Brook Lopez, one of the few Nets to play in every game this season, is looking to move on from his rough game Monday night, which was capped off when he walked out on the media afterwards: "I hold myself to high standards and I didn’t meet them and then obviously the loss (factored in), too," Lopez continued. "Then after the game I felt I didn’t hold myself right, I didn’t act right. It was just a lot of stuff altogether."

Dave D'Alessandro looks into what could be frustrating Brook Lopez: Lopez averages only 14.2 shots per game — that is the second-lowest average among the top 25 scorers in the league. And the befuddling part is that his shots have dropped sharply (to 10.0 per game) in the three games that the Nets’ top shot-taker (Chris Douglas Roberts, 14.3) has been absent. So something is askew. They’ve stopped running pick-and-rolls for him. They rarely look for the lob over the top when he is fronted. They never re-post it when he sends it out against a double-team.

Kiki Vandeweghe and company are not willing to sacrifice their salary cap space and minutes for their younger players just to get a veteran that would add a couple of wins: "If we can improve it without impacting next year, you always try and do that. To me if we can add assets going forward, that’s important. We’re not looking to bring in veterans to take the time of young players. To bring in somebody here to take Brook’s minutes, or Devin [Harris’] minutes, Yi’s minutes or Courtney’s minutes – we’re not looking to do that. If we can augment, we’ll augment."

When it comes to the Nets, the Izod Center is in its finals days: A concessionaire selling T-shirts and sweatshirts said he could not lower his prices, as one customer hoped. “But just wait, it’ll be free in a few weeks,” he chuckled.

CCTV talks about how Yi Jianlian's career high in points Monday night was overshadowed by the Nets loss.

HoopsWorld breaks down each team's performance after 30 games, including the Nets, who get an "F."

After Bruce Ratner's eminent domain victory in Brooklyn last month, Norman Oder of the Atlantic Yards Report takes a walking tour of Brooklyn.

Mark Ginocchio

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The game against Houston was a good game.  The Nets showed they can play with one of the better teams in the Western Conference.  If they continue to play with teams, they are going to be able to snag a couple wins, I am sure of it.  Anyway, here is the breakdown from the game, enjoy.

Sebastian Pruiti

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(un)Happy New Year!

By Tony Maglio
After losing to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves for a SECOND time this season, I’m guessing the Nets players and coaches woke up to find mostly coal in their stockings on Friday morning.  And much like how coal takes tens of thousands years to turn into diamonds, it might be the same length of time before the Nets turn this around.  Possibly longer.

I faired better than them under the Christmas tree last week, but received no Nets-related gifts this year.  This is in no way a bad thing.

I did have one piece of Nets gear on my list though: the new adidas shooting shirt - but my father’s appropriate and accurate reaction was simply, “The Nets suck”.  I’m pretty sure Santa would have said the same thing.

My girlfriend considered buying it for me a little longer than that and asked me whether I would want it personalized or of an existing Nets player.  Now, ordinarily I am against anyone over 12 years old wearing a personalized custom jersey of a professional sports team, but I realized it might be even more embarrassing to choose any of these current players to support in public.  Plus, between the injuries and poor play, the way this season is going, I figure I might have an actual shot to make the team.  Or at the very least I could walk out of the stands and hit enough jumpers during the shoot-around to fit in.  So I figured if I had the official gear I wouldn’t arouse much suspicion.  But unfortunately for NBA.com, much like three-quarters of the Nets season tickets seats – this was not purchased.

The only time I find it otherwise acceptable for a grown man to wear a personalized team jersey is if it is customized in a humorous manner.  My friend Dave has been generous enough to let me in on his family’s Giants season tickets for years now.  After a few frustrating seasons of suffering through too many Luke Pettigout penalties, Dave decided he was going to get a jersey customized that said: “FALSE START, 77”.  In that spirit I was considering getting the Nets shirt made up to say “AIRBALL, 2” – but considering Josh Boone will probably be out of the NBA in six months, I decided that would be wasteful.  So as it stands, if any NetsAreScorching fans are searching for a late Christmas gift for me, I’ll make an exception on my own rule and take “MAGLIO, 42”.  Or just send cash.

Speaking of the G-men, I just returned from their final game at Giants Stadium where the home team got beaten so badly that it should have been played across the NJ Turnpike at the Izod Center.  With a closing stadium, a displaced hockey team, an empty basketball arena with a team on the move, a bankrupt and unfinished indoor ski slope – now is not exactly the golden age of the Meadowlands.  It was sad to leave our beloved mezzanine seats and take a picture of the old stadium for the last time – but it was possibly even sadder that the Izod Center in the background spoiled the photos.

While there are not enough holidays in December for this team to get everything they want and need, no team should be happier to say goodbye to 2009 than the Nets.  In that spirit, I thought I might suggest some New Year’s resolutions for the players/coaches:

Brook Lopez: Resolve to play offense in the second half.  Seriously, this guy is such a stud early, and does essentially nothing late.  Is he aware of the number of quarters that make up a basketball game?  On Wednesday, my buddy Crack and I exchanged gifts and then watched the T-Wolves ruin Christmas.  On the first six Nets baskets, Lopez had five assists.  He finished the game with just two more and only nine points, which means the offense wasn’t run through him at all – game over.  At least I got a Bo Jackson throwback.  In a related resolution…

Kiki Vandeweghe: Get the ball inside to Brook late.  I’m sure Lopez gets doubled more later in the game, but how often do the Nets need to come back and then miss jump shots to seal the loss?  This guy is making 2009 Lawrence Frank look like 2004 Lawrence Frank.

Terrence Williams/Courtney Lee: One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to quit smoking.  While some of the Nets run the floor like they’re long time smokers, what some of these guys really need to quit is shooting.  This group is highlighted by Terrence Williams and Courtney Lee.  Put the ball on the floor.  Especially T-Will.  This guy dunks like he’s in “NBA Jam” and shoots like he’s in “NBA Live 10”.

Chris Douglas-Roberts: 1) Fire agent.  2) Learn how to pass.  I’ve seen this guy throw more wayward passes than Jamarcus Russell.

Devin Harris: Resolve to get back to all-star form.  I don’t know if this is a health issue, a reps issue, or a lack of help issue – but I refuse to believe it is a lack of skill.  I’ve seen Harris just TAKE OVER games in the past with his speed.  And although he scored, when I saw him get absolutely broken down on the defensive end against Minnesota - I chose to believe he still isn’t 100%.  Festivus was not over until Johnny Flynn pinned him.

Josh Boone: Should resolve to return to UConn to finish his degree.  And I don’t mean in the summer – I mean right now.  Leave the team, and go back to school.  We’ll all be very proud of you.

Yi Jialian: Lift.  Try the Body By Jake Tower 200.  I got one for Christmas and I love it already.  Come by tomorrow – Tuesday’s arms and back.  It’s boring, but it’s a part of my life.

Eduardo Najera: Take up golf.

That’s all for now guys.  Have a safe and Happy New Year’s.  And much like the annoying/un-clever co-worker who says the same thing every December 31st – see you next year!

Sebastian Pruiti

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I was once again asked to do something on Yi for ESPN's Daily Dime.  Here is a small excerpt:

When Yi Jianlian put up 22 points and 8 rebounds in his return from a sprained right knee against Minnesota on Dec. 23, I was excited. However, that excitement quickly turned into trepidation. Yi has had performances like this in the past, the problem is that he hasn't been able to do it night in and night out. Even though it is a small sample size, the past three games are starting to ease my worries, because he is now showing that he can perform on a consistent basis.

You can see the rest of it by clicking the link above...

Sebastian Pruiti

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Daily Thunder,  Welcome to Loud City, Devin Harris Interview

After about 30 minutes of basketball between the Nets and the Thunder last night, I was in a good mood. The Nets were playing hard and sticking with another team that's better than them (and with two wins, who's not better than the Nets right now?), Yi Jianlian looked to be the second-coming of Dirk Nowitzki, and the Nets were surviving another off night by Brook Lopez by getting some clutch buckets by guys like Trenton Hassell and Courtney Lee. The Nets were resembling the new and improved version of themselves, that first started to peek out at the world last Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sure, they still haven't won any games since this latest incarnation revealed itself, but their effort and execution against the Wolves, and then the Rockets on Saturday night was generally solid, regardless of the final score.

So I'm thinking at around the 5:40 mark of the third quarter with the Nets up 72-70 off a three pointer by Lee, even if they end up losing to the Thunder, I'm going to look at the bright side of things, because the Nets were now a better team than the one that got killed by the Hawks and the Raptors a few weeks ago. It's the very least I can ask for in this otherwise dreadful season.

Regrettably, my cheeriness and optimism was wiped out by the time the final buzzer sounded, and the Nets were outclassed by yet another team, falling 105-89 to the Thunder, their 10th loss in a row, and second double-digit losing streak of this young season. My happy thoughts about the direction of the Nets were lulled to sleep, much like how Kevin Durant manages to lull me into thinking the Nets had him contained, only to realize he's scored 40 points on 15-22 shooting. When Durant drove baseline in the fourth quarter off a pass from Russell Westbrook and finished with an emphatic reverse jam for the basket and the foul, putting the Thunder up 93-78, the last of my good will was jolted out of me.

Another day, another bad Nets loss, and another opportunity for me to openly wonder where and when can the Nets find their victories this season? It's getting to the point where I'm openly bartering with the basketball gods - I'll take the bare minimum - give me 10. Just no more history books. No more futility to top all futilities.

After going up 72-70 and the third, the Nets were outscored 35-17 the rest of the way. That's an 18-point differential in approximately 18 minutes of basketball, at the most critical juncture of the game.  At one point, the Nets had missed 13 of 14 shots over the third and fourth quarters. After getting to the free throw line 21 times in the first half, they only got to the line four more times in the second. They couldn't even do the little things right, like control a jump ball after Tony Battie tapped it over to Trenton Hassell at the 10:53 mark in the fourth, and Hassell couldn't handle the tip and turned it over.

The putrid performance over the last 18 minutes essentially overshadowed another fantastic game by Yi Jianlian, who had a team high 29 points on 11-20 shooting. He only attempted (and missed) one three-pointer, but Yi was able to do it on an assortment of long twos and drives to the rim. He also got to the free throw line 9 times, converting 7. It's obviously begging the question: "who is this guy?" and I can't blame people for being shocked by his performance. These past three games have been the best I've ever seen Yi play in a Nets uniform. Could it be, amidst this disaster of a season that at least one player is breaking through the projected glass ceiling of his potential and proving his doubters wrong?

The same can't be said for Brook Lopez the past three games. While Yi's stock is way up, Lopez is resembling stock in print media right now. Another mediocre game that was helped considerably when he got a couple of cheap buckets late in garbage time, finishing with 10 points on 5-11 shooting, along with 7 rebounds. But Lopez's body language is just awful. And what was with him slapping away coach Kiki Vandeweghe's hand when he took a seat on the bench in the first quarter after collecting his second foul?

Some more final thoughts after the jump:

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Mark Ginocchio

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The Nets and Thunder were locked in an entertaining game for about two-and-a-half quarters at the Izod Center tonight, but after the Nets went up 72-70 in the third, they were outscored 35-17 over the final quarter and a half, losing their 10th game in a row and falling to Oklahoma City 105-89.

• Yi Jianlian continues his strong showing since his return from injury, matching a career high with 29 points and 7 rebounds on 11-20 shooting. Yi also nabbed two steals.
• Kevin Durant was unstoppable most of the evening, totaling 40 points on 15-22 shooting, including a runner as the buzzer expired at the half, and a couple of electrifying dunks in the fourth quarter as the Thunder were pulling away.
• Nenad Krstic stuck it to his former team, scoring 19 points on 7-12 shooting.
• Devin Harris was quiet offensively, totaling 11 points, but he did register 11 assists.
• Brook Lopez continued his recent funk with 10 points on 5-11 shooting. He also grabbed 7 boards.
• Rough night for the Nets bench, as Tony Battie, Terrence Williams, Keyon Dooling and Rafer Alston totaled 8 points on 2-15 shooting.
• Courtney Lee quietly had a nice night offensively, with 17 points on 7-13 shooting.
• The Nets were outrebounded again, 43-33.

The Nets are now 2-29. They face the New York Knicks at home on Wednesday night.

Mark Ginocchio

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Before we start talking about tonight's game, I wanted to talk about something I found pretty interesting in Dave D's pregame post:

Let us descend into the Ugly Archives this glorious afternoon.

Through 30 games, the Nets’ scoring differential is a minus-11.2.

The last team to post a double digit point differential were the 99 Clippers.  If you stop and think about it, it makes sense, the 2 Nets wins were close one meanwhile, a fair amount of 28 losses were in blowout fashion.  As the wins start to come (and yes I still believe they will come), you will start to see this point differential go down.

Looking towards tonight's game, Dave D. has the health updates:

Injuries: Josh Boone had an MRI, which was clean, but he’s out. CDR will practice tomorrow, but he’s out. Ditto for Jarvis Hayes. And Rafer Alston will return tonight.

So good news, we won't miss out on poor basketball because Rafer replaces Josh Boone.  In all seriousness, Josh Boone looked real good coming off the bench (now that Yi has wrestled the starting lineup away from him), and it sucks that he got hurt.  Good to see CDR and Jarvis returning to practice tomorrow.  It is going to be interesting to see how Kiki uses Dooling and Rafer off the bench as well.  Because Boone is out, expect Battie to get some more minutes backing up Yi (he has been backing up Brook exclusively).  Also plan on seeing some Sean Williams...well, maybe...Onto the match-ups!

Devin Harris vs. Russell Westbrook

T'his is going to be a real fun matchup to watch tonight.  Russell Westbrook has turned into a great offensive point guard, but he is pretty average on offense, so hopefully Devin can get himself into the lane.  I think that was the most frustrating thing about the Rockets game on Saturday.  He had the advantage on Aaron Brooks in terms of being able to get into the lane, but I think he just settled for far too many jumpers.

Advantage:  Push

Courtney Lee vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Thabo is the Thunder's version of Courtney Lee.  A very good defender, who can contribute on the offensive end by hitting shots every now and then.  With Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook that is all you need really.  Thabo is so versatile, he may even draw Devin Harris on the defensive end.  From DailyThunder:

I said Russ will likely guard Harris, but I could see Westbrook sliding over and checking Courtney Lee and Thabo getting the Harris assignment. You’ve got to love the versatility of the unit. I’m sure Scott Brooks loves these options.

Advantage:  Thabo Sefolosha

Trenton Hassell vs. Kevin Durant

If CDR was healthy this could have been real fun to watch.  Two tall and lanky scorers with funny shots going at each other.  CDR's ankle is still swollen (as someone who just sprained his ankle in Atlantic City, it sucks), so we won't get to see this.  Trenton might be able to contain Durant (read:  hold him under 25 points) but he is going to have to be physical with him.

Advantage:  Kevin Durant

Yi vs. Jeff Green

Yi has put together a nice two games, but until he does it for like 10 straight games, the question is going to be "can he do it again?"  I think he can, and it is because he is being more aggressive.  His shot wasn't really falling against Houston, so what did he do?  He attacked the basket and got his points in the paint and from the line.  That willingness to attack the basket was what was missing his first few years in the league.  Jeff Green has quietly been putting together a very nice season.  He is a great second option for the Thunder, and he should take advantage of Yi on the offensive end.

Advantage:  Jeff Green

Brook Lopez vs. Nenad Krstic

Brook Lopez is going up against a big body in Nenad Krstic, but I think he should be able to have himself a nice game tonight.  With Yi and Dooling back, the court will now be opened up for him.  This is becuase Dooling and Yi are knockdown shooters, and defenses are forced to stay with them.  Look for Brook Lopez to put up bigger numbers moving forward.

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

One final note: Fan on the Couch wasn't posted this morning, but you will see it tomorrow morning.

Sebastian Pruiti

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Next up in Bloggers Talk is Royce Young, from the fantastic Thunder TrueHoop site, Daily Thunder, which is so cool, they even have their own t-shirts (we need to get some of these on Nets Are Scorching, right folks?).

NAS: Give Nets fans a reason to be optimistic. The Thunder were a young/inexperienced team last season that started terribly and got better as the season went along, and are now hovering around .500. What happened with the Thunder that brought them together and got them playing better and what does the roster need that should boost them up to the next level?

I feel bad. I'm honestly having a hard time finding a connecting factor between the two teams that could give Nets fans reason for optimism. Not to sound like a Laker fan, but OKC has Kevin Durant to build around. New Jersey has... Brook Lopez? That said, the Nets roster has talent and their 2-28 record isn't a good indicator of the ability of the team. I felt that exact same way about Oklahoma City last year when it was 3-29 on New Year's Eve. The Thunder made a commitment to starting new in 2009 last year and did so with a solid January and carried it over to a quality 20-30 finish to the season. That should be the goal for New Jersey. Forget 2009 and focus on 2010 and make an effort to build momentum into the offseason.

NAS: On that note, the Thunder just finished a rough part of their schedule where they were 3-5 against many of the league's top teams. Any moral victories you took away in some of those losses?

The Laker loss at Staples might be a defining game later on. In three games against the defending champs, OKC has lost by just three in two of them. But maybe even more encouraging was the win in Phoenix the following night. After an emotional letdown against the Lakers, the Thunder turned around and beat a Suns team on their home court, a place they had only lost once prior. The most difficult part of the Thunder's schedule should be behind them now, so pressing on above .500 is very, very exciting.

NAS: What are your thoughts on the Eric Maynor acquisition from Utah? Where does he fit in on Oklahoma City?

I turned my coffee table over and broke a window in excitement. I was a big fan of his before the draft last year and really hoped OKC would target him with its second pick. Utah got him before Presti could, but to get him for virtually nothing is excellent. The Thunder needs a long term backup to play behind Russell Westbrook and a guy that can change the pace. Maynor is definitely that guy.

NAS: Where does Kevin Durant rank in your mind among the best players in the NBA right now?

Disclaimer: I'm a homer. I unabashedly love KD. So keep that in perspective. But I'd put him in the top eight. He can score with anybody - he'll toss up 34 and you won't even notice it - but he's really improved himself defensively. He's learning how to take over games late. He's probably not a Tier One player yet, (the LeBron, 'Melo, Wade, Kobe, Chris Paul stratosphere) but he's right on top of the Tier Two guys. Keep in mind, he's just 21. Imagine his skillset when he's 26. Scary. Well, for other teams.

Mark Ginocchio

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A young franchise, with up and coming players and a star to build around struggled for the first two months of the season, only winning two of their first 24 games.

Your 2009-10 New Jersey Nets? Yes. But also your 2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tonight's game at the Izod Center should be an interesting matchup for the Nets, not only because the Thunder come to town with a 15-14 record, and their main guy, Kevin Durant, playing like a superstar, but because the Thunder are a great example of a young team that struggled initially, but was able to grow together and become a much better team. As Nets fans, we can only hope this year's team, can follow the same trajectory as last year's Thunder.

Granted, the Nets don't have a player on the level of Kevin Durant currently on their roster, but in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, they have two guys who have flashes of superstardom.  If you add in a high lottery pick in June, the continued development of young role players like Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Terrence Williams and Yi Jianlian, and of course a free agent or two, and suddenly the Nets not only resemble the Thunder, but they could possibly grow at an even quicker pace into one of the league's better teams.

Don't take my word for it, just hear what coach Kiki Vandeweghe has to say about it, as reported by the always fantastic Ben Couch:

“Could they have won more games letting the veterans go, retarding the growth of a Durant?” Vandeweghe asked, rhetorically. “Yeah, they probably could have won a few more games, but that’s not the path they chose. It took them two years to get there; we’re trying to do it within a year, but it’s a tried-and-true method (of) almost force-feeding your guys. And that’s what they did in Oklahoma, they force-fed their guys and they got good results.”

The Thunder finished with 23 victories last season, after finishing December with only 4. While they were able to take advantage of their schedule, grabbing some victories against bottom-feeding teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, as the season wore on, they were able to pick off some of the league's best teams, including the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs (twice).

This season, the Thunder have already beaten the Orlando Magic at home, and the Spurs and Phoenix Suns on the road. Of course when you talk about the improvement of Oklahoma City, a lot of the focus starts with Durant, who in his third season, is averaging career highs in points per 40 minutes (27.9) and Player Efficiency Rating (23.12).

But the improvement doesn't stop with Durant. Jeff Green, a 23-year-old forward, is utilizing an improve turnover and assist ratio to raise his PER from 13.99 to 14.4 this season. Starting Center (and old friend of the Nets) Nenad Krstic, has improved since coming back from Russia last year, averaging 14.5 points and 9 rebounds per 40 minutes, on 48 percent shooting, good for a PER of 14.06, after essentially playing himself out of basketball in 2007-08, his last year with the Nets. Rookie James Harden is a sparkplug off the bench, averaging 10 points, on 36 percent shooting from three. Another rookie, Eric Maynor, was recently acquired from the Utah Jazz to back up Russell Westbrook at PG. Westbrook is having a similar season points-wise to last year, but has also improved his turnover and assist ratios, to jack up his PER and pure point rating.

Outside of Durant, and possibly Westbrook, these are not yet household names, yet the Thunder are keeping their young heads above water in the tough Western Conference. While there's still a lot can that go wrong for the Nets, the Thunder should hopefully provide hope for what can go right. While adding someone on the level of LeBron James or Chris Bosh is nice, it's not a necessity. The Nets just need to stick with their plan of rebuilding, even if it means an ugly record in November and December.

Mark Ginocchio

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Just a quick look at everything that's been going right for Yi Jianlian, who looks like a different player since his return from injury Wednesday night.

As always, be sure to check out our Nets Are Scorching video page on YouTube, for up to date videos and other goodies.

Mark Ginocchio

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After starting the season 0-18, the Nets are staring down the barrel of another double-digit losing streak tonight, according to Julian Garcia of the Daily News.

Many Nets are impressed with Yi Jianlian since his return (so is Nets Are Scorching, see our update in a few hours): "He’s shooting the ball with confidence, attacking the rim with tenacity and finishing strong," Devin Harris said. "He’s capable of it. I’ve seen him jump just as high as Sean [Williams] in certain places. He’s got the athleticism. He’s a very talented individual."

Brooklyn Opponents remain classy, and erect a guillotine for eminent domain (and Russia!) in front of Freddy's Bar: He passed it over to Death, who pronounced, "Poor eminent domain, born of a noble purposes of building hospitals and roads... is being used to take Americans from their homes, not just for a British bank but also for Russia... eminent domain, you are hereby condemned."

A look at the financial crisis in Russia, and the one Russian oligarch, Mikhail Prokhorov, who is "At least one Russian oligarch is having fun."

Mark Ginocchio

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I know it has been a while since I last did a video breakdown, but it was finals weeks for the last two weeks, so I haven't had a whole lot of time to go over videos.  So we are going to continue the video breakdown series starting with the Nets game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.  There are a lot of good things to take away from this game, but there were also some bad defensive plays.

On offense, you are going to see the the difference having 3 point shooters make.  I have talked about it a little bit before, but when you have shooters, it forces teams to stay close with them.  That makes helping out on defense harder, and it also makes doubling Brook Lopez harder.  The Nets lost this game on the defensive end though.  They got dominated in the paint, and part of it was poor rotation, allowing the Timberwolves to get easy lay-ups.  We are going to take a look at some examples after the jump.

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Sebastian Pruiti

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