Everyone in the NBA knew going into the season that the Nets were in the middle of a rebuilding scheme and weren’t expected to be much more than cellar-dwellers.

However at times, they actually looked like a playoff team and one that had a ton of potential.

Not many teams are in a situation to have two All-Stars while being under .500 and the Nets were pretty damn close to achieving that. As well, they had a host of talented youngsters that appeared to be turning the corner as well.

Now, despite the fact that the team should be happy with what they’ve gotten out of Brook Lopez this season and the flashes of brilliance from the rest of their babies, the Nets again, for the second season in a row will most likely be on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in.

17 losses in their last 23 games will do that sort of thing.

Now, a bigger dilemma than missing the playoffs is presented.

Is Nets head coach Laurence Frank to partially blame? Or is he rewarded for taking a team full of kids and dealing with injuries to his key players and making them at the very least, respectable.

“After the season, all of us get graded and rated,” Thorn said. “All of us. We look at everything at the end of the year.”

Heh, that doesn’t sound very good if you’re Frank.

The team too doesn’t know what to make of the speculation as well.

“It’s things we can’t control. The things we can control are on the floor,” Devin Harris told the AP. “Our effort, the things we do on the floor. And that’s the things we have to focus on. We can’t worry about that. It’s not a decision we make.”

Simply put, Frank was brought in to provide energy and get the team back the finals after Byron Scott could not.

Over the past few seasons, that situation, for a variety of reasons, has not changed.

Will Frank have to pay, with his job, at the end of the season?

“Rod, to me, is the premier executive in sports because he’s very honest,” Frank told Yahoo Sports. “I’ll take Rod Thorn any day of the week, not because he’s supported me, but because he’s always been honest with me. Everyone gets evaluated every year so this is no different than in the past. I don’t need a vote of confidence. What we need to do is play as hard as we can, compete and try to win as many games as possible. Then when the season is over then we’re all evaluated.”

The difficulty of the rest of the schedule the New Jersey Nets have this season can be looked at in two different ways.

With games against Boston, Orlando and the Lakers over the next few weeks, the Nets know they will have to rise to the next level against those teams or lay in the land of mediocrity and play golf in late April and May.

“We’ve been playing against some pretty good teams and they know how to close games,” Nets veteran guard Keyon Dooling told the Associated Press. “When you have experience and you have a team that’s been together, like Cleveland, they know how to close out games.”

On the other hand, with games against Charlotte, Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and the Knicks, the Nets will be able to make up some ground and if they get hot, they can still sneak into the last spot. Is it plausible? Perhaps. But only if this team gets their act together right now.

With Devin Harris still battling a strained shoulder, the pressure will now rest on the shoulders of Vince Carter. Who after scoring 41 points two weeks ago against the Clippers, seemed primed to lead the team into the post-season.

“Obviously, he’s the best player on our team, the leader on our team,” rookie Brook Lopez told Yahoo Sports after that game. “And as crazy as stuff he does, you kind of come to expect that from him.”

Lately, he hasn’t been as hot though, scoring 45 points over his last two games, which is far from average, but as stated before, the Nets need more if they are going to be one of the top sixteen teams in the NBA by the end of the regular season.

One person who could help out a bit more is Yi Jianlian, who is only averaging six points a game since the All-Star break.

As the Spanish say, basurero.

What’s going on in Brooklyn?- Frank Gehry says one think. Bruce Ratner and Brett Yormark say another. Who do you believe? Will the Nets ever move to Brooklyn?

Still projecting the start of the 2011 season as the time when they should be in Brooklyn, the Nets aren’t convincing anyone of anything anytime soon.

“We will get it done,” Yormark promised in a recent radio interview. “There is no ‘Plan B.’ We are going to Brooklyn.”

Yeah. Whatever you say buddy.

Photo by Bill Menzel.

What is Sean Williams thinking?

Just after getting his act together and finding his way back into the Nets rotation, Williams goes and gets himself in hot water after allegedly throwing a computer monitor and damaging other electronic equipment during a dispute at a cell phone store in Colorado. Damages were estimated at between $1,200 and $1,300.

The rumor now is that the team will be seeking anger management classes for the troubled youngster.

Pretty funny considering the fact that I’ve seen Yi Jianlian show more emotion while in a silent film than Williams has shown most of the season.

Rather than be firm with the kid, he gets a slap on the wrist, two-game suspension and even more coddling from the organization.

“Sean feels horrible. He feels horrible first for letting down the team, letting down his teammates. He feels horrible for making a poor decision. He’s sincerely heartbroken. He feels very, very bad.”—Coach Lawrence Frank told the Associated Press, after meeting with suspended F Sean Williams Wednesday.

You see that? What? This is an article and your incapable of seeing what I’m doing? Well, I’m playing the world’s smallest violin for Williams right now.

He’s heart-broken? He feels very, very bad? For what? Getting caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing in the first place?

Are we at the point in our society where we still have to make excuses for these guys? Charles Barkley had it right when he said these guys aren’t role models and my entire argument has nothing to do with what little kids think of what Williams did, but the fact that he let his teammates down when they needed him the most.

Great job Sean, keep it up. I smell something in your future and it’s not an All-Star appearance. It’s most likely an episode of Pros vs Joes.

However, the Nets, for some reason, still have faith in the kid and are willing to work through these problems.

For what reason, I have no idea.

“He’s got a great heart and he’s made some poor decisions,” Frank told the Associated Press. “But if you were to sit down like we did today and talk to him, he’s a very engaging person and he’s just made some mistakes and he has to take responsibility for them and we just move from there.”

I know exactly where the team should move at this point; somewhere else.

The New Jersey Nets know things are getting down to the wire.

They know that things aren’t in their favor either.

In the middle of a four-game road trip, the Nets have already lost to Golden State a team that by all means they should have been able to defeat, but thanks in part to a horrendous late game display on defense and great individual play by Stephen Jackson.

With the loss to the Warriors, New Jersey now knows that they will have to be on their best behavior if they want to try and secure a playoff spot.

“There’s an opportunity to beat some teams that maybe on paper we shouldn’t beat,” Dooling told the Associated Press a few days ago. “It’s a very important trip, especially with the playoff race getting tighter.”

Tipping off with the Portland Blazers tonight, New Jersey will try and forget the last time they met, when rookie point guard Jerryd Bayless scored 23 points [He hasn't scored more than 19 since that game] to compliment a 29-point performance from Brandon Roy in a 105-99 win. In order for that not to happen tonight, the Nets will have to get more than just solid performances from Vince Carter and Devin Harris and will need someone from the bench to step up and provide a spark.

In that loss to Portland, the Nets bench scored only 24 points, with Dooling scoring 14 and Jarvis Hayes scoring seven. The team also had a huge problem rebounding that night as they were out-boarded 34-45. Portland was also very aggressive on offense that night and forced the Nets to commit 27 personal fouls.

When you add up all of this, it’s obvious why they lost and if they are to win, they’ll have to work hard and get more from their bench. It’s that simple.

One guy that has to continue to play hard is Sean Williams. Simply put, if he can continue to score six points and add four boards in 15 minutes a game, he’ll be one of the best backup centers in the league. After spending time in the D-League this season and almost losing his job, he should be the last person anyone should have to ask to play hard.

Seeing his season transpire the way it has has been rough for the former first rounder, but it looks like he’s discovered the error of his ways and is ready to get back to what he was doing in spurts last season.

“The low point for me was when I left the D-League and I came back to Jersey and I realized that my career was in jeopardy. And I didn’t understand why. I didn’t understand why at the time,” Williams told the AP. “I was really wondering where I was headed, how I got to this state where I was in the D-League and how things transpired in the D-League, (but) it helped me understand everybody has a role and to be successful in this league, you have to fill your role and show that you can come and consistently do what you’re supposed to do.”

If he truly understands that new role, the Nets should be in much better shape and with more consistency from Harris, Carter and Brook Lopez, who knows, the Nets may have what it takes to make the playoffs.

Photo by Bill Menzel.

Lets face it, despite how good the duo of Devin Harris and Vince Carter have been and regardless of how much Brook Lopez has progressed this season, the Nets have been hard-pressed to find a consistent presence from the other two spots in the lineup.

Bobby Simmons showed some flair against the Bulls last week, scoring 18 points, but aside from that, he’s been pretty inconsistent this season. The same goes for Ryan Anderson, who seemed to be picking up the slack for an injured Yi Jianlian last month, to only be benched a few games last week. The only consistent and dependable player this team has coming off the bench this season seems to be Keyon Dooling, who I feel is having one of, if the not the best, season of his NBA career. The same thing goes for Jarvis Hayes, whose play has seemingly gotten better after he injured his hand a few games ago.

Ironic, don’t ya think?

For what it’s worth too, I think Trenton Hassell, despite playing in 39 games, has been solid. It seems that every game I watch this team play that he gets an opportunity in, he does something. Against Boston, he hit all of his shots and didn’t really hurt the team on defense. Now I’m sure you’ll say he’s been starting lately, but he’s playing under 20 minutes which to me puts him in the realm of a bench player. Nevertheless, his hustle and drive is something I’d like to see from more of the players occupying the Nets bench.

Despite the problems from the rest of the bench though, someone always seems to come up big when th team needs them.

“We’ve gotten great contributions from the bench,” Frank explained to the Associated Press a few days ago. “Basically what we told our guys, it’s all hands on deck. You know who’s definitely going to play and based on matchups and the play of the game there are a couple guys who can be in or they can be out. And they’ve got to be ready. It may be your night, it may not be, but you’ve got to be ready.”

Two players that have gotten more playing time as of late are Sean Williams and Chris Douglas-Roberts, who have taken some of the pressure off of guys late Dooling. While they haven’t produced as much offensively as Frank would like, they have given the Nets a different look. At the same time, they may get some of the under-producers to finally get their act together.

At any rate, like I said before, if this team is going to make the playoffs, someone on that bench is going to have to get hot and fast. If not, it’ll be another season watching someone else.

Photo by Bill Menzel.

Even though the cast is a bit different this season for the New Jersey Nets, things are beginning to look awfully familiar.

On the outside of the playoff picture looking in, the Nets understand they are running out of time and have to step up their game. Otherwise the only way they’ll make the playoffs is on NBA Live 2009.

“It’s money time,” Carter told the Associated Press this week. “This is when teams make the playoff push, or are fighting for position or homecourt advantage or whatever the case may be. This is my time to step up.”

Averaging over 20 points all season, both Carter and Devin Harris have held down the New Jersey fort all season.

Harris especially has been on his game, scoring 42 points against the Bulls on Wednesday.

“Now is the time,” Harris told the AP after the game. “We really can’t wait anymore. We can’t be patient. I’d rather be aggressive than passive. Being more aggressive on offense is what I’m trying to do right now.”

However in spite of both Carter and Harris, the Nets are in need of another player, anyone at this point, that can be dependable and produce on offense.

While Brook Lopez has the makings of that player one day, the Nets need more from someone else. 12 points and eight rebounds is damn solid from a rookie center and the Nets need something more from the power forward spot, especially if they are going to make the playoffs this season.

With Ryan Anderson and Yi Jianlian battling inconsistency all season, could Sean Williams be the player the Nets need right now?

Six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes may not be much, but Williams did provide a spark the other night, something Jianlian hasn’t been able to do much of the season aside from a handful of games before his injury.

“You’re looking for energy. And that’s one of Sean’s traits. If he’s consistent with it, then his minutes will be consistent,” coach Lawrence Frank told the Associated Press, stressing Williams, in order to play, must show “high energy level, running the floor, crashing both boards, defensively being a presence around the rim, performing your role with maximum enthusiasm, focus, concentration.”

Anyway the cookie crumbles, things will be interesting the rest of the season in New Jersey.

Photo by Bill Menzel.

When Ryan Anderson was drafted by the Nets this summer, some of the pundits and critics in the league expected him to develop faster than Brook Lopez, the center the team drafted to solve their problems up the middle. While that hasn’t exactly happened, with Lopez catching most of the spotlight from the press this season [as far as the Nets rookies are concerned, Anderson hasn’t been too shabby either.

Scoring 12 or more points in six of his past 16 games, Anderson is beginning to understand what it takes to become a success in the NBA. However, the main reason why he’s gotten an opportunity to play as much as he has been lately has had more to do with Yi Jianlian’s injury than anything he’s done specifically on the court. Despite the fact that he’s played well in Yi’s absence, no one knows what the future holds for either of them.

“He (coach Lawrence Frank) really hasn’t talked about long term. He definitely will work Yi back in (until then) we might play together, me at the five and Yi at the four just to get him back in,” Anderson told the Associated Press a few days ago. “The whole season I was playing behind Yi. It’s funny how it works. If anything this stretch gave me more confidence knowing I can play big minutes.”

Shooting five for 13 in 35 minutes in his first two games since returning, it’s safe to say that Yi isn’t exactly ready to retain his starting spot. That should give Anderson a few more games to show the Nets brass that he’s the better player. Despite the fact that on paper Yi appears to be the better scorer and rebounder, I think Anderson is the grittier player and a much more explosive scorer. Earlier in the season, it was obvious that Anderson was the better three point shooter, but inconsistency has gotten the better of him since then. If Anderson can find a way to get hot from beyond the arc again, he may cement his spot in the starting five.

So far, since Yi’s return, Anderson only has 13 points and has only taken eight shots in over 45 minutes of action. If he wants to be a starter in this league, that will have to change. Otherwise, the Nets will have to settle for a pair of underachievers at power forward, rather than one.

Photo by Bill Menzel

With Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons and Eduardo Najera all on the shelf and Vince Carter dealing with injuries of his own, the Nets may need this break more than any other team in the NBA.

Sure, they don’t have the injuries of some other teams in the league, but the bench especially has been hurt at times, which in effect has kept the team under .500 and without a semi-regular lineup on the court that can gel and grow together.

However, Simmons’ problems shooting ball this season have hurt the team and having him out of the lineup have given the more dependable players on the team like Jarvis Hayes and Keyon Dooling more of an opportunity, making it almost like a blessing in disguise.

In the case of Najera, I think it’s fair to say that he has been very productive in the 12 minutes a game he’s been averaging this season, but with the continued progression of both Brook Lopez as a starting center and Josh Boone and Ryan Anderson as a dependable bench player, the need for Najera on the court hasn’t been a huge one. As a matter of fact, the people who originally questioned the money Najera was getting have plenty to argue about now, considering he’s been less than a spare part on this team thus far.

That isn’t the case Jianlian however, who was just starting to come around and be the player the team needed before he broke his right pinky. During his time off, he’s done everything from lamenting to the press about how he hated being on the sidelines while the team was going through a rough patch, to working with Nets GM Kiki Vandeweghe on developing his dribbling skills with his other hand and going through a shooting regimen.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Having the 10 points a game that Jianlian scores a game out of the lineup hasn’t affected the Nets too badly, but when you consider the fact that he was averaging over 15 in his last four games before the injury, it’s obvious the Nets could use that type of scoring. Luckily for them, he should be back in the lineup shortly.

“After the break, I think I can play,” Yi told the Associated Press a few days ago. “I’m ready. It’s feeling fine—just a little sore, but no swelling. Shooting, dribbling, no problem.”

While Carter hasn’t been plagued with the same type of injuries as the aforementioned players, it’s fair to say that he’s been banged up most of the season. Giving him a weekend to just relax is exactly what this team needs right now.

One game out of a playoff spot with 29 games left to go, one player the Nets can not afford to have out of the lineup is Carter.

Photo by Bill Menzel.

For many Nets fans, Kenyon Martin will always be the one that got away.

At one time, Martin was one of the core players on a Nets team that finished first in the Atlantic Division. It was before the arrival of Vince Carter and Devin Harris and before Byron Scott got the ax in favor of Laurence Frank.

Oh, how things change in a few years.

Not one player from that team in 2003 is still on the Nets roster today, but the organization has found some of the missing pieces. While Jason Kidd’s creativity was key to that team, it has been replaced by Devin Harris’ spunk and desire. Kerry Kittles’ shooting ability has been replaced with the same shooting ability plus a dose of leadership and consistency from Vince Carter. The platoon of Dikembe Mutumbo and Jason Collins [who at that time was a solid defensive center] has been replaced by a better and younger combo of Brook Lopez and Josh Boone. The bench may not possess players the likes of Aaron Williams, Lucious Harris, Rodney Rogers and Brian Scalabrine anymore but Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera, Jarvis Hayes and Ryan Anderson aren’t too shabby either.

Nevertheless, there was one thing the team hasn’t replaced since 2003.

The toughness, desire and in your face attitude Martin brings to the court every single night.

Sure, his numbers aren’t as sexy as they were when he was on the Nets, but he’s a useful player that makes whatever team he’s playing for better. Nothing against Yi Jianlian, but he’s not the same forward K-Mart is and most likely will never be. Now it would be crazy to even think for a second that the Nets should go after him again, but it would even crazier to fail to realize that this team is in need of a banger. Someone who has the grit and fortitude to make the opposition antsy.

Right now, Devin Harris and Vince Carter are arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. They work hard in both ends and do everything they have to in order to keep this team afloat. Not many teams with records under .500 could even fathom having two all-stars, and believe it when it’s said that no one in the league would have complained if both Carter and Harris were in the game.

Nevertheless, no team is ever afraid to play the Nets anymore.

That could be the biggest reason why the team is where they are right now, just not good enough to secure a playoff spot.

Photos by Bill Menzel.

When Devin Harris was traded to the Nets last season, many fans were in a state of shock. Sure, Jason Kidd and the organization were having their problems, but many were hoping that they would eventually be worked out. When they weren’t and Harris was brought in, no one knew what to expect. They knew the kid had talent, but they also knew he’d been in the shadows in Dallas for a few seasons.

Could he rise above it all and be the player the team needed?

Right away, Harris brought an intensity to the team and averaged 15.4 points the rest of the season, giving many fans and the organization hope that he could not only replace Kidd, but could also be a leader. Scoring only 37 points through his first three games this season, the pundits out there were already accusing Harris of not being able to lead on offense. What occurred afterwards was something that no one expected, as Harris rattled off six 30-point games in the next 10 games he plated. Again, the pundits had their voices heard, as they believed Harris’ stats had more to do with Vince Carter being the real leader on the Nets offense, which of course had made “The Blur,” as he is often called by Nets play by play guy Ian Eagle, the recipient of way too many open looks. Those same pundits also felt that Harris would return to the role player numbers he had in Dallas as the season progressed and Carter would again be the main offensive focal point on the team.

Wrong.

While he has cooled off considerably in January, the entire Nets team hasn’t been on their best behavior as well, playing sub-par second half basketball as a whole. That also shows that Harris’ contributions this season have played an instrumental part in the team’s success. When Harris is off his game, the Nets feel it and so does Carter. When you think of what an All-Star is supposed to mean to his team, you really can’t ask for more.

There’s also the question as to how much of a role has Carter played played in Harris’ success. While it is absolutely unconscionable to say that Carter scoring 20 points a night hasn’t played a role in Harris’ play this season, you can’t have two All-Stars on a sub.500 team. If the Nets were over .500 however, I think the possibility of seeing the both of them there would have been much higher. But the way the coaches see it and the way many other people see it, Harris has been the better player.

That’s why he’s the All-Star.

When you also consider the fact that Jason Kidd is obviously not having the season that he’d like to be having this year and Harris is, his value to the team is at an all-time high right now.

He deserves it.

Photo by Bill Menzel.