After tonight, the season will be exactly have way done for the Nets, and we only have three wins right now.  Wow...I knew we wouldn't have a lot of wins, but this is crazy.  Anyway, against the Suns, I like the Nets chances of keeping it close.  The Suns are coming in on a four game losing streak (doesn't it seem like the Nets are always going up against teams that are struggling, yet they get destroyed?).  The Suns love to run up and down the floor and shoot the three, if they are making their shot, the Nets are in trouble.  If not, the Nets have a chance, even if they fall behind early.  The Suns are notorious for getting big leads and squandering them because they don't change their style of play.  They are running and gunning all game long.  Onto the lineups!

Devin Harris vs. Steve Nash

This is going to be a very tough match-up for Steve Nash.  Nash loves to penetrate and explore options.  Despite his speed, Devin Harris has trouble stopping penetration.  I think Nash could put up a 15+ assist game tonight if his teammates are hitting shots.

Advantage:  Steve Nash

Courtney Lee vs. Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson is having a pretty good year, but he has really turned into more of a spot up shooter as he ages.  He is shooting 38% from three, so you need to close out on him.  He can still drive though, but he looks for his shot more than anything.  I think Lee will be able to contain him, especially if Lee is aggressive on the offensive end, forcing Richardson to work on both sides of the court.

Advantage:  Jason Richardson

Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Grant Hill

CDR has really been lacking an aggression the past couple of games, and I hope that changes tonight.  Hill is a great comeback story, but he doesn't have the legs to keep up with an aggressive CDR.  If CDR decides to attack the basket, I can see him having a pretty big game.

Advantage:  Push

Yi vs. Amar'e Stoudemire

This is going to be a tough match-up for Yi on both ends.  Amar'e is athletic enough to keep with Yi on the outside and strong enough not to let him post up on the inside.  Plus on the offensive end, Amar'e is just a monster on the low block.  Yi is going to be in trouble here.

Advantage:  Amar'e Stoudemire

Brook Lopez vs. Robin Lopez

Robin Lopez got the first start of his career last game and he responded by putting up a career high 19 points.  The Suns inserted Robin Lopez in place of Channing Frye because they want to add a little bit of size.  Frye still will be getting a lot of minutes, and he is still very dangerous from 3.  I would imagine that when Frye enters, Yi will match-up on him and Brook will match up to Stoudemire.

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

Sebastian Pruiti

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Here he is folks. From last Wednesday's game against the Celtics, Hump's debut with the Nets, this is one of the first professional photos taken of Humphries in a Nets uniform.

Mark Ginocchio

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This game was lost on the defensive end.  So we are going to look at three different possessions where the defense is lacking.  You are going to notice some general themes that have been apparent all season.  Check the breakdown out after the jump:

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Sebastian Pruiti

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Tonight in Phoenix, there's going to be a double dipping of Lopez's.

Devin Harris talks to Dave D. about the team's lack of intensity: “I love being in battle with these guys,” Harris said from the US Airways Center practice gym, where the Nets prepared for Wednesday’s game against the Suns. “But there are certain marks in a game – and every team goes through it – where there may be a three-minute mark, where you don’t play well and your teammates do.

Kiki Vandeweghe agrees in Fred Kerber's version: "I think it's very clear we don't play hard," said Vandeweghe.

Not counting Nets basketball games, the Izod Center is actually a pretty successful arena.

Mikhail Prokhorov: prospective owner of the Nets, electric car pioneer.

Mark Ginocchio

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Fan On The Couch Mailbag

By Tony Maglio

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and congratulations to everyone who won tickets to Friday’s Nets/Pacers NBA D-League contest.  I wish it could have been a better game, but this is the life we’ve chosen as Nets fans.  I want to send a special “Thank You” to Patrick Quinn with Nets Basketball who helped us out with the ticket giveaway.  Pat’s a great guy and a terrific ticket agent; I suggest you use him for all your Nets ticket needs.  Tell him the Fan on the Couch sent you, offer him some Fruit by the Foot and he’ll hook you up.

Contact him at:

PQuinn@NJNets.com

201-635-3154

I won’t be able to get to all the questions in this installment, but I’ll try to get to as many as I can.  Continue to email any questions you’d like to see answered in future mailbags to Tony.Maglio@NetsAreScorching.com.  For now, on to the questions after the jump…

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Sebastian Pruiti

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Last week, the Nets lost all three of their games by double digits, including a game against the Boston Celtics that was never competitive from the start, and games against the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers where key stretches kept the Nets firmly at bay for the finish of the game.

The losses, combined with some earlier uncompetitive games since the turn of the New Year got me thinking about how the Nets penchant for getting blown away by the competition compares to other sorry teams in NBA history – and when it comes to the 3-37 Nets, there’s no better barometer for futility than the 9-win, 72-73 Philadelphia Sixers, who currently own the title of “Worst NBA Team Ever,” until further notice.

First, the good news for the Nets. The 72-73 Sixers lost games by an average of 12.1 points per game. While the Nets are right on their heels, they do own a smaller differential than the worst-ever with 11.9 points per game.  Also, the Sixers lost by 20 or more points, an astounding 17 times, or 21 percent of their total games. The Nets have only lost six games by 20 or more points, or about 15 percent of their games.

Where the Nets have the 72-73 Sixers beat – and this is not good – is their percentage of losses of 10 points or more. The Sixers lost 48 games by double-digits, about 59 percent of their total games. The Nets currently have lost by double-digits in 25 of their 40 games, 63 percent of their total games. What’s most alarming is the frequency these losses are starting to mount. Since the Nets second victory of the season against Chicago, they have lost 15 of 18 games by 10 or more points.

So what does all this mean besides what we already know – that the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets are a very bad team that is currently worthy of being grouped among the worst-teams of all-time? Well, for starters, it appears that this Nets team doesn’t take a punch very well from their opponents. While basketball has always been a game of runs, the Nets seem to very rarely get theirs in or otherwise, the margin of defeat would be smaller. Also, while the firing of Lawrence Frank seemed necessary at the time, the Nets appear to be getting considerably worse under the leadership of Kiki Vandeweghe, and this is with the full of assortment of players – Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and Keyon Dooling specifically – that Frank did not have at his disposal.

This will obviously be a statistic we can keep an eye on as the season progresses, but this is an alarming development.

Mark Ginocchio

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Yeah, I know the title sucks, but I am sick so you are just going to have to live with it.  The Nets came out yesterday and laid an egg in the first quarter.  On offense they were pretty effective (scoring 24 points), but they couldn't stop anything the Clippers threw out them.  The Clippers scored 39 points in the first quarter yesterday, and for the second straight game, the Nets allowed for one stretch of pretty good basketball take away from the pretty good basketball that they played the rest of the way.  The Nets just look lost on the defensive end (yes I know...Lawrence Frank had them playing great defense).  A number of times the Nets got their rotations wrong leading to wide open baskets underneath.  For all the poor defense (and there was a lot of it), the Nets did one thing right on the offensive end.  They cross matched Courtney Lee and Devin Harris.  What I mean by that is they had Courtney Lee covering the point guard Baron Davis, and they had the Devin covering the shooting guard Eric Gordon.  Not only was it pretty effective in containing Davis (only 9 points and 9 rebounds), but the Clippers got confused a number of times on the defensive end, and it lead to a couple easy buckets for Courtney (including one big dunk).  Aside from that though, the defense was horrendous.

On the offensive end, it was hard not to notice the lack of aggression that Chris Douglas-Roberts had throughout the game.  A lot of people want to blame Yi or the offense for the drop-off in CDR's shot attempts, but the real reason to me seems that he isn't attacking the basket with the same aggressiveness he had in the beginning of the year.  There were four or five times during the game yesterday where CDR had lanes to attack the basket (we will be looking at this in a breakdown once I get my hands on the game file).  Granted they weren't gaping holes, but they were lanes that CDR had previously attacked, but he pulled back and passed the ball off.  CDR attacked the basket twice the whole game, one he got fouled (it naturally didn't get called) and the other he finished strong.  So it isn't like when he drives he doesn't get to the basket, he does, and that is what makes it even more frustrating.  I don't know why this has happened.  A lot of people will point to this "Pass to the bigs at all cost" Kiki supposedly has, but I don't see it.  Kiki wants to run the offense through their big men, and as I said in the past, this is very smart to do.  But that means you have to give it to Brook every single time.  I am sure if CDR or Courtney Lee for that matter has a lane to drive, Kiki would have no problem with either of them doing so, then if nothing is there, throw it inside.

Speaking of throwing it inside, Brook Lopez had an awesome game, and he is showing why it is smart to run an offense through him.  Brook Lopez put up 23 on 10-13 shooting and it wasn't him shooting from the outside or anything like that.  He had success with his back to the basket against one of the better centers in the league.  No bullets today, I think everything I typed summed up the game pretty nicely.

Sebastian Pruiti

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Tom Barrise, who was Nets head coach for a hot minute after Lawrence Frank was fired, is now a special assistant to Rod Thorn.

Nate Robinson is lobbying for Terrence Williams to be in the dunk contest this All-Star Weekend.

The Baseline explores if teams can "reverse tank" - play veterans to try and pad win totals in order to attract free agents this summer.

The Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA, profiles the former UCLA star, and Nets coach, Kiki Vandeweghe.

You Fantasy Basketball folks out there should pay attention to Kirs Humphries.

More hearings on the Atlantic Yards Development.

Mark Ginocchio

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Welp, the Nets continued their 0-2010 run with a 106 to 95 loss to the Clippers.  The Nets used a garbage time run to make things closer than it really was.  At one point in the third, the Nets were able to cut the lead to 7 points, but they then hit the wall they normally do, and they just stopped scoring.  Part of it was Brook had to come out of the game, but the Nets once again settled for shots.

• Yi had his first really bad game since returning from injury.  13 points on 3-13 shooting, but a lot of those points came in the fourth during garbage time.  Yi looked like the Yi of old, refusing to attack the basket and settling for jumpers.  I can't wait to read about how Yi is struggling and he now sucks.  It is just one game people.
• Kris Humphries on the other hand had a great game.  He took a few bad shots, but other than that, he played great.  Humphries had 21 points on 9-14 shooting with 7 rebounds, and he just had an energy about his game.
• Brook Lopez had a great game in the post today.  He had his back to the basket game really clicking, and he was able to finish with a nice touch around the basket.  Brook finished with 23 points on 10-13 shooting.
• Besides that 39 point first quarter, the Nets played ok on defense, which is an upgrade from where they have been the past couple of games.  The lack of offense really hurt the Nets today.
• The Nets did something real interesting today, the put Courtney Lee on Baron Davis, sliding Devin Harris on Eric Gordon.  It worked (kind of).  Davis was held to 9 points and 9 assists.

Sebastian Pruiti

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As the month ends, the Nets have a run of pretty winnable games.  Over the next 8 games they play the Clippers twice, the Warriors, the Wizards, the Sixers, and the Pistons.  That is 6 games the Nets have a decent shot of winning going in.  However, we have seen how the Nets play when they come in thinking they have a shot (The last Bucks game comes to mind).  The Nets need to come out and play like they did against the Hornets, they need to challenge teams early, and they need to keep the score close as the games go on.  If they keep the game close into the 4th, the Nets have a chance to come away with the win (remember the Chicago game?).  Anyway, onto the lineups!

Devin Harris vs. Baron Davis

Guys like Baron Davis are the ones who give Devin Harris trouble.  He is a big guy who knows how to use his body well.  He isn't afraid to take a defender into the post and play with his back to the basket.  He also has the quickness to stay with Devin on the defensive end.  Though Devin Harris is coming off a very good game (22 and 9), so maybe Harris will be able to keep it going.

Advantage:  Baron Davis

Courtney Lee vs. Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon is a smallish-quick guard who is a great scorer.  He has a very quick release that prevents him from getting his shot blocked.  Courtney Lee should be able to use his size to contain him.  I also think Gordon's size will allow for Lee to have a good game offensively.  Courtney Lee should be able to get to his spot on the court and comfortably get shots off.

Advantage:  Push

Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Rasual Butler

CDR and Rasul Butler are similar body types but not they do not have the same playing style.  Butler is a defensive stopper who is a very effective shooter from the outside.  Chris Douglas-Roberts isn't the best defender in the world, and he doesn't usually settle for jumpers.  He likes to attack the dribble and draw fouls.  It is going to be fun to watch these two guys go at it.

Advantage:  Push

Yi vs. Marcus Camby

Yi vs. Camby is another interesting clash of styles.  Camby is a force on the inside, while Yi likes to float around on the outside and attack the basket.  You could be seeing a lot of jumpers from Yi today because Camby probably isn't going to follow him on the outside unless he starts hitting some jumpers.

Advantage:  Push

Brook Lopez vs. DeAndre Jordan

Chris Kaman is questionable for today, and that is a shame, because it would have been fun to watch him and Brook Lopez go at it.  Instead Brook will probably be going up against DeAndre Jordan.  Jordan is a big kid who is pretty athletic for his size.  He is very raw though, and I think Brook Lopez should be able to take advantage on both ends.

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

Sebastian Pruiti

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Last week, when asked about his the recent decline of his offensive production, Chris Douglas-Roberts cryptically talked about how he was playing within "the system." What system is CDR talking about? One theory is the "system" in question is the one designed by coach Kiki Vandeweghe that seemingly favors Yi Jianlian anchoring the offense.

This is fact. Of the six primary rotational players used by the Nets - Yi, Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, CDR and Keyon Dooling - Yi Jianlian is leading the team in field goal attempts with 14.09 per game since he returned from injury in December. So clearly, these field goal attempts are coming at the expense of somebody else's shots. Earlier this month, we looked at Yi's affect on Brook Lopez, but with CDR's recent talk of the "system," we thought it was better to look at all six players to determine who's shot total has been hindered the most by a Yi-centric offense.

For this analysis, we've broken the season into two parts, from 11/21/09 to 12/19/09 - the period where Devin Harris returned after missing three weeks with a groin injury, and then 12/23/09 to present, when Yi returned from his knee injury. Looking at shot selection before 11/21 would be futile, because the Nets were so decimated by injuries, so many players who otherwise would be buried on the end of the bench were getting playing time, skewing the overall numbers.

Also consider during these periods, CDR missed a few games with assorted injuries, and Courtney Lee was buried on Lawrence Frank's bench until he was fired and replaced with Kiki.

Here's the tally:

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Mark Ginocchio

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The Nets were outscored by 19 points (24-5 in total) during the final six minutes on Friday night?  Why?  Well it is because they failed to execute on both ends of the court:

Sebastian Pruiti

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