[NJ Grand NJ]

I could come up with an essay about this guy, but I'll get straight to the point. WHY DOES HE PLAY??????????????????????

 

[L]

I could come up with an essay about this guy, but I'll get straight to the point. WHY DOES HE PLAY??????????????????????

b/c Frank thinks hid D is good against bigs, and he can shoot the 3.we really dont hav a better backup right now other than mjax and cliffy.

 

[Phenom Z28]

He still is a good big backup on a team with not very many good big backups.

 

[Intense Enigma]

Uncle Cliff is ok,hes a decent big back up and can make some 3's.

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

I could come up with an essay about this guy, but I'll get straight to the point. WHY DOES HE PLAY??????????????????????

Because the NETS brass invested $2.5mil per in this guy rather than re-upping Veal - younger player with more upside. There went the winning chemistry.

Cliffy is a nice Robert Parish (4-decades-old) spot player, but his age makes him a liability. Frank plays him because he earns more than Padgett and Frank doesn't want to upset the playing-minutes-relative-to-salary political pecking order - yet! Why not retire him to an assistant coaching position?

Notice how Padgett has two great games and then is sat down in favor of Robinson? Heck, LF'd better play the young fresh legs. It's a young man's game and that's what brings the sustained hustle and intensity to win.

Remember, as you bring in older VETS nearing their prime and past it, these players who can still do it sometimes lack the stamina and are overcome by younger teams of hungrier players.

Older vet teams expect to win because they look good on paper and then nobodies beat them running their legs off. Why? Cuz they're younger and don't know enough to respect the older vets who expect them to let 'em win.

Thus, young 'uns win!

Of course the crafty older teams pull down more victories overall, but get upset by the younger teams too often - especially early season.

It never ceases to amaze how very good teams age quickly and all of a sudden, they can't do it anymore! The new kids on the block are knockin' them off and a sea chang[ing] of the guard occurs as power-ranking shifts take place in the NBA. KG may not be the answer! Chris Bosh? Maybe ...

Also, Frank, like Larry Brown, has to emphasize that the NETS will play continuous tough D for 48mins - not just 36! If players won't play hard, tough D for all the time they're in ... and until the buzzer sounds, they won't play! You have to learn to play the 'right way.' It's Larry Brown's motto and should be LF's!

Aging players on the decline pulling down big bucks can't be worried about player scoring average & stats & other such niceties that are good at contract time. They have to start playing winning b-ball and let the numbers fall where they may.

This NETS bunch won't blow anyone out on the offensive end unless they start playing D and get VC back (who has the stamina to fill it up). The defense must key the offense.

In addition, they'd better learn to play inside out and encourage Krstic to dominate in the post. Few can stop him offensively and involving him that way is better than watching Kidd warm up his own shooting act early in the season. (Hope Kidd finishes like Giambi).

In the meantime, they've got to tell Krstic that the NETS season rests on his shoulders and ask him to score more; dominate in the post; and down low in the paint.

They've got to tell Krstic to play super-tough D and dominate like Ewing once did; rebound relentlessly; and then score at will; and that he'll get more touches.

In other words, the changing of the guard and shifting of power and reliance on team success from Jason Kidd to Nenad Krstic must occur.

Kidd's assists total should sky, frankly, feeding Krstic inside who must then learn to kick out to Carter or RJ for the easy score if he's overwhelmed and truly can't score.

Bear in mind, though, that Krstic can put it up!!! He's a reliable and effective interior scorer with a nice touch on the outside. This is the way to utilize him most effectively.

Krstic's a very good shooter. Give it to Krstic. Developing Krstic's game will be what this NETS season is all about. It was no accident that this board evolved the slogan: Krstic and four other guys! Put it into action! As Krstic goes, so will go the NETS! :angel:

Footnotes:

"Z" and Wright can be the secret weapon(s) off the bench pressuring opposing Ds when Carter or RJ go down. J-Mc is good at the 2 in spot duty but doesn't fill it up like they can. :cheers:

LJIII will be the defensive specialist. :clap:

The NETS need the sustained energy and intensity of this :banana: :sfight:. They also have to start relying less on J-Kidd for scoring and more for his assists and smart & heady play.

 

[Netted]

Because he comes in and plays good defense. 10 pts/4rbs/3stls/1blk is not bad. I would like more boards, but for a back up big forced to start I'll take it. His D was really good.

 

[NetIncome]

Because the NETS brass invested $2.5mil per in this guy rather than re-upping Veal - younger player with more upside. There went the winning chemistry. Cliffy is a nice Robert Parish at 40 spot player, but his age makes him a liability. Frank plays him because he earns more than Padgett and Frank doesn't want to upset the playing minutes relative to salary political pecking order - yet! Notice how Padgett has two great games and then is sat down in favor of Robinson? Heck, he'd better play the young fresh legs. It's a young man's game and that's what brings the hustle and intensity to win. Also, Frank, like Larry Brown, has to emphasize that the NETS will play continuous tough D for 48mins. The aging players on the decline pulling down big bucks can't be worried about big-buck player scoring average & stats & other such niceties. They have to start playing winning b-ball and let the numbers fall where they may. This bunch won't blow anyone out on the offensive end unless they get VC back and start playing D. The defense must key the offense. Also, they'd better learn to play inside out and encourage Krstic to dominate in the post. Few can stop him offensively and involving him that way is better than watching Kidd warm up his own shooting act early in the season. Hope Kidd finishes like Giambi. In the meantime, they've got to tell Krstic that the NETS season rests on his shoulders and ask him to score more, dominate in the post and down low in the paint. They've got to tell Krstic to play tough D, rebound relentlessly and score at will and that he'll get more touches. In other words, the changing of the guard and shifting of power and reliance from Kidd to Krstic. Kidd's assists should sky feeding Krstic inside who must then kick out to carter or RJ for the easy score if he's overwhelmed and can't score. Bear in mind thought that Krstic can put it up. He's a reliable and effective interior scorer with a nice touch on the outside. He's a very good shooter. Give it to Krstic. Developing Krstic's game will be what this season is about. As Krstic goes, so will go the NETS! :angel:

I literally laughed out loud at this post. SCALABRINE??? Have you looked at what he is doing...or should I say, NOT doing...with the Celtics. He is averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.1 rpg. He has yet to hit a three and is barely shooting 40% from the floor. The Celtics COMMITTED $15 million to him. HE STINKS. He is a JOKE. No GM other than Ainge, who liked his "brain type", would have given him $15 million. Cliffy: $2.2 million [not $2.5 million] with a team option for $2.3 million next season
vs. Veal: $15 million over five years.

 

[Sad Mafioso]

The defense must key the offense. Also, they'd better learn to play inside out and encourage Krstic to dominate in the post. Few can stop him offensively and involving him that way is better than watching Kidd warm up his own shooting act early in the season. Hope Kidd finishes like Giambi. In the meantime, they've got to tell Krstic that the NETS season rests on his shoulders and ask him to score more, dominate in the post and down low in the paint. They've got to tell Krstic to play tough D, rebound relentlessly and score at will and that he'll get more touches. In other words, the changing of the guard and shifting of power and reliance from Kidd to Krstic. Kidd's assists should sky feeding Krstic inside who must then kick out to carter or RJ for the easy score if he's overwhelmed and can't score. Bear in mind thought that Krstic can put it up. He's a reliable and effective interior scorer with a nice touch on the outside. He's a very good shooter. Give it to Krstic. Developing Krstic's game will be what this season is about. As Krstic goes, so will go the NETS! :angel:

BINGO!

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

I'm not saying Veal was a great player or one that was worth the kind of money that Boston threw at him (... though $3mil for PF isn't so bad ... and given what is wasted on others that can't play ... not extreme). It was a good business decision financially - but bad in terms of immediate product out on the floor. Until you replace what he brought - chemistry - and victories, it was a mistake not re-upping Veal when Veal was still wondering where he'd be next season and waiting for a call from NETS management after his stellar play at the end of last helped - and was critical - to getting the NETS in the postseason - all other things beaing equal. Granted, I'm not saying that he's something of a great player that shows up all the time (due to injury). But when he was out there for the NETS, it was the right combination of headiness and play (super-efficient) that helped the NETS go on that sustained run. In the NBA, chemistry is priceless. Let's hope that Padgett can fill that role and be groomed as a better replacement! Dammit, though, you've got to get Padgett out there in place of Cliffy!

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

Lawrence Frank's biggest challenge is going to be acting the 'tough guy' like a Phil Jackson or Larry Brown can. If not, he'll go the way of JVG - good coach that never won a title!

 

[uptown4784]

I actually tough he played pretty good Defense and he was shooting ball good

 

[Sad Mafioso]

Lawrence Frank's biggest challenge is going to be acting the 'tough guy' like a Phil Jackson or Larry Brown can. If not, he'll go the way of JVG - good coach that never won a title!

Do you think the players view him in that way? He's relatively young and inexperienced when it comes to coaching in the NBA.

Anyways it's too early to worry. We started worse last year and then made a run for the playoffs.

What Frank's needs to adress is the role of the players within a "game". Every game is not the same and there are different circumstances but he should draw up a sort of guideline to how they're going to approach the game and different situacions(third quarter droughts, last 5 min etc). It's already clear they're trying to establish Nenad early in the game to give him confidence. Keep feeding him the ball! If Vince or RJ is having and "off night", have either one of them take on a more defensive role.

Intensity, chemistry and committment to the team will make us better in the long run.

 

[MrCharisma]

I literally laughed out loud at this post. SCALABRINE??? Have you looked at what he is doing...or should I say, NOT doing...with the Celtics. He is averaging 1.9 ppg and 1.1 rpg. He has yet to hit a three and is barely shooting 40% from the floor. The Celtics COMMITTED $15 million to him. HE STINKS. He is a JOKE. No GM other than Ainge, who liked his "brain type", would have given him $15 million. Cliffy: $2.2 million [not $2.5 million] with a team option for $2.3 million next season
vs. Veal: $15 million over five years.

Yeah...Scalabrine and Upside in the same paragraph was enough to get a giggle out of me too.

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

Do you think the players view him in that way? He's relatively young and inexperienced when it comes to coaching in the NBA.

Anyways it's too early to worry. We started worse last year and then made a run for the playoffs.

What Frank's needs to adress is the role of the players within a "game". Every game is not the same and there are different circumstances but he should draw up a sort of guideline to how they're going to approach the game and different situacions(third quarter droughts, last 5 min etc). It's already clear they're trying to establish Nenad early in the game to give him confidence. Keep feeding him the ball! If Vince or RJ is having and "off night", have either one of them take on a more defensive role.

Intensity, chemistry and committment to the team will make us better in the long run.

Yes! The player's see LF as a nice guy ... a players coach. He hasn't yet developed the tough edge that the great coaches must have to get a team to the finals. It's a dictatorship. Scott had it. Brown & Jackson have the toughness to command respect. Younger coaches are too soft. Younger coaches think it's about politics ... recruiting players. Then when they get a talent upgrade, they don't know why the W-L record is about the same or worse. ... politics ... pleasing star players ... making it a nice place to come to ... etc. That's what the off-season was wasted in part on (recruiting SAR & Swift). Thorn did the right thing to opt for depth and fleshing out talent at a fair price!

Coaching wins more than talent does. The best talent without great coaching won't achieve as much as poorer talent with the best coaching. Auerbach ... Holzman ... Daly ... Popovich ... Riley ... Jackson. These guys won more rings than most players combined!


PS. I don't think Veal is a "great" player or necessarily worth the money Boston's given him. The point was about chemistry and its value. Veal was superefficient at the tail end of last year. Carter, Kidd & Veal won it. Look at the box scores. All I'm saying is that new chemistry needs to be developed here. LF shouldn't be afraid to make the hard decisions and the unpopular ones. He's running out of time and panicing. SAR was not the answer. Nor was Swift. The answer is playing the right folks and not worrying about the salary structure and politics. If that doesn't work, bring in Wilcox, Ely and Lampe. If that doesn't work trade for Bosh or Murphy. Do not go for the KG albatross at the expense of the team. How many good years does KG have left anyway? Hasn't he peaked?

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

If Frank has to play Robinson at the 4, then the NETS are in trouble!

 

[Brolic]

"the Official Brian Scalabrine is a bum thread" in Boston's forum says all you need to know about his production I'll take take Cliff

 

[Petey]

How did Veal contribute to the Nets chemistry when he wasn't at half the games? Has been hurt several times every season.

-Petey

 

[ghoti]

The only way Cliff is a problem is if the Nets ask him to do too much.

If the rest of the bench was better, Cliff would be more effective because he could be in the game only when the matchup is advantageous for him.

 

[NBASCOUT2005]

Veal was hurt and out a lot. That factored into mgmt's decision to wait on re-upping and not offering anything close to what Boston did. That said, when he was in there during the 15-4 run he played winning basketball. There was a chemistry that allowed VC and Kidd to shine. He did the grunt work and made important clutch plays and was super-efficient. I recall those stats. He was always a very smart player at USC and it didn't surprise what he did last year. I've little doubt that Boston wanted him because he was a Celtic killer. They wanted him on their side - not NJs. Even so, it doesn't surprise they've had a hard time integrating him and his numbers and performance levels are way down. There are similar dynamics at work in Boston that'll work against Veal like they did in NJ. My only point is that for the NETS to get off to the same start they ended last year with, they needed the same players and chemistry. With Veal gone they need to groom a replacement or develop an improvement. Twin is a fine backup, but if the NETS have to rely on him as their best defensive/rebounding player, the NETS will never get out of the first round. Maybe Denver's had enough of K-Mart and will pay his salary and the NETS to take him back. K-Mart was never more than a role player that J-Kidd made look like an all-star! At least, he brought energy, defense and rebounding.