http://www.netsnotes.com/2008/08/08/carter-ready-to-step-up/ Musings on the NJ Nets from a young reporter from Brooklyn Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:31:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.netsnotes.com/2008/08/08/carter-ready-to-step-up/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Austin Shau Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:11:26 +0000 http://www.netsnotes.com/?p=53#comment-501 I haven't seen much of the Nets this season, so I don't know if Carter has still been playing like the proverbial vulnerable baby seal that Bill Simmons sees him as being. But -- and yes, I know he's getting old -- I'd like to see him take it to the cup more aggressively. I can't bear to watch him, as leader, set an example for his new teammates by chucking up 3-point bombs without a second thought. With any team I watch, I like them to exude a mentality dominated by toughness. I stuck with the trigger-happy Kings during the Webber years because of their defensive studs at the 2 (first an aging but still effective Nick Anderson, then Doug Christie) and the upgrade from Jason "Whit Eboy" (look at his knucks) Williams to Mike Bibby (Game 5 of the '02 conference finals, anyone?). I often root for the Spurs because of their toughness, though yeah, Bruce Bowen is as dirty as they come. I was happy with the Shaq trade, as "unsuccessful" as it was, because it ushered in a big-man mentality and a focus on size and -- again -- toughness. Can Vince Carter do the same? I haven’t seen much of the Nets this season, so I don’t know if Carter has still been playing like the proverbial vulnerable baby seal that Bill Simmons sees him as being. But — and yes, I know he’s getting old — I’d like to see him take it to the cup more aggressively. I can’t bear to watch him, as leader, set an example for his new teammates by chucking up 3-point bombs without a second thought. With any team I watch, I like them to exude a mentality dominated by toughness. I stuck with the trigger-happy Kings during the Webber years because of their defensive studs at the 2 (first an aging but still effective Nick Anderson, then Doug Christie) and the upgrade from Jason “Whit Eboy” (look at his knucks) Williams to Mike Bibby (Game 5 of the ‘02 conference finals, anyone?). I often root for the Spurs because of their toughness, though yeah, Bruce Bowen is as dirty as they come. I was happy with the Shaq trade, as “unsuccessful” as it was, because it ushered in a big-man mentality and a focus on size and — again — toughness. Can Vince Carter do the same?

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