Andray Blatche shooting against his former team. (AP)
... MORE →
Nets
Benny Nadeau
In honor of Brooklyn's inaugural season, we're rolling out analysis, highlights, and more on each Brooklyn Nets player, one per day. Welcome to Gerald Wallace Day, AKA #CrashBack.
By the numbers: 69 G, 68 GS, 30.1 MPG, 7.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, .7 BPG, .397 FG%, 637 FT%, .490 TS%, .448 eFG%
Advanced: 11.6 PER, 101 ORtg, 104 DRtg, 14.5 USG%, 3.9 ORB%, 14.3 DRB%, 9.1 TRB%, 13.3 AST%, 2.5 STL%, 1.7 BLK%, 3.1 estimated wins added
Do you remember the feeling you got when you played Rollercoaster Tycoon and created the most amazing, insane and physics-bending rollercoaster that seemingly cruised along with relative ease until the track suddenly ended and all the pixellated guests went up in fiery destruction?... MORE →
raya lim
In honor of Brooklyn's inaugural season, we're rolling out analysis, highlights, and more on each Brooklyn Nets player, one per day. Welcome to Gerald Wallace Day, AKA #CrashBack.
@dwill8, via Instagram
Devin Kharpertian
In honor of Brooklyn's inaugural season, we're rolling out analysis, highlights, and more on each Brooklyn Nets player, one per day. Welcome to Gerald Wallace Day, AKA #CrashBack.
It's no accident that Gerald Wallace's nickname is Crash. Wallace treats his body like a temple, if the purpose of a temple was to take an aluminum bat and smash it to pieces in the name of making a proper basketball play. No player exemplified frantic kinetic energy more than Wallace on a nightly basis, and we at The Brooklyn Game salute Wallace's unending commitment to playing his way. Be very afraid of sitting in the front row for Nets games with Gerald Wallace around.
With that said... Please take care of yourself, Gerald Wallace.
Max Weisberg
Buried in a story by Milwaukee Bucks beat writer Gary Woelfel on Saturday night was a tidbit about the Nets reportedly having interest in former Bucks coach Scott Skiles. From the Journal Times:
The NBA pre-draft camp is always fraught with rumors. One that started percolating Saturday pertained to Brooklyn’s search for a new head coach.
Some NBA officials claim the Nets are honing in on Lionel Hollins, Memphis’ coach whose contract will soon expire. The Nets’ interest in Hollins is hardly surprising, especially considering the terrific job Hollins has done this season.
What is surprising, though, is that the Nets also have put Scott Skiles on their short list. Skiles was fired by the Bucks in January after four-plus tumultuous seasons in Milwaukee. Under Skiles, the Bucks had constant internal issues and qualified for the playoffs just once.
This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following Brooklyn's slow-moving head coaching search though. Last week, Sam Amick of USA Today, reported that Skiles was indeed on the Nets' list. At this time, we've heard the current list of coaches consists of three names -- Skiles, Lionel Hollins, and Brian Shaw -- all of whom have been recently connected with the opening in one way or another.
As for Skiles, he's a 49-year-old, Indiana native who's compiled a 443-433 (.506%) winning percentage in his 13-year head coaching career. His last stop with Milwaukee started in 2008 and ended with a "mutual parting" this past January. Skiles didn't quite enjoy coaching the Milwaukee Bucks and did not want an extension with the club that would have kept him around past this season.
In 42 career playoff games, Skiles is just 18-24 and has never made it past the second round. He is known as a tough-minded coach who occasionally clashes with players. During the 2010-2011 season, Skiles' Bucks finished dead last in OffRtg but also finished fourth in DefRtg.
Devin Kharpertian
Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez put together a career year this season on both ends of the floor. He averaged 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game on 52.1% shooting, recorded a PER that ranked fifth in the league, and committed to a stauncher defensive effort than in any of his previous seasons. Lopez earned the first All-Star appearance of his career this season, was Brooklyn's best player during the playoffs, and his overall production this season will likely earn him his first appearance on an All-NBA team.
I, in a wonderful bout with homerism, suggested the first team, but Lopez himself shrugs off those comparisons.
"It's not really personal – there's not much left personally," Lopez told Ben Couch of the Brooklyn Nets. "It's just a matter of winning. That's the bottom line. I think that really separates the best of the best in the league from the rest."
Lopez certainly can't slouch this offseason. He's got a lot of work to do to improve his overall game, most notably continuing his evolution on the defensive end and improving his non-scoring offense. But this year was the first step towards that peak. Next step: leading a team past the first round.
Read More: Brooklyn Nets -- Brook Lopez's Game Grows in Brooklyn
Shirt game Brook Lopez.
I, in a wonderful bout with homerism, suggested the first team, but Lopez himself shrugs off those comparisons.
"It's not really personal – there's not much left personally," Lopez told Ben Couch of the Brooklyn Nets. "It's just a matter of winning. That's the bottom line. I think that really separates the best of the best in the league from the rest."
Lopez certainly can't slouch this offseason. He's got a lot of work to do to improve his overall game, most notably continuing his evolution on the defensive end and improving his non-scoring offense. But this year was the first step towards that peak. Next step: leading a team past the first round.
Read More: Brooklyn Nets -- Brook Lopez's Game Grows in Brooklyn
Devin Kharpertian
Jamaal Franklin (AP)
Jamaal Franklin confirms he will workout for Dallas (13) and Brooklyn.Still omitted with a sprained ankle.
— Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) May 16, 2013
Franklin, a 6'5" junior guard from San Diego State, averaged 16.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game this past season, shooting 40.4% from the field. He measured out at 191 pounds with a huge wingspan of 6'11.25", but only shot 27.9% from beyond the three-point line this season.
Here's what DraftExpress had to say about his game in April:
While playing primarily as a jack-of-all-trades combo forward for the Aztecs, Franklin projects to be a shooting guard at the NBA level, with good size for the position at 6'5”, to go along with a solid build and what appears to be a long wingspan. He also stacks up very well athletically, and should have an easier time than most NBA rookies adjusting to the NBA game from a physical standpoint.
Playing as San Diego State's primary playmaker and shot-creator, Franklin carried a large load for the Aztecs as a junior, and he displayed tremendous versatility, leading the team in scoring, assists, rebounds, and steals per game.
His best asset, however, may be his outstanding motor, as he appears to be a great competitor, playing with major intensity and toughness on both ends of the floor.
This is on display on the offensive end, as he always seems to be in attack-mode, using his quick first step and aggressiveness to make his way towards the basket in transition and in the half-court, where he's able to finish effectively at the rim and get to the free throw line at a high rate.
Despite his strong scoring instincts and ability to create off the bounce, Franklin struggles to score efficiently (48 2P%, 28% 3P% as a junior), as he too often settles for long range jumpers and difficult shot attempts. He also turns the ball over a high rate (4 times per-40), as his aggressive mentality causes him to over-penetrate and get a bit out of control at times.
Some of this may be attributed to a large burden he carried for the Aztecs offensively, but he'll need to play more within himself and show better decision-making in order to find a role at the NBA level, where he'd likely be more of an opportunistic scorer.
DraftExpress has Franklin projected as the 21st pick in the draft. The Nets pick 22nd.
Devin Kharpertian
Now that the inaugural Brooklyn Nets season has come to a close, Billy King's next major step comes on June 27 during the 2013 NBA Draft, hosted this year at Barclays Center. The Nets currently have the 22nd pick in the draft, and King attended this year's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago to scout.
"You're just trying to see guys' skill level," King told Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. "You've already seen a lot of them at college. So at this point, you're seeing how they interact, how they take instructions from the coaches, and see how hard they play."
King said the combine is not a "make-or-break" for most potential draftees, but an added component to consider when looking at a player's body of work. He said he puts more stock in their season performance and individual team workouts. He also did not tip his hand about potential players, positions, or roles he's looking to fill, or if he's looking to draft based on talent or need.
"This is good for the measurements you get, for the interviews ... this can't be the only thing you base your decision on, this is only a part of it," he added. "You get to learn about them as people."
Players
de02de02de02RT @MarsDaBlackman: When I get married I'm walking the aisle to rocko - uoeno
7 hours ago
Coach K is an incredible leader. Playing for him and representing my country has been a blessing in my career and I'm glad he will be back
8 hours ago#NETS
RT @AdamZagoria: John Calipari here in the building at the #Nets to watch Julius Mays
45 minutes agoTHE BK GAME STAFF
Feel like it's NBA destiny that Lance Stephenson is becoming the next DeShawn Stevenson.
29 minutes ago Funny: Brook Lopez was snubbed from the All-Star voting ballot for the same reason that he should've made an All-NBA team.
5 hours ago Barclays wins Sports Facility of the Year in its rookie season. Thank you Oculus. http://t.co/m5M16AtSxX
8 hours ago Why would a coach sit his star center in crunch time? On a related note, PJ Carlesimo on ESPN talking last night's game.
9 hours ago-
-
