@nbadebates25 I think the #Nets are very overrated. They're going to be a good team in the East--by default. They're not that special
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) October 23, 2012
@nbadebates25 Lopez is weak in the middle on D. Johnson is a weak perimeter player. Wallace's best days are behind him. All big names #hype
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) October 23, 2012
Felipe M
Check out our take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hasan R. and I now look at the future prospects of the Brooklyn Nets for next season.
Felipe: I thought
the Nets were a very overrated, overhyped team coming into this season and I
definitely think the Nets are in deep trouble after their disappointing, first
round loss at the hands of the Chicago
Bulls. This team looks like a perpetual, average team if they decide to bring
everybody back. The only coach that can fix their problems, Phil Jackson, doesn't want to coach
that team. Ownership has created a high-pressured environment to the club, but
a veteran team with very little upside does not bring championships.
Hasan: Nets are
definitely in a bad space. Ownership
just spent without thinking what was best for the future, which probably leads
to the Brooklyn Nets possibly missing out of next season’s playoffs or coming
in as 7th/8th seed.
Felipe: Let’s not forget the situation in Brooklyn was
magnified because of Deron Williams. His play and conditioning at the beginning of
the year was inexcusable. You can tell
that he
started taking things more serious when Avery
Johnson was fired. Not only did
his play improved, but he started losing weight as well. Nevertheless, your franchise player has to
show commitment from day one, not when the coach gets fired. I think investing all of this money and
energy for D-Will to be the focal point of that team may have been a
mistake.
Hasan: Can’t argue with that statement on Williams. D-Will earned himself the title of a “coach
killer,” so best of luck to whoever the Nets hire to coach this wreck. Deron needs to learn to play with this team and
that is the key to their success. They are lucky to have Brook Lopez and if they can figure out schemes that maximize his
potential and build a successful offense that utilizes him, they can eke out a
bunch of victories.
Felipe: And I know I referred to Lopez as soft at the beginning of the
year, but I tip my hat off to him for making the All-Star team and showing more heart in the paint area, on both
sides of the ball, than in years past.
The Bulls were still
able to bully him at times, but held his own and even stepped up his production
in certain statistical categories (especially blocks and rebounds) in the
series vs. the gritty Bulls.
On the downside, one of the players getting
credit for helping to add toughness to Lopez’s game, Andray Blatche will probably not re-sign with the team as he played
well enough to get a bigger contract than the one-year deal Brooklyn gave him
this season.
Hasan: Unfortunately, they have no choice but to reload in the free agent
market and D-Will better get out there and start recruiting. Then again, it’s hard to utilize that
strategy when they are pretty cash-strapped and only time will tell who they
can afford this offseason. Other teams
are better prepared for this current free agent market and the Nets may not
have what it takes to create a better team to make it out of round 1 of the
playoffs next season either.
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