April 2009
Thorn: Frank is still our guy
Nets president Rod Thorn said he had been formulating his opinion for about a week. Ultimately, the reason he decided to give Lawrence Frank a chance to finish out his contract as coach is because he believes in him.
“In my mind, he’s a good coach,” Thorn said this morning. “If you get rid of a good coach you’ve got to get a good coach. In my mind he’s a good coach. He’s done a good job here.
“This past year we weren’t expected to do very well. We ended up doing better than most people expected us to do. Our younger players got better for the most part. My feeling is we’re on the right road.”
And with that ended more than a week of speculation and conjecture of what Thorn would do, who would replace Frank and whether the players still are listening to him. Now it’s on to making sure the Nets improve on the basketball floor so Frank can keep his job.
Bringing back Frank for next season may not be a popular decision with the fans, but it makes sense on so many levels.
First of all, Nets’ ownership lost more than $25 million according to Sports Business Journal last year. The team has had a few rounds of layoffs and is sharing a summer league team with the Sixers to split the expenses.
All of that said, eating Frank’s $4.5 million salary wouldn’t be smart.
Secondly, the Nets didn’t underachieve like some teams. They may have overachieved – although it’s hard to say 34 wins is a good thing – when you consider what they were predicted to do this past season.
Additionally, Devin Harris improved. Brook Lopez was better than expected. The same can be said for Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes and Ryan Anderson.
Frank certainly had more positives than negatives this past season. The biggest minus was the Nets’ record, but he basically had a pass for that when in preseason Thorn and GM Kiki Vandeweghe said the development of the players were what mattered.
Some in the organization were unhappy that the plan shifted when the Nets were in the playoff race and they played veterans because they were trying to win games. But the players – except for Yi Jianlian – got better or played better than anticipated. Besides, playing to win is the most important thing. You want to teach the players how to win and what it takes. That should always be the plan. It will be next year when Frank knows he has to win to keep his job.
Even if he does, there’s no guarantee the Nets will extend him or give him a new deal after the season. So much depends on what happens this summer, who comes in via the draft, free agency and trades, and how the young players continue to develop.
There are other factors, too, like whether the Nets are on track for Brooklyn, whether Bruce Ratner still owns the team and if there is a marquee coach available next summer that could make a big difference.
As for 2009-10, Thorn isn’t concerned about having a coach in the final year of his contract on the bench. He thinks the players will listen to Frank and continue to play hard for him. They did for most of this past season, but at times they could have and should have given a little more. Had they given more effort defensively and executed better down the stretch of games they might have been in the playoffs now, might have been playing the roles of the Bulls or Sixers, who are giving the Celtics and Magic fits, respectively.
You can blame some of those things on the coach, of course. But the players also share in that. They have to work a little harder defensively, have to be smarter with the ball late in games or take better shots.
These are the things the Nets will have to do better next season because they’re healthy and because they will hear the same voice and likely will play a similar style. Maybe the Nets will go to Lopez more – at least they should. But all of that will depend upon what personnel changes the Nets make.
That’s what Thorn has to turn his attention to now that he has decided his coach will be back and that his voice still is being heard.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
Thorn is frank about Frank
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rod Thorn came in the room with his voice hoarse and cracking. The immediate joke was it came from shouting down some people at the big management/ownership meeting last night when Lawrence Frank was discussed.
Perhaps it was fitting that Thorn barely had a voice when he openly wondered whether his coach still had one.
The overriding theme in Thorn’s end-of-season wrap with the media was are the players still listening to Frank. Sure, there are other reasons Thorn didn’t come out and say Frank would be his coach next season, but the voice seemed to be the biggest reason why he couldn’t say he would.
“I wouldn’t say it’s my primary concern, but it is one of them,” Thorn said. “You just look at the whole thing. Have we gone as far as we can go with the way we are going, or if we have a new voice can it give us an infusion to go higher basically is what I’m looking at.”
As the nearly 30-minute sit-down with Thorn ended there were more questions than answers. Among them:
What’s it going to take for you to decide?
“Just trying to look at our team, trying to look at where we’re trying to go, trying to look at all the aspects of it and trying to figure out what’s best for our team.”
What are you weighing?
“Is the voice still pertinent? Do I think the team will reach whatever its limitations are? Are we still headed in the right direction? Those types of things.”
When will you decide?
“In a timely fashion. There is no set date, but I think a timely fashion is always appropriate.”
You realize people will interpret that Frank is out?
“I realize I’m probably being naïve, but I don’t think people should interpret it any way. It’s just an organization trying to do its due diligence, trying to think where it is, where it’s going, without any decision being made yet.”
How much does the delay have to do with a particular candidate?
“None.”
Thorn handled it like the pro that he is. Nets’ fans should know one thing: Thorn always tries to make the right decision based on the circumstances.
You may not like some of his trades or signings but sometimes his hands were tied because of ownership constraints and other situations.
In this case, it’s totally his call. Money plays a factor because you’re dealing with about $4.5 million salary for Frank next season, which is a lot for any business. Especially one losing money, laying off employees, and deciding to have a joint summer-league team with the Sixers to save expenses.
But, if Frank stays it shouldn’t be because of money. It should be because he deserves to be the coach. If you look at this season alone, Frank deserves to be back and Thorn knows that much.
Thorn isn’t just looking at this season, though. He’s looking at the last few, how the Nets played down the stretch of the season when they surprisingly were still in the playoff race and playing it forward, trying to figure out whether Frank will get more of out this group next season.
During the interview, Thorn received a lozenge that made his voice a little better. The strength of the coach’s voice remains a question in Thorn’s mind.
The future of these Nets
The season ended Wednesday. The players have had their exit interviews. The Nets will have meetings early next week to discuss numerous things, including the future of coach Lawrence Frank.
Here’s a look at the future of all the Nets gathered from a combination of sources, educated opinion, speculation and conversations with my 2 ½-year-old son.
Lawrence Frank: The Nets’ NBA leader in wins achieved most of what management wanted, except for developing Yi Jianlian. But, we don’t blame Frank for that. Yi got hurt and you know the rest of the story. Frank did a good job. But, the questions Rod Thorn will ask himself is can someone get more out of this team, are the players still listening, can he come back with one year left on his deal and expect the players to run through walls for him. The owner endorsed Frank if that means anything.
Odds of returning: 50 percent
Brook Lopez: The Rookie of the Year candidate hasn’t scratched the surface of his potential. The Nets see the center as a franchise centerpiece, especially if he continues to develop.
Odds of returning: 99.9 percent
Jarvis Hayes: The Nets will pick up the $2 million option on his contract for next season and gladly call him their sixth man again.
Odds of returning: 90 percent
Devin Harris: The first-time All-Star was great most of the season but didn’t commit to defense. The Nets like what they see from Jason Kidd’s replacement and won’t move the person they dealt their franchise player for unless they have a shot at Blake Griffin or another potential franchise-type of player.
Odds of returning: 85 percent
Keyon Dooling: The ball moved better with him, and he’s the kind of instant energy player every team loves and the Nets of recent years have lacked. He should be back.
Odds of returning: 80 percent
Vince Carter: You’re not going to find many players who can produce the way he can and who makes his teammates better like he does. Money will be a factor both ways. The Nets would like to shed some payroll, but it’s going to be tough to find teams that will take back his $33.6 million salary over the next two years.
Odds of returning: 75 percent
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Showed great potential at the end of the season that made some question why the rookie swingman didn’t play sooner. The Nets would like to see how he progresses. He’s already one of their most competitive guys, a trait they wish more had.
Odds of returning: 75 percent
Ryan Anderson: The Nets like him and what he can become, but other teams like Anderson too. He could sweeten any potential trade.
Odds of returning: 70 percent
Yi Jianlian: The Nets already gave up too soon on a 20-something 7-footer (Nenad Krstic) in part of because of Yi. That was a mistake. But, they should make some calls. Not sure what the interest level is. The Nets would like an upgrade at power forward.
Odds of returning: 65 percent
Eduardo Najera: The Nets’ oldest player played only 27 games due to injury. Teams could be scared away by his age, 33, his health and his contract (three years, $8.5 million).
Odds of returning: 60 percent
Bobby Simmons: Improved as the season went on and is entering the final year of his deal at $11.24 million. It’s a lot for a role player, but he could value if not now then by the trade deadline. The Nets would like an upgrade at small forward.
Odds of returning: 60 percent
Trenton Hassell: Won’t opt out of the $4.35 million due him next season because he won’t sniff close to that if he does. It’s a lot of money for a role player, but better than Simmons’ deal and he’s a better defender. It’s the type of contract that could be used to make a deal work.
Odds of returning: 50 percent
Josh Boone: Serviceable big man has a manageable contract — $2 million next season; qualifying offer slightly less than $3 million the year after. He should have value but needs a fire lit under him.
Odds of returning: 25 percent
Sean Williams: Everyone knows he’s a terrific athlete and shot blocker, but his off-court troubles spoiled what could have been an I’ll-show-you season. If the Nets can’t move him, they always could buy him out.
Odds of returning: 20 percent
Maurice Ager: The only free agent on the roster can begin looking for a job, if he wants.
Odds of returning: 0 percent
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).
Wrapping up and moving forward
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rod Thorn, Kiki Vandeweghe and Lawrence Frank sat together with each Nets’ player and performed the annual exit interviews where they discussed what they did well, what they need to work on and some type of summer plan.
If I was running the Nets, here’s what I would say to each player and the coach in that setting:
Vince Carter: Get some rest because you’re still a high-level player and we want you to be fresh next season and continue to be an exemplary leader. You helped our young players so much this season. Thank you. You will hear your name in trade rumors, but unless you get a call from us don’t worry about it.
Devin Harris: Great season, but we’re going to expect more next year. Defensively, you have to raise your game because since you’ve been here you have not lived up to your rep of being a good on-ball defender. You have to realize we need you to do more than score for us to win. You have to defend better, set up your teammates more and take care of the ball late in games.
Brook Lopez: You grew up more than any player, and we think you’re only going to get better. Get stronger up top, but lower body, also. Here’s some tape on Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Watch them and go watch some playoff games. Pick up things from them and we’ll start working on it in a month or so because eventually you’re going to be our go-to player.
Ryan Anderson: You showed great maturity and professionalism to go from out of the rotation to starting to out to starting, and were productive. We like the way you go to the boards. We’re going to try and work on your lateral quickness and defense. Here is some tape and some things for you to try, and we’ll see you in back in the gym in a month or so.
Keyon Dooling: After you clean up your hip get a little rest because you logged more minutes than ever before and depending on what we do next season you could have an increased role. But, we liked the energy, leadership and professionalism you brought to each game and welcome that next season.
Jarvis Hayes: I wouldn’t worry about your $2 million option. You’re safe. We’ve been waiting for a good shooter and capable perimeter defender for years and we have that now. Let your thumb heal, spend some time with your new son, and come back thinking Sixth Man Award candidate.
Chris Douglas-Roberts: We love your competitive nature. We need more players who hate losing like you do and will do whatever it takes to win. Keep working on your ball-handling, shooting and defense because you will have an expanded role next season.
Yi Jianlian: You weren’t the same player after returning from your broken right pinkie. You can’t hesitate when you shoot and you can’t lose confidence. When you’re not hitting shots you still can rebound and defend. You need to improve everywhere and the only way is by playing. So, when you’re not with your national team, get in a gym and play pick-up games, go to Vegas and play, come here and play. You just need to play.
Josh Boone: We thought Brook taking your starting job would have inspired you to work harder and improve. It didn’t. Same with Sean Williams taking your back-up role for a stretch. We need to figure out what’s going to light a fire under you, if anything, because you have potential. You should be instant energy the moment you get in the game.
Bobby Simmons: We appreciate your professionalism and willingness to play out of position at power forward. We’re going to continue to look to upgrade the small forward spot. Come into camp in better shape because we need you to be better defensively.
Trenton Hassell: We appreciate your professionalism and defense. If only you could consistently knock down shots because you were open so often. Next year, if you’re here, we’ll probably use you more in a specialist capacity, as in when we need to shut down people. But, work on your jump shot so we can give you the ball more often.
Eduardo Najera: Eddie, is it? Nice to see you. It’s been awhile. We could have used your defense, energy and toughness. Come back healthy, and we’ll see if you can help us next season.
Sean Williams: We’re running out of patience and you’re running out of time. You could help us if only you keep your head in the game and on your job. We’re not sure you will. Prove us wrong, if you’re still here.
Maurice Ager: Thanks for being a good practice player. Do you know any Spanish or Italian? How about the U.S. to Euro conversion rate? You may want to become familiar with those things.
Lawrence Frank: I never tell you who to play, but I wouldn’t have gone with Yi or Hassell as long as you did. And it’s not your fault for Yi. Anyway, you did a good job with this group. But you should sit down a little more and not scream all the time for guys to “Go,” and other things. Let them play, especially when you have mostly veterans on the floor. The veterans will appreciate that and probably respond better.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).
Nets end season with ugly loss to Knicks
NEW YORK — The Nets ended their season at Madison Square Garden last night with a 102-73 loss to the Knicks — without Vince Carter and Devin Harris — and now begin what should be another busy offseason.
Will coach Lawrence Frank be back? Will Carter? What’s Yi Jianlian’s future — a bust or a contributor? Who will they draft? Will they trade their pick? Will they make any big deals?
The quick answers to all of this are maybe, probably, we’ll see, the best available player, perhaps and they’ll try. The real answers will come soon enough. Before we look ahead, here’s a look back at 2008-09:
MVP
Carter beats out Harris because he was healthier, came to play every night and led this team to the last game. Carter embraced his role as captain. He led by example, played hurt and helped give the young guys a role model to follow.
5 Biggest Surprises
1. Brook Lopez: You don’t normally find a potential franchise center with the No. 10 pick
2. The Nets: With eight new faces they stayed in the playoff race longer than expected
3. Devin Harris: Went from essentially a complementary player in Dallas to an All-Star here
4. Ryan Anderson: Scored more points than eight players taken ahead of him
5. Keyon Dooling: We knew he was good, but had a career year and was instant energy
5 Biggest Disappointments
1. Yi Jianlian: Just when he looked like he got it, he broke his pinky and went backward
2. Home Play: Nets were 19-22 at Izod Center and lost 13 games by at least 10 points
3. Eduardo Najera: Nets may have been better defensively and overall if he wasn’t hurt all season
4. No Moves: Management tried, but never found a third point guard or upgraded the roster in-season
5. Josh Boone: Didn’t improve and Lopez’s emergence didn’t inspire him to raise his game
5 Games to Remember
1. Nets 129, Raptors 127 (OT), Nov. 21, Air Canada Centre
Harris was in the back sick, returned and had a great second half, but this game was about Carter’s game-tying three in regulation and his alley-oop dunk to win in OT.
2. Nets 98, Sixers 96, Feb. 23, Izod Center
Harris’ halfcourt heave with Andre Iguodala draped all over him was shot of the year; the kind that made you think the Nets were going to be a Cinderella playoff team – guess not.
3. Nets 121, Mavs 97, Dec. 19, IZOD Center
In Jason Kidd’s return, an inspired Harris had 41 points and 13 assists against his old team, leading the fans to chants of “Thank you, Cuban,” to Mavs’ owner Mark.
4. Nets 117, Suns 109, Nov. 30, U.S. Airways Center
Harris’ 47 points helped the Nets cap a 3-1 trip and end a 14-game drought in the desert. Harris became an All-Star on this trip.
5. Nets 114, Nuggets 70, Feb. 7, IZOD Center
Denver never saw this one coming. Who did? This was an all-out annihilation of one of the NBA’s best teams.
5 Games to Forget
1. Bucks 107, Nets 78, March 30, IZOD Center
They should have asked for some stamps because they mailed this one in one day after a no-show in Minnesota.
2. Celtics 105, Nets 86, Jan. 17, IZOD Center
Young fans had to watch this matinee massacre and their favorite players, Harris and Carter, benched for the second half.
3. Wizards 108, Nets 88, Dec. 2, IZOD Center
Coming off a 3-1 West trip, the Nets left their legs and us-against-everyone mentality in another time zone.
4. Clippers 107, Nets 105, March 15, Staples Center
Everyone remembers the foul up three and Steve Novak’s game-winner, but the Nets played with no urgency while still in the playoff race.
5. Golden State 116, Nets 112, March 11, Oracle Arena
Nets led this game by 14 and were outscored in the second half, 63-45. It was a bad omen to start the 0-4 trip that ultimately sealed their playoff fate.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
The fate of Lawrence Frank
Bruce Ratner made his voice heard last night and since he’s the one who signs off on everything, it seems Nets coach Lawrence Frank is safe.
But, Nets president Rod Thorn and other members of management will meet after the season to decide whether to keep Frank or let him go. A ringing endorsement from the principal owner certainly helps, though.
“I think the coach has done a good job this year,” Ratner said last night. “Obviously, our record is not where we’d like it to be, but the coach has done a good job. I like the coach.
“I haven’t talked to Rod, so we’ll discuss generally all our plans for next year, but I’d have to say we’re truly supportive of the coach. He’s a very good coach.”
Frank’s future has been a major topic for the last few weeks and will be for at least one more.
The Nets’ season ends tomorrow. Exit interviews and clean-up day will be Thursday, and then, at some point next week Thorn will have his season-ending meeting with the media. It’s probably then that Thorn will give his decision, unless he makes it sooner. There is plenty to consider.
Arguments for Frank’s return
1. He did his job
The mission statement before the season was to develop the young players — primarily Devin Harris, Brook Lopez and Yi Jianlian. Two out of three ain’t bad. Yi was on the right track before he broke his right pinkie and when he returned he wasn’t nearly the same player before he got hurt. Yet, Frank stuck with him longer than he should because of that mission statement.
2. The players and team improved
Harris, Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Keyon Dooling and Jarvis Hayes played better than expected, helping the Nets disprove some preseason predictions. Most of them had the Nets finishing with 20-something wins and 14th or dead-last 15th in the East. The Nets stayed in the playoff race until April and matched last season’s win total with a lesser team.
3. Money talks
Frank makes $4.4 million next season, which, according to a Sports Business Journal report, is about one-seventh of how much Ratner’s group lost for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. That’s a lot of money to eat, and then, you have to pay a new coach. Unless you get one on the cheap, you’re paying two men about $9 million to do one job.
Arguments against Frank’s return
1. Lame-duck status
I hate the expression, but it’s true. If the coach is in the final year of his deal players know he’s probably not going to be around as long as them. How motivated will they be to play for him? This isn’t just Frank. It’s any coach in this situation. The first three-, four- or five-game losing streak, and he’s really on the hot seat.
2. Is anyone listening?
The players played hard until the end, but are they doing it for themselves or for their coach? Some of them didn’t like being called quitters. You have to wonder if someone else can get more out of these players, especially considering his status. Frank isn’t beloved by everyone in the locker room — and certainly not in the organization. Sometimes things just run their course.
3. The fans
Everyone in the organization is fully aware of some of the fans’ dislike for Frank, many of them season-ticket holders. (There aren’t nearly as many as other teams have). It’s been reported that the business side wants a more marketable coach. Yes, they would love a dynamic personality, but how many of them are out there? They would rather have more wins and better performances at home. It’s easier to sell that, but in this economic climate and in that building, how many people are buying?
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).
And the blame game begins…
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – One game remains in the Nets’ season but plenty of days of finger pointing are left still.
Coach Lawrence Frank has received the blame for this team not making the playoffs this season for the most part. It hasn’t been determined if he will take the fall because of it, although owner Bruce Ratner endorsed him during the Nets’ 91-87 win in their home finale against the Bobcats last night.
The Nets’ failings are not all on Frank anyway. Everyone shares in the blame for the Nets 34-47 record.
People are quick to point to the coach or to the players not playing hard enough, and both are legitimate. But you have to start at the top — at ownership, then management — then coaches and then players.
You can’t win championships or at least be a title contender without the resources. Cleveland is No. 3 in payroll, Boston No. 5 and the Lakers No. 8. The Nets are 27th.
Now, there are exceptions because the Knicks are first, Kings No. 9, Raptors No. 10 and Milwaukee No. 12, and they’re all behind the Nets. But for the most part, you have to spend to win.
Ratner and his fellow owners never tell team president Rod Thorn and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe who they can or can’t sign. They just want them to be smart and avoid being a luxury-tax-paying team.
If you saw the recent story in Sports Business Journal you understand.
It reported Ratner and his investors lost $27.8 million for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31. That figure includes the Nets and the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.
It’s nice to have that money to lose, but it’s hard to justify contract extensions or signing players to big deals when you’re in that position. The article said Ratner’s group lost $22.6 million the year before and $14.7 million the year before that.
With operating losses like that, can you realistically see the Nets giving a player a maximum contract in 2010 when they’ll have all this flexibility? They couldn’t sign a player to a 10-day contract this season.
By the same token, it’s hard to sell to your fans – or your players — that you’re doing everything you can to build a winner. You have to draft well and find good, undervalued talent, which the Nets certainly did last summer.
If management was given more freedom, perhaps they could have eaten a contract or two and signed another point guard that could have allowed the recent popular move of Keyon Dooling being added to the starting lineup happen a little earlier.
Starting Devin Harris, Dooling and Vince Carter — who is the Nets’ de-facto No. 3 point guard – all season would have been difficult. Maybe Frank should have turned to that lineup sooner, but you can see his rationale.
The acquisition of Yi Jianlian hasn’t worked out yet, but it’s early. Still, unrealistic expectations were put on him and Frank by management. Vandeweghe, especially, made Yi’s development paramount. He worked out the trade for him.
Yi had the unenviable task of replacing Richard Jefferson, for whom he was traded. But after so many 1-for-5, three-point nights, it became obvious that Yi needed more work.
Knowing part of the mission statement was to develop Yi, Frank stuck with him longer than he should have and, to a certain extent, may have sacrificed the Nets’ playoff hopes.
Then, Yi’s agent Dan Fegan more than intimated that Frank was to blame for Yi’s poor season in the Star Ledger. As one member of the Nets’ organization put it yesterday, “it seems as if someone is doing some damage control and deflecting the issue.”
That issue being Yi just didn’t have a good season and went backwards after breaking his right pinkie. That’s no one’s fault. Or maybe Yi’s not that guard. Time will tell.
Yi isn’t the reason the Nets made or missed the playoffs. It was money, decisions, their play at home, their lack of effort too often and on down the line.
The bottom line is many people and things contributed to the Nets and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Don’t just point to the coach.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
What will the Nets do this offseason?
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Speaking to a scout the other day, he said the Nets had the best draft on any team last year. Overall, they had a pretty underrated offseason.
But, this year, it has to be better.
The Nets don’t have as many draft picks or tools in free agency. But, they may have more from the standpoint of good, young, relatively low-priced talent and expiring contracts.
First, it appears they did have the best draft, getting Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts. The three combined to score 52 points in the Nets’ 100-93 loss to Detroit on Friday night.
The only team that came close to having a draft like the Nets was the Miami Heat, which got Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. That duo may prove to be better in the long run, although Lopez looks like a franchise center.
The Nets only have one pick this season, so they have to use it wisely. They’re tied for the NBA’s 10th-worst record. They have three games to better or worsen that, depending on which side of the fence you sit.
Unless they win the Lottery, expect them to try and put together a package to move up for Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, the consensus No. 1 pick. The Nets and many other teams, that is.
Get Griffin and put him next to Lopez, and you’re set for years. The Nets would have two inside forces and, in Griffin, a fierce rebounding power forward, which they need. But, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves.
Teams make the most change via trades or free agency, and that’s where the Nets are expected to be the most active.
They only have the mid-level exception and chances are they won’t be allowed to use all of it. They also have a $1.2 million trade exception from the Marcus Williams deal that they have until July 22 to use.
Last year, the Nets used part of their midlevel, their bi-annual exception and trade exception on Eduardo Najera, Jarvis Hayes and Keyon Dooling. Hayes and Dooling wound up being excellent pickups.
Nets president Rod Thorn and GM Kiki Vandeweghe have to make similar moves. Find good players at low costs — which is what most teams will try to do. Everyone wants to trim money to be in position for the summer of 2010 when LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire are free.
This summer, there isn’t a great crop of free agents, aside from Kobe Bryant — if he opts out — Carlos Boozer and Lamar Odom. You’re not getting any of them. Shawn Marion is an interesting name considering he’s a Dan Fegan client, of which the Nets already have some.
All of that said, look for the Nets to make trades.
They made one big one last summer, dealing Richard Jefferson for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. That move didn’t work out that well this season and was the only thing that kept the Nets from having a great summer of 2008.
Management can make up for it this summer.
Simmons, Trenton Hassell, Josh Boone, Sean Williams, Yi, Douglas-Roberts, Anderson — basically everyone but Harris, Dooling, Najera and Vince Carter — could have expiring contracts next season, so some of them could draw interest.
Then there’s the matter of coach Lawrence Frank. He could be coaching his final three games or could be brought back to finish out his contract.
From a financial standpoint, it makes sense for the Nets, who are losing millions, to keep Frank. But, a decision has to be made right away because there are good coaches available that may be scooped up.
If a coaching move is made, that will have a huge bearing on the type of team the Nets have and players they pursue.
The Nets gave their fans hope by hanging around the playoff race this season. Just hanging around won’t be good enough next year. So, this has to be a better offseason than last year. Forget about 2010.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).
Five things that cost the Nets a playoff spot
The Nets lasted in the playoff race until April 8, which is about four months longer than everyone expected.
Kidding aside, the amazing thing is after their start, sitting at 19-19 after 38 games, the Nets probably should have lasted a little longer, maybe even made the playoffs.
First of all, the Eastern Conference, outside of the top three teams, is weak. Secondly — and every team can do this — think about all the games the Nets should have won, all the games they gave away. They should have had a better record.
Of course, the flip side is you look at the games maybe they shouldn’t have won that they did. Sometimes they even out, but in this case, I don’t think that’s true.
All that said, here are five things that cost the Nets a playoff spot:
1. No Homecourt Advantage
The Nets are tied for the seventh-worst home record at 17-22. They were the last team standing with a losing home mark. Of those 22 losses, eight came against teams that will finish the season with sub .500 records, including two each against the Wizards and Raptors. They lost 13 games at the Meadowlands by double-digits.
2. Late-Game Collapses
The Nets’ record in close games is misleading. It’s not terrible. They’re 6-4 in games decided by two points or less, 6-8 by three or less and 8-10 by four or less, but many of those defeats have come recently — six since March 1. Also, some games were close late, but the opposing team pulled away to make it look more lopsided than it was: think Portland, Cleveland twice and the Lakers — all since March 1. If the Nets executed better down the stretch, they might have more than a few more wins.
3. Little Forward Production
The Nets got 22 points from their starting small forward last season. Their two starting small forwards this year, Bobby Simmons and Trenton Hassell, averaged 7.8 and 4.5 respectively with the first team. Their power forwards, Yi Jianlian and Ryan Anderson, have scored 9.1 and 8.2. Yi only averaged about 6.2 after returning from a broken right pinky in February. For the most part, the offense was designed to highlight them, but they got open looks. None currently are in the top 50 in scoring — among forwards.
4. Too Many Nights Off
The Nets didn’t show up twice against Washington, once against Toronto, Indiana and Milwaukee — all at home. They also didn’t come to play at Oklahoma City, at the Clippers, at Minnesota and in the second half at Golden State. Only Indiana has a better record. There probably are some games we’re missing, but you get the point. Considering how well the Nets played early and how bad other teams were, we’ve come up 10-12 games they should have won on paper that they lost. Now before the season it may not have been a third of that. Regardless, the too often Nets didn’t play with a sense of urgency. They are 18-17 against teams with below .500 records when they met and 20-19 against sub .500 teams currently.
5. Defense rests
This team used to rely heavily upon defense. Now the Nets can’t stop anyone. (If Celtics guard Rajon Rondo played the Nets every game he would be an All-Star.) They no longer have stalwart defenders or at least guys who accept the defensive challenge and their team defense hasn’t been good. The Nets are 8-36 when allowing at least 100 points and 24-10 when holding teams under 100. The math seems pretty simple: guard every night.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).
With loss to Celtics, Nets eliminated from playoffs
But early on last night, the Knicks were down 30-9 to Detroit. The Pistons have struggled but they’re not going to let the Knicks come back from that.
So as the Nets were fighting the Celtics to the end, they were already eliminated for the second straight year. Predictably, the Knicks didn’t help them and in the end the Nets didn’t help themselves.
They lost, 106-104, to Boston in a game that mirrored so many the Nets have played this season and especially the last six weeks. They were up, then down, then battled back and were within a shot of winning the game.
How many times have you seen this game? How many times have the Nets played this game? Since March 1 the Nets have played 14 that were close in the fourth and could have gone either way. They won three and lost 11.
“Tonight kind of speaks a lot for the whole season,” Devin Harris said. “I thought we played well for half, a little bit more than half the game. But defensively we didn’t get the stops that we needed at the end of the game, and the shots woul dn’t fall for us.
“It’s disappointing because obviously we were picked last but we had high hopes coming into the season.”
Vince Carter missed a go-ahead three with about eight seconds left and Harris a game-tying long two with right before the buzzer. Maybe if the Nets won it would have taken some of the sting out of not making the playoffs, but for the most part the locker room was quiet.
Carter was upset. He wanted to captain this team to the postseason.They lasted longer than anyone expected for anyone looking for small victories.
Harris was upset. He came from Dallas, where you played deep into the postseason every year. Veteran Jarvis Hayes was very down. Coach Lawrence Frank couldn’t reflect on it yet. He only wanted to talk about the game.
This was inevitable, but it still hurts because you think anything is possible. Still, the Nets knew the odds were long and they put themselves in this position by not winning games they should have won and not being able to close out games.
Overall, though, the Nets have a bright future with Harris and rookie center Brook Lopez, fellow rookies Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Veterans Keyon Dooling and Hayes gave the second unit stability and Dooling has been very good as a starter.
The Nets have to figure out how Yi Jianlian fits in. They will add a draft pick, try to sign some players and make some trades so they avoid missing the playoffs for a third straight season.
They wanted this year to end by making all those who picked them to finish near at the bottom of the Eastern Conference eat crow. The Nets had their chances. And even though they stayed in the race longer than anyone thought, there were many long faces, blank stares and heads shaking in the Nets’ locker room.
Collectively they shouldn’t forget how it felt and what led to this. They had their chances and they know it.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
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