, it doesnt matter, the end result is still a lack of effort and passion.

i mean, its great we are winning again and will be in the playoffs for years to come. and i will never knock anyone for being happy with that... i dont think we need to be champions to be a team you can root for. its great for the fans we arent losing 50 or 60 games every year again.

that said, i find alot easier to root for a team like the 98 team, where you have guys like sam cassel who was insanely competitive or kerry kittles or jayson williams or chris gatling. sure that was an 8 seed team that got swept in the first round... but that team played with a ton of passion and heart. and i find it easier to root for an 8 seed team like that that gets bounced in round 1 then a 3 or 4 seed team that gets bounced in round 1 or round 2

And again, just to let it be known we have a Top 3 record in our conference against playoff teams in our conference which is what matters.

i dont see how this is relevant... just because our conference is composed of utter crap, and we are better then most of that crap, doesnt change us from being pretenders.

[brigadierjerry]

paradise,

u said that the lakers, philly knicks have failed with their roster turnover. how dou figure the knicks failed?they are battling for a 2-3 seed and th division. granted they got a bunch of old players but the nets were picked to finish with a greater record and win the division which still could happen.

i would agree with philly and the lakers.

petronet,

did,u feel the vince carter nets team played hard every night?i see u a petrovic fan u tink those teams played hard ?

[PetroNet]

petronet,

did,u feel the vince carter nets team played hard every night?i see u a petrovic fan u tink those teams played hard ?

VC teams, post-kidd, yes. with kidd during his i want out migraine phase... no

petrovic brought it every night. so did alot of his teammates... morris, addison, and rumeal all left it on the court. derrick coleman, my least favortie net of all time, was obviously a rickey henderson level dog. i though kenny anderson played hard his first couple years, no so much later on once he got paid and learned how to dog it from DC

[Paradise]

paradise,

u said that the lakers, philly knicks have failed with their roster turnover. how dou figure the knicks failed?they are battling for a 2-3 seed and th division. granted they got a bunch of old players but the nets were picked to finish with a greater record and win the division which still could happen.

i would agree with philly and the lakers.

petronet,

did,u feel the vince carter nets team played hard every night?i see u a petrovic fan u tink those teams played hard ?

Knicks FIRST year with Carmelo, Amare, Chandler was last season and they were a 7th seed with the same issues the Nets had this season which is my point.

Knicks: injuries to Carmelo which put him into the worst season of his career. Got KILLED by the media. FG% and scoring down to rookie year lows. Amare with no capable PG FG% went down. D'antoni also the wrong coach for the team. No Point Guard whatsoever until Lin/Baron Davis as a quick fix.

Knicks 2nd year addressed their biggest issues at PG and signed a coach that knew how to operate their roster and they are seeing results. Problem is, they went too far with the old veterans logic and they are now injury prone but regardless they are a Top 4 team a year later.

Nets: injuries to Deron which put him into the worst season of his career. Got killed by the NY media. FG% and scoring down to rookie lows. No capable Forward to play along side for his assists numbers. Avery Johnson an ISO heavy coach refusing to throw in any offense that fit Deron or Lopez especially PnR. Mirza Teletovic/Kris Humphries are now the quick fix at PF compared to Lin/Davis a year ago at PG for the Knicks.

As you can see by the Lakers, they have injuries and also just are a bad fit. The Sixers failed hard with the Bynum trade (which IMO is karma for them bragging about Lopez's foot injury a year ago but I digress). There hasn't been a team since Miami that has stripped their roster and loaded up a new team in the 1st year and had a solid season or good success besides this team.