New Jersey Nets
Mad - Apr 30, 2001 8:40 pm
Edited by Jul 28, 2002 4:21 pm
Not sure why this one disappeared. I know there's a dearth of Nets fans but they do deserve to be represented...
(2472 previous messages)
- Nov 21, 2003 8:21 am (#2473 of 2707)
I can't believe Kenyon Martin mocked somebody ELSE's rebounding. Doesn't Jason Kidd routinely outrebound this guy?
- Nov 21, 2003 9:53 am (#2474 of 2707)
Go break a leg, you little bitch.
- Nov 21, 2003 9:53 am (#2475 of 2707)
Edited by Nov 21, 2003 1:58 am
Real Nice Kenyon
Obviously RJ & K-Mart have no respect for Mourning, or for his situation or for the fact that without his Kidney problem they wouldn't be able to hold his jockstrap. No wonder they get bitch slapped over & over again in the finals. I am officially on the NJ hater bandwagon. Move over Cap & make room.
- Nov 21, 2003 9:57 am (#2476 of 2707)
The Nets are full of wifebeaters and bitches. I do like Kittles, though!
Apparently you are still bitter on how they ousted your team last season King. Don't worry the same will happen this season....nothing will change.....except it may be the Hornets that tap your team out of the playoffs this time.
Mourning has a good point. This team is underachieving....if it has to come to blows to wake these fools up then so be it.
- Nov 21, 2003 7:02 pm (#2478 of 2707)
Sit here, TDot.
Kittles and Zo are the only players worth a damn on the Nets. I hate Kenyon Martin so much. How can a guy his size get so few blocks and boards. Zo is a warrior. Kenyon could learn a thing or two from him. I know who I'd want on my team. Kenyon just needs to be glad that Zo didn't get a hold of him and beat him senseless. If the Nets want to win in the Finals, Zo will be part of delivering the toughness that they need. Jefferson and Martin need to quit playing like pussies and grow some.
- Nov 21, 2003 7:44 pm (#2479 of 2707)
At least my team MADE the playoffs.
I got to watch my team ball until the Eastern Finals. The Knicks were finished after 82 games.
Mad
- Nov 21, 2003 10:31 pm (#2480 of 2707)
KMart is averaging 17.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg and 2 bpg, and is shooting 46.2% from the field. He's hardly a pussy. But he IS a bitch-ass punk. Mourning ever gets ahold of him... mourners please omit flowers.
I'm surprised JKidd didn't step up and say something to the ass holes who were laughing. There was doubt as to whether Zo would ever even PLAY again because of his kidney disease, yet there he is, busting his ass in practice. Fucking team is supposed to be learning from him... instead they're 5-6 and looking like anything but a playoff team. Byron Scott has his head up his ass. Mourning's been in more playoff battles than the rest of those clowns put together. If they're too stupid to realize that and follow his example in terms of work ethic, send him to NY. We respect him.
BTW Kittles is a serious pussy.
- Nov 21, 2003 11:29 pm (#2481 of 2707)
K-Mart & RJ are both pussies
whose scoring stats are paded 5-7 points every night due to gratuitous allez-oops & fast break dimes
- Nov 22, 2003 12:01 am (#2482 of 2707)
I wouldn't mind seeing NJ collapse like a house of cards in a stiff wind after hearing about the players laughing at Zo. What a bunch of adolescent bullshit.
- Nov 22, 2003 2:00 am (#2483 of 2707)
I expected that sort of shit from Martin. Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat. I thought Jefferson was smarter than that, though.
- Nov 22, 2003 3:44 am (#2484 of 2707)
Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill's thoughts on K-Mart vs. Zo
"I wish our players would fight like that in practise"
Mad
- Nov 22, 2003 3:46 am (#2485 of 2707)
K-Mart & RJ are both pussies whose scoring stats are paded 5-7 points every night due to gratuitous allez-oops & fast break dimes
Isn't that what they're SUPPOSED to do? Finish plays? So you're downgrading them because they play with an excellent PG? Guess that means that Shawn Marion is a pussy with padded stats too.
- Nov 22, 2003 4:08 am (#2486 of 2707)
Edited by Nov 21, 2003 8:08 pm
evveryone in the L is supposed to do that
my point is that they get buckets gift-wrapped, its like everyday is christmas for those 2
Mad
- Nov 22, 2003 6:33 am (#2487 of 2707)
I don't buy that. Sounds more like playa hatin to me. Not that KMart has done all that much to make me respect him as a man...
Edited by Nov 22, 2003 12:22 am
King, one question... WHY DO YOU LIKE KITTLES????
He's not even there third best player. I hate all the Nets except Zo.
- Nov 22, 2003 9:32 am (#2489 of 2707)
Yeah, Kittles ONLY got a big contract because he has the same agent as Steph.
why was jefferson on the USA team? i would have put someone else on it, like mashburn or that ugly guy from the spurs . . . malik rose.
as for kmart, well, he's a fucking pussy. jameson has more talent and heart than him. probably not a pussy either.
kenyon is a slimmer rick mahorn with no toughness.
- Nov 22, 2003 6:56 pm (#2491 of 2707)
Edited by Nov 22, 2003 10:56 am
Kenyon's a pussy, he doesn't respect the game, and he's really not that good. I hate when guys act like a badass when they've really done nothing.
I think he's one of the worst overall number one picks, surely the worst since Joe Smith.
- Nov 22, 2003 7:53 pm (#2492 of 2707)
But in NJ's defense nobody else in that draft shoulda been taken higher. Mike Miller, Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford, I forget who #2 was....
Joe Smith? 
My vote for the worst #1 pick ever. The Timberwolves must think it's some kind of stature thing to have former #1 picks on their team, the more underachieving the better. Too bad they couldn't have kept Rasho.
ok, worst #1 picks are kinda easy. who's the worst #3, #11 and #16 picks of all time. (this is a psychological test to see who has the most free time)
- Nov 23, 2003 12:05 am (#2495 of 2707)
Worst #2 pick is Sam Bowie. Worst #3 pick is definately NOT Michael Jordan. Raef LaFrentz gets some consideration for worst #3, hm... Miels wasn't a good 3 but there weren't a lot of good options that year. Chauncy Billups LOOKED like a bad pick at #3 but looks ok now, albeit four teams later.
- Nov 23, 2003 12:14 am (#2496 of 2707)
Kwame rownn is worse than K-Mart & Kandi
- Nov 23, 2003 12:19 am (#2497 of 2707)
Still a little early to say for sure on Kwame. I'd say he's worse than Kenyon but not Kandi...
- Nov 23, 2003 12:28 am (#2498 of 2707)
Man that '98 draft wsa something was't it? The two best players were the 9th and 10th taken. You really wanted a late pick more than an early one. If I were re-arranging things here's how that Draft SHOULD have gone, actual positions in parenthesis:
1) Dirk Nowitzki (9)
2) Paul Pierce (10)
3) Mike Bibby (2)
4) Vince Carter (5)
5) Antawn Jamison (4)
6) Rashard Lewis (32)
7) Jason Williams (7)
8) Ricky Davis (21)
9) Raef LaFrentz (3)
10) Matt Harpring (15)
11) Bonzi Wells (11)
12) Michael Olowakandi (1)
13) Al Harrington (25)
14) Larry Hughes (8)
- Nov 23, 2003 12:32 am (#2499 of 2707)
bibby too high
harp's shooting like 18% from three this year, less than half what he was doing with stock & malone (40+%). i'd put bonzi higher than harp.
personally i think bibby is placed correctly.
- Nov 23, 2003 8:17 am (#2501 of 2707)
bibby is too high
and bonzi belongs right where he is
- Nov 23, 2003 9:22 am (#2502 of 2707)
I don't know if Bibby's too high. If VC is truly back and plays another five years like he did his first 3, then yeah, VC moves up the list. But Jamison never met his potential in GS and is now a sixth man in Dallas. Rashard's not a bad player but is very inconsistent. Bibby always seems to bring something every night, maybe the shot isn't falling but he gets 11 assists. He's also come up big in the playoffs which none of the guys below him can say.
I agree. i don't like bibby, but you have to respect his game.
I was so sorry to hear about Zo.....The Last NBA Warrior
- Nov 25, 2003 4:58 pm (#2505 of 2707)
Malone, cough, cough, Malone.
- Nov 25, 2003 6:49 pm (#2506 of 2707)
He didn't say the last championship-starved NBA vet currently trying to gravy-train his way to a ring.... runs
- Nov 25, 2003 7:15 pm (#2507 of 2707)
Well, if gravy training is averaging a double/double, then yeah, I did say that.
- Nov 25, 2003 8:38 pm (#2508 of 2707)
Please, who couldn't average a double double with guys like Shaq, Kobe, Payton and Deavon George drawing the double teams?
- Nov 25, 2003 8:44 pm (#2509 of 2707)
I can!!
- Nov 25, 2003 10:23 pm (#2510 of 2707)
LMAO@Devean George drawing a double.
Malone, cough, cough, Malone
Bah...he's not a warrior, not like Zo. It is more than ability I'm speaking of, it is the fire a player brings.
However, Malone a marvel to play as well as he is playing at 40, he gets madd props for that though.
Mad
- Nov 27, 2003 4:52 am (#2512 of 2707)
I read in an article posted at the Lakers' thread recently where Tex Winter was lamenting the fact that only Payton and Malone seem anxious to run the floor and get a fast-break game going (though he does want them to work within the triangle where they can, he recognizes their energy, desire and savvy and is smart enough to put it to use). Malone to me isn't tough as I'd consider the Oak Man tough. Malone plays through injuries and always has himself ready to play. To be on a team with as many younger players as the Lakes have now, and to be one of the only guys willing to get out on the break, is what amazes me about him today.
BTW, thank you Mr. Thorn. Deke's working out quite well for us. Hope you enjoy the card and the basket of mini-muffins.
yeah, i guess malone doesn't have the fire it takes to not make it to the second round every year . . . he only has the fire to win 2 MVP's, be voted as the dirtiest player not named stockton, get alot of T's, and go nuts when his teammates play mind games with him. (stockton used to play him all the time, telling malone right before the game that the opposing PF told to papers that 'malone can't drive on me' or 'ac green is better than malone', etc... whenever he did that, karl would score alot, specifically his 61 outburst against a defenseless terry cummings)
- Nov 27, 2003 5:51 am (#2514 of 2707)
kenny-o 11/26/03 8:45pm
Quit hating. Malone is every bit and more of a warrior than Zo. Nobody works harder or brings more passion to the game. Malone will never be appreciated in his time, as evidence by the posts on here. I don't expect you guys to like him better than Oakley because Oak played for your team, but he schooled and posterized Oakley more than I can remember. He has only missed 15 games or something like that in his entire career, and half of those are for suspensions. Greatest PF to play the game, and it's not close.
if Zo is such a warrior why was he always injured every season (before the kidney thing?), why didn't he just exercise a little and not be as brittle?
if Zo was such a warrior why did he get schooled in the paint by 6'5.5 larry johnson?
if Zo was such a warrior why don't we hear about his streak of games played (not missed for injury) . . .?
malone is waay stronger in every aspect of being a warrior than Zo is. if he played in NYC you guys would have make statues of him.
Mad
- Nov 27, 2003 7:54 am (#2516 of 2707)
Edited by Nov 26, 2003 11:55 pm
You call Knick fans homers... you guys are fuckin ridiculous.
Karl Malone is one of the greatest players EVER to set foot on a basketball court. I upped him big time in my last post. If you don't think I give him the credit he deserves, fine. But get the fuck off my back.
As far as schooling Oakley, congratulations. Oak was TOUGH. Malone has the ENTIRE PACKAGE. The discussion was about toughness, and it can be interpreted in different ways (to which I ALSO alluded in my post).
This shit's gettin old. I'm out.
- Nov 27, 2003 9:20 am (#2517 of 2707)
Well, my comments were more directed at Kenny.
I think that was the deal, we're not trashing you Madman, or Oak. my comments were about Malone > Zo.
Thanks Mad for having my back.
Imagine 2 Jazz fans not concuring with me about Malone.... LOL!
Listen fellas, I'm not even debating Malone's greatness. I'm was talking about the emotion and toughness Zo played with.
As for Oak.... he was the toughest player in the L the last 20 years (along with Barkley) easily....and yea, I'm saying that because I saw Oak bust his ass for the Knicks for 10 plus years. Malone may be the total package, but Oak is tougher by far...and I'd put my money on Oak in a fight over Malone anyday.
And with that I'll just say we'll have to agree to disagree as I am done with the topic.
As for the Nets, nice win last night...too bad I fell asleep on the game.
- Nov 28, 2003 9:01 pm (#2520 of 2707)
You're high. Oak was tough, but Malone would wipe the floor with his arse. Being a thug and beating up on Jeff McGinnis doesn't make you tough. Playing every game, through injuries and the like does, however.
Like Amar said, you guys would be making statues of Malone if he played for your team.
Mad
- Nov 28, 2003 10:42 pm (#2521 of 2707)
It's unbelievable how defensive you guys get even when Malone is PRAISED. Sheesh (as Pacerfan would say)...
Malone is a choker
runs
Mad
- Nov 28, 2003 11:58 pm (#2523 of 2707)
BWAH!
right on BB's heels
Oakley was tough, but so was Malone. And Malone was better at everything else too.
Malone > Oakley
Mad
- Nov 29, 2003 3:44 am (#2525 of 2707)
I don't think anyone would argue that. It was a discussion about "toughness" originally alluding to Zo and his retirement, and I brought Oak into it (the homer in me). Malone was, and is, the isht.
- Nov 29, 2003 5:19 am (#2526 of 2707)
Sheeyit, Karl isn't even the best Malone of all time ;)
- Nov 29, 2003 5:22 am (#2527 of 2707)
BTW my 7-7 team just beat this 7-7 team. Jason Kidd was 3-3 from the 3 point line, unil his final attempt with 7 seconds to go...
- Nov 29, 2003 6:15 am (#2528 of 2707)
Karl isn't even the best Malone of all time
You going to tell me Jeff was better?
yeah . . . obviously jazz fans are going to big up karl, and cry foul when people who are saying nice things about him aren't saying ENOUGH nice things.
oak was tough, i will never say otherwise. malone is also tough. i don't know who is tougher, but i do say both are tougher than alonzo. who has his kidney problem because he resorted to pain killers in the first place, malone and oak never did start poppin pills after games. just give them a bag of ice and a nights' rest and they'll be ready for the next one.
kenyon martin is as tough as victor alexander.
man, PF's sure have gotten weak lately.
we've gone from people like Lucas and Marquice Johnson to Barkley and Malone to Coleman and Horace Grant to Christina Webber and Kenyon "i cried like a bitch on draft day" Martin . . .
- Nov 29, 2003 7:04 am (#2531 of 2707)
Coleman and Horace Grant
Unfair comparison. At least Horace came to play every night. Can you honestly say that about DC? BTW, those initials are shorthand for definitive carcinoma.
Mad
- Nov 29, 2003 8:09 am (#2532 of 2707)
LMAO @ Amar
You're right. Guys like Webber are really pussies. But calling Zo a pussy because he took anti-inflammatory pills... well, let me just remind you that, IIRC, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL HAS TAKEN/TAKES those same pills, or something similar. Anyone here think he's a pussy?
I don't see why shaq has to take those though, he only feels it if someone fouls him and then three days later when the shock wave finally ripples through his fat . . .
- Nov 29, 2003 9:35 am (#2534 of 2707)
Agree with Mad. That's goofy, Amar.
- Nov 29, 2003 10:07 am (#2535 of 2707)
Shaq's a pussy. I could kick his ass.
{runs to addressless Utah home}
- Nov 29, 2003 10:10 am (#2536 of 2707)
LMAO
Naw, screw that, Cap. You can take him. I got your back, Dawg.
Just kidding, Diesel...
Mad
- Nov 29, 2003 11:37 pm (#2537 of 2707)
heh heh
Oh yeah -- gotta once again thank Rod Thorn for Deke. This guy has been golden recently. He's playing like he did years ago. And we got him for a song.
- Nov 30, 2003 12:00 am (#2538 of 2707)
Wilyone: No... not Jeff, I was thinking someone who's name is more.... biblical...
The greatest offensive rebounder of all-time
Mad
- Nov 30, 2003 3:21 am (#2540 of 2707)
Gheorge Muresan?
BTW, to the Utah contingent -- I watched the first 3 quarters of the LA/SA game. Karl was fuggin SLICK. He made Devean George look like an All-Star reserve -- no mean feat.
- Nov 30, 2003 6:24 am (#2541 of 2707)
Gotcha, BG. Just blowing a little smoke, is all.
- Nov 30, 2003 8:32 am (#2542 of 2707)
Malone did look pretty good the other night. I mean, he's 40 years old, and still balling like crazy. Since he's not the man on that team, he can focus on other areas, and he's getting double digit boards this season too.
Edited by Nov 30, 2003 7:00 pm
Man the Nets are getting raped by the Webber-less Kings!!!
Mad
- Dec 1, 2003 3:01 am (#2544 of 2707)
Good GRIEF this team sucks. How bloody embarassing.
- Dec 1, 2003 4:21 am (#2545 of 2707)
Somewhere in California, Jason Kidd thinks about San Antonio and cries.
- Dec 1, 2003 4:25 am (#2546 of 2707)
He was so stupid not to go there.
doesn't his wife have a job with the nets? at LEAST she's getting paid . . .
jason kidd is so stupid in general.
(on joining dallas as a rookie "i'm going to turn this team around in a 360 degree direction!")
Mad
- Dec 1, 2003 6:19 am (#2549 of 2707)
Anybody want a french fry?
Edited by Dec 1, 2003 9:18 am
ney jersey sucks! woo! jazz will send you home packing! we have a better record than you guys, and our starters for this game (two starters injured) are better than your starters!
| ANDREI KIRILENKO | KENYON MARTIN |
| (17.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg) | (17.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg) |
| MATT HARPRING | RICHARD JEFFERSON |
| (16.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg) | (14.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg) |
| GREG OSTERTAG | JASON COLLINS |
| (6.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) | (7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) |
| RAUL LOPEZ | JASON KIDD |
| (7.1 ppg, 3.9 apg) | (17.4 ppg, 9.5 apg) |
| D. STEVENSON | KERRY KITTLES |
| (11.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg) | (12.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) |
- Dec 1, 2003 6:24 pm (#2551 of 2707)
All that Kidd hating aside, he's better than any PG on any of our teams' rosters...just sayin'...
I guess, if by PG you mean WB (wife beater) . . . give arroyo jason kidd type minutes, jason kidd number of years starting in the L and you'll see similar results.
and you can't stop billups. dude always torches the other team (in NBA Live at least)
- Dec 1, 2003 6:29 pm (#2553 of 2707)
Don't even get me started on Chauncey right now. He's shooting like Iverson with two broken hands the past few games.
I like Arroyo, too, but ya gotta do it for a few seasons before you're in a class with Kidd.
- Dec 1, 2003 6:42 pm (#2554 of 2707)
I still like Baron and Marbury better than Kidd this year.
- Dec 1, 2003 6:49 pm (#2555 of 2707)
Edited by Dec 1, 2003 10:50 am
Well, Baron's team is playing pretty well, a good argument there, and Stephon's actually improved, but I'd still rather have Kidd. I like his boards and steals, I think when your PG is capable of grabbing 10 or 12 boards, it really does give you an advantage on the break; eliminates the middle man, if you will. What if he had finishers like Stoudemire and Marion at this point? That would be scary. Baron is one bad landing away from injury usually, and Steph is still prone to shooting his team out of games.
It's close, and getting closer, though, I'll give you that.
baron and steph are more clutch . . . personally i'd rather have iverson though, at least you have to defend him . . . the next time kidd makes a jumper when his team needs it will be the first time.
- Dec 1, 2003 7:05 pm (#2557 of 2707)
Edited by Dec 1, 2003 11:05 am
I don't know, from a personal standpoint...Kidd was pretty damn clutch in the Eastern Finals last year, which also happened to double as a pretty big stage, one that Baron and Steph have yet to reach. Seemed like he hit every big shot he took against us.
Ivy's not a PG, though, anyway. He's a tiny SG.
- Dec 1, 2003 8:09 pm (#2558 of 2707)
I just don't like how Kidd is such a poor shooter. Baron and Steph do what he does, but they shoot and drive much better and they can hit their FT's and shots.
B-Diddy could use some work on his FTs. He's back to .600 this year...
- Dec 1, 2003 11:11 pm (#2560 of 2707)
I don't think they're that much better at shooting, really. Obviously, Baron is gunning from behind the arc, but he only shoots about 40% from the field, certainly not anything to brag about. Steph shoots 42%, which isn't bad, but none of these guys are Stockton from the field. Heck, Kidd is shooting 37% from three, compared to 38% for Baron. Baron just shoots a shitload of them.
Kidd is a much better FT shooter than either guy, BTW. Baron shoots like 60%.
It's close, and perhaps getting closer, but I still think Kidd is the best PG in the L.
- Dec 1, 2003 11:13 pm (#2561 of 2707)
Didn't see BB's post about Baron's FT% until after.
It is a point, though, a resounding one. You want to be able to rely on your PG to make free throws down the stretch. It sucks to have to avoid throwing the ball in to your floor general because he can't shoot a free throw.
- Dec 1, 2003 11:14 pm (#2562 of 2707)
Where's nets 2?
- Dec 1, 2003 11:15 pm (#2563 of 2707)
I don't know, but if he shows up, I'll start helping everyone else trash Kidd. :)
- Dec 2, 2003 4:08 am (#2564 of 2707)
Amar, now you're just hating. That's like saying give Keyon Dooling John Stockton minutes, Karl Malone, and 17 years in the league and you'll get the same thing. Your fanboy is showing.
- Dec 2, 2003 4:20 am (#2565 of 2707)
LOL
Mad
- Dec 2, 2003 4:29 am (#2566 of 2707)
The Nets suck so badly. I can't believe these guys. Thankfully I haven't had to watch them this season yet.
- Dec 2, 2003 4:41 am (#2567 of 2707)
I can. They are the worst Finals team in 20 years. I love watching them get tooled for their greediness in signing Zo and cutting Deke. The Jazz are 4-1 against the new look Nets over the last 2 seasons plus tonight. The Jazz aren't that good. Gladly, neither is NJ. I don't usually get too excited about beating any EC team because there's really not rivalry there with the Jazz, but I just love whipping the Nets.
- Dec 2, 2003 4:42 am (#2568 of 2707)
Steady, Cap...you're about to be hit with a restraining order...!
- Dec 2, 2003 4:44 am (#2569 of 2707)
LOL
I love when the things I say keep coming true.
well, i have to hate on SOMEONE now that i'm not allowed to hate on jordan . . . and yeah, im not really an arroyo fanboy, a lopez one for sure, but kid is so awesome.
5 assists. 15 points.
mo williams and raul lopez (2 rookies) 16 points, 6 assists . . . (i think)
btw, jersey, was it good for you?
eff the Jazz...go Nets.
go where, go home after 3 games in the playoffs this season?
: p
- Dec 2, 2003 4:50 pm (#2574 of 2707)
Edited by Dec 2, 2003 8:50 am
3 games? Who are you, Tracy McGrady?
Edited by Dec 2, 2003 9:52 am
I can't stand the Nets. I use to like them a tiny bit when they had ZO, but now he's gone so Fuck em'
- Dec 2, 2003 7:14 pm (#2576 of 2707)
kenny-o 12/2/03 7:16am
Eff the Nets, bandwagoner. They wouldn't even make the playoffs last year in the West. Phoenix was better. Yeah, I said it.
- Dec 2, 2003 8:10 pm (#2577 of 2707)
3 games? Who are you, Tracy McGrady?
The only way McGrady sees three playoff games this season is if he buys tickets.
oh my, that's the best smack i've read all season. wilyone, i tip my hat to you.
- Dec 2, 2003 10:24 pm (#2579 of 2707)
It was actualy in reference to McGrady's mistaken belief that the Magic had won the first round last year when they won their 3rd game. I knew none of you were smart enough to get that.
I give ya props, BG. I got it.
- Dec 3, 2003 8:33 am (#2581 of 2707)
It sucks that I'm such a big fan of TMac or I would have had an absolute field day about it. It would probably still be in my tagline had it been Kobe.
Kobe's the better player...
T-Mac's a whinny beeyatch...
all those losses look good on tmac's resume . . .
TMAC is a better player than Kobe imho...but TMac is on the sorriest team of the decade. I hate to say it but they should have kept Miller and Kemp....yea Kemp. A big body who can rebound and shot.
Captain Dougus 12/2/03 11:14am
Hey Cap'n
I've never liked the Jazz (who have been tearing it up as of late). But I've always look at the Nets as my second team to the Knicks...thus my lack of impartiality...so;
fuck
the
Jazz
period.
lol@kenny
Edited by Dec 3, 2003 8:43 am
You're high, Kenny. Tracy aint the player Kobe is.
Kobe's a better defender, Shooter, Passer. Should I continue?
Look, bottom line is... Tracy don't have the will to win Like Kobe. That's what separates them two. I mean, T-Mac couldn't even put the Pistons' out of the play-off's after a THREE GAME LEAD!
Oh, and not to mention his whinny ass about the Zone Defence rule.
- Dec 3, 2003 5:40 pm (#2587 of 2707)
kenny-o 12/3/03 6:59am
You're just mad because the Jazz have lost to the Knicks like twice in the last ten years.
{runs}
- Dec 3, 2003 5:40 pm (#2588 of 2707)
You could still plug TMac in to the Lakers for Kobe and they'd still be champs.
- Dec 3, 2003 5:42 pm (#2589 of 2707)
LOL the bottom line is that Tracy doesn't have Shaq. Trade Tracy with Kobe, you still have titles. THey maybe only have 2 instead of 3 because Tracy didn't develop until the second title year. And the Magic shouldn't have had a 3 game lead in the first place because they were the 8th seed. Kobe's defense is overrated, calling him a better shooter or passer is highly debatable.
Fair enough, say what you will...but there's NO WAY Kobe would EVER be on a 17 game losing streak, dude. NO WAY.
btw, kerry kittles is the mvp of the nets. him and lucious harris combine to form the most deadly shooting tandem outside of inner city public highschools.
- Dec 5, 2003 3:35 pm (#2592 of 2707)
And to THINK he had an opportunity to play in Chicago but brushed it off assuming that he'll play alongside a healthy Grant Hill and Tim Duncan.
- Dec 5, 2003 5:26 pm (#2593 of 2707)
Yeah, because Chicago was looking like a REAL nice place to play at that time.
- Dec 6, 2003 9:32 am (#2594 of 2707)
What with the huge Ron Mercer acquisition and all. ;)
Edited by Dec 6, 2003 12:22 pm
LOL! Money!
You're high, Kenny. Tracy aint the player Kobe is.
Me high? Thats has nathan to do with it :-) Kobe is better, but only because of circumstance. Reverse the situation and you'd say the same about TMac
Captain Dougus 12/3/03 9:40am
how did you know Cap'n? :-)
Jason Kidd had 16 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his NBA-leading sixth triple-double of the season and second in a row.
Kidd had 24 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in Friday night's win over Detroit.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the third time Kidd had triple-doubles on consecutive nights. He also did it Dec. 17-18, 1999, and Jan. 12-13, 1996.
It's hard to figure out why some NBA fans disrespect Kidd so much.
- Dec 28, 2003 7:52 pm (#2597 of 2707)
Well, it's because he's a bitch.
Incognegro
- Dec 28, 2003 8:00 pm (#2598 of 2707)
Hehe..
Artyshellz
- Dec 28, 2003 8:56 pm (#2599 of 2707)
KIDD IS PIMP!!
CD is a hater!
- Dec 28, 2003 9:14 pm (#2600 of 2707)
KIDD IS PIMP!!
You're right, slappin' his women around like he's a pimp...
lol...
- Dec 29, 2003 8:51 am (#2602 of 2707)
Well there are worse things you can do to a woman than slap them. Right Kobe? Right Ruben?
Item: Entering the weekend, 10 of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference are below .500, and the Nets (17-14) are the only team in the Atlantic Division that has won more than half of its games.
What it really means: The Nets remain the team to beat in the East despite their horrific start that didn't reach two games above .500 until after Christmas. At this pace, the East will have the worst overall winning percentage since the league expanded from 18 to 22 teams with the acceptance of the four teams from the defunct ABA in 1976. The West has had eight teams below .500 twice before (1996-97 and 1980-81) and the East once (1991-92). There have been three instances -- Kansas City (1980-81), Portland (1985-86) and Washington (1987-88) -- when teams have finished second with below .500 records. Playoff seedings anyone?
- Jan 3, 2004 5:55 pm (#2604 of 2707)
even back in the day when the power was in the east, I don't think the west was THAT bad....
- Jan 3, 2004 6:09 pm (#2605 of 2707)
Two-things.
Shaq-leaving-as-a-FA-from-EAST-to-WEST.
Boston-getting-FUCKED-out-of-Duncan-in-the-Lottery.
........
So-sick-of-hearing-the-West/East-shit...the-East-is-building-young-talent-right-now-where-some-Western-teams....Mavs/Kings/Blazers...have-horrible-contracts-and-really-nowhere-to-build-upon-what-they-have....plus...in-Kings/Mavs-case...they-don't-play-defense.
The-swing-will-start-in-2-years-or-so.
- Jan 3, 2004 6:22 pm (#2606 of 2707)
Like I said, I totally agree that it's a cyclical thing. The point I was making is that I don't remember the west being as bad as the east, ever.
- Jan 3, 2004 6:27 pm (#2607 of 2707)
Detroit-and-Chicago-ran-shit-for-awhile.
- Jan 3, 2004 6:28 pm (#2608 of 2707)
What-do-you-expect-when-the-most-dominating-player-goes-West?
Not-to-mention-Boston-getting-fucked.
If-Shaq-doesn't-go-go-West-and-Duncan-goes-to-Boston....shit-goes-through-the-East.
- Jan 3, 2004 7:09 pm (#2609 of 2707)
Even if Duncan had landed in boston, the west would still be a juggernaut. Had Shaq stayed in the west, I would agree. But a lot of eastern conference teams made some real strange decisions.
- Jan 3, 2004 7:22 pm (#2610 of 2707)
Duncan-has-won-TWO-titles...True...the-West-would-still-be-better....but-Boston-would-be-a-major-challenege....if-everything-had-played-out-and-they-still-drafted-Pierce...oh-boy.
- Jan 3, 2004 8:48 pm (#2611 of 2707)
If Jordan doesn't retire the first time, the West may not have won any titles in the 90's. As it stood, Houston barely got by the Knicks the first time.
- Jan 3, 2004 9:40 pm (#2612 of 2707)
They wouldn't have drafted Pierce, Timmy would have improved their record too much for that to happen, IMO.
- Jan 3, 2004 9:44 pm (#2613 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 3, 2004 1:44 pm
"I don't remember the west being as bad as the east, ever."
Didn't the Clippers make the playoffs at one time in the 90's? Probably late 90's. Nuff said!
- Jan 3, 2004 9:47 pm (#2614 of 2707)
Larry Brown coached them. They had a decent team that year.
- Jan 3, 2004 9:59 pm (#2615 of 2707)
And there were plenty of other bad moves besides Shaq moving West and Duncan ending in SA. The entire West is as a whole much stronger than the East. It's not just about the two players who are winning championships, It's about on average WC teams are much better than EC teams. Look at the 80's. the East clearly was the better conference (though not by the margin we're seeing now) but if you JUST went by championships, the West won 5 titles. Now it just happens that all five were won by the Lakers, so the Lakers were the equal of any team in the East, but other than that, the East was better.
Other just crap-tacular moves:
Charolette trades Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac
Milwaukie trades Dirk Nowitzki for Tractor Traylor
Washington trades Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond
Washington trades Rasheed Wallace for Rod Strickland
Chicago trades Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Milwaukie trades Ray Allen and Ronald Murray for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason, Payton stays in the East for less than half a season then returns west
Orlando trades the draft pick that would become Amare Stoudamire for Jud Bucheler
New Orleans, one of the top 3-4 teams in the East moves to the West next year, while an expansion franchise will enter the East.
In a four player trade, Terrel Brandon goes East, Latrell Sprewell goes west
Milwaukie trades Sam Cassel for Joe Smith
Detroit trades Bonzi Wells for the the 27th pick in the following year's draft.
There may be more, but imagine if all those players were still in the East?
I think the Clippers made the playofs twice in the 90s...
- Jan 4, 2004 1:50 am (#2617 of 2707)
belgian - you're right. the clippers made it once in the early 90s with Larry Brown and again in the late 90s with Bill Fitch.
People always forget the Bill Fitch one.
- Jan 4, 2004 8:57 am (#2618 of 2707)
I left out Antoine Walker for Raef LaFrentz.
Edited by Jan 4, 2004 8:15 am
Still trying to figure out the value of that trade for the Celtrics.....unless it was salary cap issue...but Raef just signed a long term deal for muchos dineros last season.
As it stood, Houston barely got by the Knicks the first time.
Great series wrong outcome...
All I have to say about the East/West situation....the East will rise again....just a matter of when. But I've never seen so many teams below .500 in East. It does suck...but also give the chance for the Knicks to make the playoffs. Gotta find a silver lining somewhere.
C MAC
- Jan 4, 2004 4:50 pm (#2620 of 2707)
When the Bulls won their titles the West had about the second through sixth best teams in the NBA....the shift has been to the west for over ten years now. It's more than just a cyclical trend.
IMO, a lot of it has to do with the WEst having more desirable free agent locations and it today's world of the teams being on an even $$$ ground location location location is important.
- Jan 4, 2004 8:24 pm (#2621 of 2707)
I think it may well be a money issue, too. Many western states don't have state income taxes, and this also influences free agents' decisionmaking.
Another issue is that it seems that the smartest and most aggressive owners are in the west (Dallas, Sacramento, the Lakers).
- Jan 7, 2004 5:59 am (#2622 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 6, 2004 9:59 pm
so.....
how many games is K-Mart gonna miss for that GI Joe kung-fu grip he put on Maggs?
- Jan 7, 2004 6:34 am (#2623 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 6, 2004 10:35 pm
kenyon you ass
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- A blowout victory for the New Jersey Nets was marred by a blowup between Kenyon Martin and Corey Maggette.
Jason Kidd had his second straight 30-plus point game and Nets held the Los Angeles Clippers to a season-low 28 first-half points in a 92-75 win Tuesday night. Martin and Maggette were ejected after exchanging punches in the third quarter, and both face automatic suspensions.
Kidd hoped the punishment would not be severe, especially with the Nets having won four straight and 13 of 16.
"Unfortunately, at that point, with a 26-point lead, you wish something like that would not happen," Kidd said.
The altercation occurred with 7:08 left in the third quarter after Martin committed a hard foul on Maggette on a drive to the basket. Maggette appeared to shove Martin to the court, and Martin got up and went after Maggette.
Martin walked past reporters after the game without commenting.
"I didn't push him, I hope he understands that," Maggette said. "I know Kenyon is a hothead sometimes, he takes things the wrong way. Like I said, I'll let the league handle it and go on with it."
Maggette said he was surprised when Martin grabbed him by the throat. He wasn't sure whether he hit Martin with a punch or was hit by him.
Maggette sent a ball boy down to the Nets locker room while the game was in progress and offered to apologize. Martin turned down the offer.
"I know things happen and I think I am a bigger man to go talk to him and try to apologize about the situation, but I guess he declined so I am going to move on," Maggette said.
Nets coach Byron Scott felt Maggette overreacted.
Clippers Mike Dunleavy thought Martin might have tripped over his own feet instead of being pushed. He also wasn't surprised by the timing or type of foul.
"That's Kenyon Martin," Dunleavy said. "He does that. He's up 26 points and he does that."
Mad
- Jan 7, 2004 6:46 am (#2624 of 2707)
"That's Kenyon Martin," Dunleavy said. "He does that. He's up 26 points and he does that."
LMAO! Dunleavy's got his number.
Hard to imagine Kenloon and Maggot getting in a fight. They're usually so professional...
- Jan 7, 2004 8:59 am (#2626 of 2707)
Kenyon isn't. Maggette is.
Isn't Maggette the guy who bangs his fists against his head every time he makes a shot? Or is that Richardson...or both? Along with Miles. Nah, that isn't professionalism. That's just trying to draw attention to yourself as an individual in a team sport.
- Jan 7, 2004 1:48 pm (#2629 of 2707)
Maggs is a pro
he sent the balboy down....
Q & Miles do the headbang thing, I dont see how that matters either way
- Jan 7, 2004 2:48 pm (#2630 of 2707)
I agree. That doesn't equate with being unprofessional, anyway. Goofy maybe...
- Jan 7, 2004 7:03 pm (#2631 of 2707)
I think Q does the thing. Maggette is one of the leagues good guys, which is why I'm surprised as hell at this altercation.
- Jan 7, 2004 7:32 pm (#2632 of 2707)
if you watch the replay....
Maggs aint do shit to deserve that, I've never really paid him too much attention but the fact he sent the ballboy over says alot about his character. Rick Fox would've circled back through the tunnel and escalated the situation.
Secondly, the Nets were blowing thm out, K-Mart is a fag.
- Jan 8, 2004 12:18 am (#2633 of 2707)
Yeah, Maggette doesn't do that headbanging shit.
One way or another Martin is a bitch who needs to get bitchslapped. The way he disrespected Zo still lingers in my memory.
Break a leg K-Mart...
- Jan 8, 2004 6:30 am (#2635 of 2707)
I am so glad Portland didn't trade for this guy. He is exactly the same thing as Rasheed Wallace. And New Jersey is about to sign him to a big contract. Rasheed Meanwhile only has about six months to go with Portland (crosses fingers)
Dare dies after collapsing at home
Jan. 10, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. -- Yinka Dare, the New Jersey Nets' first-round draft pick in 1994, has died after collapsing at his home. He was 32.
A medical examiner determined that Dare, pronounced dead Friday at Englewood Hospital after being rushed to the emergency room, had a heart attack due to an arrhythmia condition that was discovered when he was in college at George Washington.
He collapsed while preparing breakfast after a routine morning workout at his home.
The 7-foot-0 Nigerian center played 110 games in four seasons with the Nets, averaging 2.1 points and 2.6 rebounds. He had only four career assists, none in his first two seasons.
While at George Washington, he led the Colonials to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under coach Mike Jarvis.
Dare is survived by his parents, Gabriel and Joan, and two sisters and a brother.
- Jan 11, 2004 5:45 am (#2637 of 2707)
...damn...
word...
My man L pointed this out
but why is the writer hating on Yinka posthumously by disparaging him for his paltry assist numbers?
- Jan 11, 2004 6:03 am (#2640 of 2707)
I don't think my man yinka had much else going for him, NBA statswise....
LMAO@Money
- Jan 11, 2004 6:06 am (#2642 of 2707)
just saying.... obviously, my condolences to the family 'n' all
LOL
- Jan 11, 2004 6:25 am (#2644 of 2707)
Money, anything cooking out there? Haven't heard a word, which usually isn't a good sign in my book.
- Jan 11, 2004 6:29 am (#2645 of 2707)
he and i just got back from CES. I was under the assumption that he would try to get in touch with you.... I'll buzz him again.
- Jan 11, 2004 6:38 am (#2646 of 2707)
Ah...gotcha. Hadn't factored in the trade show weirdness.
- Jan 11, 2004 6:21 pm (#2647 of 2707)
What-a-Stinka.
Eddie Griffin will be a great player if he finally gets his act right.
Edited by Jan 20, 2004 8:35 pm
Good article Rah....
Nice insight on the young man. I did not know all of that was what led up to last Oct. I wish him well..and he has to know this is his last chance, I hope he makes the most of it.
Geritol Lakers - Jan 22, 2004 4:14 pm (#2650 of 2707)
Brooklyn Nets? NY Nets??
Or a entirely different name?
Brooklyn would be more appropriate, but NY is cool with me too.
- Jan 22, 2004 5:28 pm (#2652 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 22, 2004 9:29 am
The media is reporting this as if it's a done deal. It's not. The sale still needs to be ratified by 75% of the NBA ownership groups, and the move will need a simple majority by same group to pass. What's Ratner going to do if he buys the team but can't get approval to move them? I can't imagine that Dolan is boneheaded enough not to lobby actively against this. What happens if Ratner can't jam the arena proposal through and get it built?
But then, this is Dolan we're talking about. Mr. TunnelCableVision.
- Jan 22, 2004 5:41 pm (#2653 of 2707)
Is there any division leader that's more pathetic than the New Jersey Nets? 21-19 and leading a division? Gimme a break.
Edited by Jan 22, 2004 10:28 am
LOL...stop hatin'
To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen a division is professional sports this sorry since Major League Baseball's AL West before it became competitive.
- Jan 22, 2004 6:34 pm (#2655 of 2707)
A few reasons not to buy your Brooklyn Nets gear right away:
More hoops Ratner has to jump through to get his project built:
1. The MTA would have to make room for the arena on the LIRR train yard adjacent to the Atlantic Avenue terminal.
2. Ratner also needs the state's Empire State Development Corp. to condemn the 211-acre site (including the rail yard), a process which involves public hearings and stringent environmental review. So far, according to the Times, the state has been noncommittal about its willingness to help.
3. The developer has also asked the city for roughly $150 million in infrastructure work, including condemnation, roads, sewers and the relocation of LIRR tracks on the arena site. Significant relocation of utility lines will also be necessary. The city has been generally favorable to the idea, but has made no formal commitment.
4. Ratner has also had discussions with the state and city about devising a mechanism which would funnel roughly $28 million in taxes from the project into covering debt service on the construction bonds for the arena. That would include $9 million annually in sales taxes as well as income taxes on players participating in events at the arena.
5. The Ratner group needs the state and city to approve zoning changes which would allow for a project of 7.7 million square feet. The high cost of the arena and surrounding infrastructure will be subsumed by the overall project: 4500 apartments, 300,000 square feet of retail space, and four buildings containing a total of 2.1 million square feet of office space.
From looking at this a little more closely, I think it's something of a pipe dream. Hell, is Metrotech completely occupied? Given the job losses in the financial services sector alone in the last three years, how the hell are they going to find tenants for that much office space? The more I look at it, the less sense it makes.
After reading your post Wily, Ratner, Jay-Z and Co have quite a few hoops to jump through. The way the Bloomberg has slashed the city budget over the last few years...where is 150MM going to come from...hotel and car rental tax hikes (again)?
- Jan 22, 2004 7:31 pm (#2657 of 2707)
The way the Bloomberg has slashed the city budget over the last few years...where is 150MM going to come from...hotel and car rental tax hikes (again)?
Good question, Kenny. I couldn't tell you. I'd be more concerned with Ratner's wanting to turn tax revenue into coverage of debt service. Isn't additional tax revenue supposed to be part of the appeal to the city?
- Jan 26, 2004 4:49 pm (#2658 of 2707)
Coach Scott FIRED!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1718853
- Jan 26, 2004 4:59 pm (#2659 of 2707)
scorched earth by jason kidd and his alien-headed baby huh?
- Jan 26, 2004 6:08 pm (#2660 of 2707)
a poll on the subject.
Interesting questions. I don't think they'll be in the finals this year, I do think they've peaked, I think Kidd is a reason that Scott was fired, sort of a 'well we can't fire him now or everyone will blame you Jason, so we'll wait till we struggle next year and do it'.
- Jan 26, 2004 7:07 pm (#2661 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 26, 2004 11:08 am
I don't think they'll be in the finals this year
I agree. They're not nearly as dominant at home as they were the last two seasons, and though they'll make the playoffs, not having home court advantage through the Eastern Conference finals will make it difficult for them. I also get the sense that chemistry on that team isn't what it was before. Now they've got to shoulder the burden of expectations, and that might be a little too heavy for them.
Nagging injuries haven't helped, either. Nor has the loss of Mourning, who one way or another had been regarded as the piece of the puzzle that would get them over the top.
I do wonder how much of their struggle has been the result of Eddie Jordan's taking over the Wizards.
Wily
Byron was never HC material, having said that Jason Kidd's a cancer in the squad.
- Jan 26, 2004 8:40 pm (#2663 of 2707)
Kidd-has-always-and-will-always-be-a-cancer.....shit...the-guy-even-is-to-his-wfie....he's-the-definition-of-a-bitch.
- Jan 26, 2004 9:08 pm (#2664 of 2707)
No doubt. I read a report that said he went to the owner and said the players need a "new voice" in the locker room. What an asshole.
- Jan 28, 2004 5:07 pm (#2665 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 28, 2004 9:07 am
Scott the Asshole
Well that asshole got the Nets to the championship two years in a row after being doormats in the East for many many years. The Nets will regret that they fired this asshole when they start losing games and become a lottery team again.
- Jan 28, 2004 5:16 pm (#2666 of 2707)
I hate the Nets. There really isn't a more classless organization in the L right now. Kidd is such a prima donna.
C MAC
- Jan 28, 2004 5:34 pm (#2667 of 2707)
Oh come on, who is classless other than Kenyon Martin (who has gotten better). Kidd is an ego-centric prick but so are 80% of the league's stars. The organization isn't classless.
- Jan 28, 2004 5:38 pm (#2668 of 2707)
You think Kidd is classy? I mean, he hops from place to place, gets his coaches fired, feuds with teammates, hits his wife. Yeah, real classy, old Ason Kidd. They're classes in the way they fired Byron Scott, who did nothing but good to them. Time for GM's to take a stand and not cater to bitchy little players like Jason Kidd.
C MAC
- Jan 28, 2004 5:49 pm (#2669 of 2707)
"Kidd is an ego-centric prick"
Did you honestly interpret that characterization as "classy"?
- Jan 28, 2004 5:51 pm (#2670 of 2707)
I guess I'm tired of coaches taking the fall for players because "I don't like my coach this year. Time for a new one." attitude. Leading a team to back to back Finals appearances and 2 divisional titles, and leading (albeit a crappy one) division this year doesn't deserve to be fired. It's ludicrous. He deserved a contract extension for his good job, not to be fired by a player. Kidd is a bitch, and I hope that bitch rots in the Swamp for the rest of his career.
- Jan 28, 2004 5:53 pm (#2671 of 2707)
Interesting column in yesterday's Newsday (sorry, no link) suggesting that perhaps Scott has finally gotten what's coming to him in return for his participation in the Laker mutiny that got Riley canned so many years ago.
History does have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it?
- Jan 28, 2004 10:41 pm (#2672 of 2707)
Ouch.
- Jan 28, 2004 10:46 pm (#2673 of 2707)
Riley got canned from the Lakers? I thought he resigned, though that does seem like eons ago.
- Jan 28, 2004 11:18 pm (#2674 of 2707)
Hey, did some searching and found a link:
http://www.nynewsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-sppow0127,0,2743561.column?coll=nyc-topheadlines-right
- Jan 28, 2004 11:21 pm (#2675 of 2707)
what goes around.............
- Jan 28, 2004 11:24 pm (#2676 of 2707)
eff 'im, ain't nobody in the L sheddin' a tear for Byron.
- Jan 29, 2004 3:19 am (#2677 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 28, 2004 7:19 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1719353
Monday, January 26, 2004
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
As a championship-winning shooting guard, Byron Scott was selected by fans and coaches to play in precisely zero All-Star games.
As a conference-winning coach in New Jersey?
He made it to one All-Star Game, and yet somehow was even more unappreciated.
Scott completed one of the most curious bench tenures in NBA history on Monday, when months of speculation led to the only thing in life as inevitable as death and taxes finally became official. The New Jersey Nets became the 16th team -- in a 29-team league -- to make a coaching change since the end of last season.
The bet here is that it won't be long before Scott regards this as a blessing, because his 3½ seasons with the Nets brought him mounds of irritation and almost no credit. He will get another job in the near future, probably another good one, and perhaps he'll even get some of the kudos if he can take his next team to the NBA Finals.
With the Nets, of course, he never got any. They won only one NBA playoff series before Scott got there, then made back-to-back trips to the Finals with Scott as coach. And yet it was Jason Kidd, Rod Thorn and assistant coach Eddie Jordan -- with an assist from the weakest Eastern Conference of all time -- who were seen as the catalysts for the success.
The guy in the upper deck who starts the "N-E-T-S, Nets, Nets, Nets" chants is regarded as a more pivotal figure than Scott at Continental Airlines Arena.
Ridiculously unfair.
The actions of Nets players indicated that they were waiting for the axe to fall on Byron Scott, right.
As important as anything to the Nets' success over the past two seasons was how Scott mellowed after a rough rookie season in which he admittedly rode players too hard, Kenyon Martin, specifically. Scott also helped make the Nets tough and accountable, traits he instilled in his players much like the hard-driving Pat Riley did with Scott's Lakers.
Yet that was never enough for Kidd, who liked Jordan better and wanted Jordan to take over as head coach after New Jersey lost to San Antonio in six games in last spring's Finals. Thorn did not have management's blessing to give Scott a contract extension in the offseason, but he also didn't want to fire his successful young coach. He was hoping Scott could prove his detractors wrong and eventually forge a truce with Kidd through success this season.
So Jordan was allowed to leave to coach the Washington Wizards, and Scott unflinchingly accepted the challenge of trying to win back the team's support as a lame duck on the last year of his contract.
It didn't work. It didn't work for one game. The Nets looked listless from Opening Night, and their body language frequenty suggested that they were waiting for Scott's inevitable dismissal. There was a brief flicker of promise right after Christmas, when New Jersey won in Detroit and Indiana on back-to-back nights, but that's all we've seen of last season's Nets. Kidd decided during the Finals that Jordan was better tactically than Scott, and if Kidd couldn't have Choice A, the $103 million man was going to lobby for the unknown Lawrence Frank to take over. Just like Kidd pushed for (and received) the signing of Alonzo Mourning, who demanded a four-year, $22-plus million contract without consenting to a physical.
Maybe Frank will turn out to be the next Jeff Van Gundy, as the former Bobby Knight student manager at Indiana has been described. But that's not the sort of Cinderella rise to X-and-O prominence that happens every day in coaching.
Maybe merely removing Scott will bring some much-needed stability to a supposedly Brooklyn-bound franchise. Re-signing Kidd in the summer was supposed to provide that stability, but the Nets have only known sale, coaching and trade rumors ever since.
Thing is, even if those good things happen for the Nets, you'll still have a tough time justifying Byron Scott's firing to me. Or at least the constant scorn Scott was subjected to. He's a better shooter, to this day, than anyone he coached in New Jersey, and that lack of a consistent perimeter threat or much of a bench didn't stop him from doing a lot of winning. It won't say so in the newspaper archives, but trust us: Scott was responsible for more than a few of those Ws.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, click here to send a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
- Jan 29, 2004 6:40 pm (#2678 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 29, 2004 10:40 am
Just because Scott's getting a dose of Karma is irrelevant. He was doing a fine job coaching the Nets and they will, once again, become a laughingstock because the owner is allowing the inmates to run the asylum.
Scott did not deserve this treatment karma or not...there are worse coaches in the L who are still coaching.
Captain Dougus 1/28/04 9:51am
I agree Cap'n.
- Jan 30, 2004 10:25 pm (#2680 of 2707)
Look at me and Kenny, agreeing on all kinds of shit these days.........
(can't have that)
Malone is better than every forward who has ever played for the nets in the nba, and could kick kenyon martins ass with the mvp trophies he has, that same ones no one on the nets will ever get.
malone is also better than barkley.
Mad
- Jan 30, 2004 11:37 pm (#2682 of 2707)
Hey Amar, long time no post!
Barkley rules.
- Jan 31, 2004 1:31 am (#2683 of 2707)
Malone is better than DR J?
hey mike/mad, what's up?
did dr j play for the nets in the nba, or just the aba?
anyway, interesting book out there for peeps who like to argue about sports:
"who's better, who's best in basketball" -- elliott kalb.
basically produces arguments for players, and re ranks the top 50 list for today (i guess, 2002).
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071417885/qid=1074475069//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/102-9130408-1143334?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
I'd suggest to anyone who loves the nba game to buy the book, ewing is 38, dr j is 15, malone is 17 according to him . . . guess who's first? nope, it's not jordan . . . (all the detroit fans start clicking furriously)
Wassup Amar....hope all is good your way.
- Jan 31, 2004 2:19 pm (#2686 of 2707)
Edited by Jan 31, 2004 6:20 am
pretty clever amar, I raised my eyebrow when you made that statement then noticed you put in the "nba" qualifier
kenny, things are ok, i guess . . . just getting upset over the medical profession being put in control by the bean counters.
t-dot, yeah, i was pretty clever there, don't expect me to be clever for another 5 months now.
amar: I saw that Shaq was #1???
- Feb 1, 2004 1:49 am (#2689 of 2707)
If Shaq was listed at number 1 that list loses all credability.
Jordan was only #3
- Feb 1, 2004 8:17 am (#2691 of 2707)
I can handle Jordan at 3, but the two before him have to be Russel, Wilt, Robertson, Bird, Magic, West, etc. Any of these are acceptable. Shaq does not have the competitive drive of any of these, he coasts on his talent.
the book has some arguments, it is a good read. you don't have to agree with everything someone says to understand its' value. it's not the bible of the nba, but this guy has done his homework and has seen alot more bball than any of us have.
on page 10 the guy goes on a huge section called "shaq in the postseason: or why he's number one on this list." pure domination. hard to argue with that. (he had to play his career vs. akeem, robinson, dikembe, et al)
which SG's did jordan play against in the playoffs and dominated? ehlo? hornacek? hersey hawkins? that's a point i never thought off previously, shaq put of crazy numbers (40-20 games) vs. legendary centers in the playoffs.
anyway, top 10:
1. shaq
2. wilt
3. mj
4. russell
5. kareem
6. Bird
7. Magic
8. the big O
9. duncan
10. cousy
- Feb 1, 2004 8:31 pm (#2693 of 2707)
Please. Shaq only played against one of those players in their prime and he got his ass swept in the finals. What does playing against another great shooting guard have to do with it? The NBA has always been dominated by big men. When Jordan drives past his man, he's got to deal with the best big man on the opposing team: Ewing, Malone, Shaq (after his comeback), etc. Jordan out played Patrick Ewing for years which shouldn't have been possible for a guard. Ewing had a natural advantage. Jordan also had a competitive drive that Shaq didn't have. MJ didn't spend weeks on the injury list nursing a fake injury as many have alluded Shaq has done. MJ didn't get jealous of the attention Pippen got, he lobbied for Scottie to be MVP after the season was over, not some empty words before the season started. If Shaq had the drive of Karl Malone he would be the greatest of all time. But he doesn't. His drive is barely greater than Michael Olowakndi's, natural talent is what he's coasted on.
Edited by Feb 1, 2004 8:06 pm
My top 10 included;
Wilt
Russell
MJ
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Big-O (the orignal Mr triple doupble)
Shaq
Duncan
KG
- Feb 2, 2004 4:26 am (#2695 of 2707)
Edited by Feb 1, 2004 8:26 pm
I think it's a little early to add Duncan and KG. Maybe when it's all said and done but for now I'd go West 9, and then take your pick at 10: Havlecik, Hakeem, Dr J, whoever.
You know BG, I was struggling adding KG and Duncan to the frey for just that reason....but when it is all said and done...this is the list.
And I was thinking Dr J too...
- Feb 2, 2004 5:02 am (#2697 of 2707)
KG is a tough one for me, because there are plenty of other cats who are just as good that I left off because they didn't win a title. Is KG better than Karl Malone? I don't know. Ewing? Barkly? Stockton? I personally would not put anyone in the top 10 if they didn't win a title and right NOW Karl Malone would get the nod over KG. And yes, I realize KG has more years on him, but with that in mind, I still give Karl the nod. Ask me again in 8 years.
all things considered, i don't think drexler gets his due props. he was the man in portland, beat some talented lakers teams (with magic on them) to get to the finals twice (detroit / chicago). then went to a struggling houston team and rolled come playoff time. i think the only time two team mates had 40 in the same playoff game vs. utah in game 5 i think.
he has the ring, and the talent. a class act. fantastic dunker. no off court problems. just in jordan's shadow . . . like everyone else from the mid 80's - 90's.
- Feb 24, 2004 3:03 am (#2699 of 2707)
Shaq is top ten for Schizzles!
Tim Duncan has as many rings as Hakeem
KG needs to make it out of the first round before he gets near that list otherwise he ain't much better than Mitch Richmond.
Barkley should make it on personality alone!
KG is an exception because he is the best player in the L imho....
- Feb 24, 2004 10:27 am (#2701 of 2707)
I agree with Amar about "The Glide". He was such a great player, and he's way underrated.
think the only time two team mates had 40 in the same playoff game vs. utah in game 5 i think.
Reggie and Jalen did it.
Russell, Jordan, Bird, Magic, West, what the hell, i didn't watch anyone pre-80's play ball...
Hey Guys
Just checking in.
oh yeah go nets!!
- Jul 3, 2004 2:11 am (#2704 of 2707)
NBA Eastern Conference boards now available to use
- Jul 3, 2004 8:10 am (#2705 of 2707)
Go away SpammeR!
- Jul 3, 2004 2:53 pm (#2706 of 2707)
hehehehe
ZO MOURNING
Is playing pretty well.
New Jersey Nets