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Fan poll results: Six East locks to make playoffs

An InsideHoops.com front page poll asking fans to predict the eight Eastern conference teams that will qualify for the 2010-11 NBA playoffs had the following results:

Celtics     2,046 votes
Heat    2,045 votes
Magic    2,011 votes
Bulls    1,985 votes
Hawks    1,886 vote
Bucks    1,658 votes
Bobcats    1,011 votes
Knicks    1,074 votes
Wizards    637 votes
Sixers    481 votes
Pistons    336 votes
Nets    333 votes
Cavaliers 333 votes
Pacers    229 votes
Raptors    173 votes

Fans felt that the six teams — the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks — are strong locks to make the playoffs.

After those teams, the Bobcats and Knicks came in next, with the 7th and 8th highest votes.

InsideHoops.com editor says: These are some pretty fantastic results. Look at the top eight teams, in order. That’s pretty close to what an East power ranking list should look like.

Missing the playoffs but getting good support were the Wizards, receiving the 9th highest votes.

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) is congratulated by teammates Rashard Lewis (L), Jameer Nelson (14) and Vince Carter (15) during overtime in Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Massachusetts May 24, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Terrence Williams shooting for Nets starting SG spot

Howard Kussoy of the New York Post reports:

Terrence Williams currently is entrenched in an intriguing training-camp battle with Anthony Morrow, who was acquired this summer in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors, for the starting shooting-guard spot. Vying for the same position, the two wingmen are taking different paths.

Williams has impressed Nets coach Avery Johnson with his athleticism and his ability to penetrate, while removing some doubt about his questionable decision-making during his rookie season.

“Terrence’s versatility to score, post-up smaller guys, initiate our offense for us then play off the ball . . . you can do more things with him,” Johnson said. “He still may do something crazy one out of every five possessions, but it was four out of five earlier. He’s taking pretty good care of the ball and making good passes.”

Have opinions to share? Discuss them on the New Jersey Nets forum.

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Nets continue push for Carmelo Anthony

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports:

The Nets may come out of all this discussing and proposing without Carmelo Anthony, but it won’t be from a lack of trying.

The Nets have been in steady discussions with the Nuggets and other teams, attempting to piece together a deal that would bring the 26-year-old All-Star to New Jersey through a sign and trade. The Nets have explored a straight Nuggets-Nets deal and have sought to bring in other teams, if necessary, to get it done.

Sources around the league insist the Nets have been persistent in their pursuit which has provided a roller coaster of optimism and say the Nets believe they have made progress. But as one rival executive stressed, “Denver has a new [management] team in place, and they are going to check, recheck and then delay any deal, especially anything involving their best player.”

Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony (L) goes up for a jump shot against Utah Jazz's C.J. Miles in the first quarter of Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference playoff series in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 25, 2010. REUTERS/Ramin Rahimian (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

NJ Nets name Robby Hoenshel assistant trainer and director of sports rehabilitation

The New Jersey Nets have named Robby Hoenshel assistant trainer and director of sports rehabilitation, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Hoenshel comes to the Nets after working at the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute where he served as a physical therapist. His duties included evaluation and treatment of sports and orthopedic injuries. Prior to working at Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute, the University of North Florida alum and Jacksonville native worked as a manager and physical therapist at Heartland Rehab in his hometown.

Hoenshel resides in New Jersey with his wife Jenny.

NJ Nets name Doug Overton player development coach

The New Jersey Nets have named Doug Overton player development coach, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Overton takes on a new role in player development after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach. He will be assisting the players with individual skills on the court. Before coming to the Nets, Overton served as an assistant coach on Phil Martelli’s staff at Saint Joseph’s during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns. Prior to his stint at Saint Joseph’s, the Philadelphia native spent the 2005-06 season as the Director of Player Development for the Philadelphia 76ers, where he assisted the coaching and scouting staffs and worked with the team’s community outreach programs.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Overton spent three different stints with the Nets (1998-99, 2000-01 and 2003-04) averaging 6.0 points and 2.8 assists in 26 games. In 499 career games with seven teams (Washington, Denver, Orlando, New Jersey, Boston, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia) Overton averaged 4.5 points and 2.1 points.

New Jersey Nets sign Stephen Graham

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Stephen Graham, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Graham, 6’6”/215, is a five-year NBA veteran with career averages of 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.9 minutes in 180 career games with Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Portland, Indiana and Charlotte. He has shot .458 (297-648) from the field and .754 (126-167) from the line. The Oklahoma State alum went undrafted in 2005 and made his NBA debut as a member of the Houston Rockets on December 11 at Portland. The best season of his career came during the 2008-09 campaign with Indiana, when he appeared in 52 games, six starts, averaging a career-best 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in a career-high 13.2 minutes per contest. Last season in Charlotte, Graham appeared in a career-high 70 games, eight starts, averaging 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. Graham appeared in two playoff contests last season in Charlotte.

Nets sign Joe Smith

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Joe Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Smith, 6’10”/225, is a 15-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 1,014 games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. He has shot .455 (4,322-9,496) from the field and .790 (2,526-3,198) from the line.

The Norfolk, VA native was the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft by Golden State.

The best season of his career came during the 1996-97 campaign with Golden State, when he appeared and started in 80 games and averaged a career-best 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 38.6 minutes. In 57 career postseason contests, Smith holds averages of 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

Last season in Atlanta, Smith appeared in 64 games, one start, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest.

InsideHoops.com says: Joe first entered the NBA in the 1400’s, when the game was played via candlelight, and the United States did not yet exist. He’s a smart, crafty veteran who will help the Nets bench.

Nets hire Milton Lee as director of basketball operations

The New Jersey Nets have named Milton Lee as director of basketball operations, General Manager Billy King announced today.

In his new role, Lee will oversee the Nets statistical and analytical efforts, as well as assist General Manager Billy King and Assistant General Manager Bobby Marks on player personnel matters.

Prior to joining the Nets, Lee started his own basketball services company where he worked in various capacities with the NBA, teams and players. Lee personally worked as a skills coach with several NBA players, including current Net, Troy Murphy. Previously, Lee served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers summer league team in 2008 and 2009, and has been a consultant to the NBA at the past five Pre-Draft Combines. Earlier in his career, Lee worked as a proprietary trader on Wall Street for ING Barings and SAC Capital. Lee interned for the NBA at three consecutive Olympic Games, including 1992, for the original “Dream Team.”

A native of Bergen County, New Jersey, Lee is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the junior varsity basketball team.

Angel McCoughtry scores WNBA playoff record 42 points

The AP reports:

Angel McCoughtry scored a WNBA playoff record 42 points to win a high-scoring duel with Cappie Pondexter as the Liberty fell to the Atlanta Dream, 105-93, Tuesday night.

With the win, the Dream completed an unlikely march to the league finals.

Pondexter led the Liberty with 36 points, her postseason high, and nine assists.

The Dream, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, swept Washington in the first round before also winning two straight over the Liberty in the conference finals.

Nets waive Sean May

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Sean May, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“During a basketball workout last week, in preparation for the upcoming training camp and season, Sean May suffered a stress fracture to his left foot,” said King. “This injury has a four-eight week rehab period, which would not provide Sean a legitimate chance to make our team.”

May, who signed with the Nets on August 9, 2010, is a four-year NBA veteran with career averages of 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds over 119 career games with Charlotte and Sacramento.