Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 116 – NBA Blog

Terrence Williams not getting minutes

The New Jersey Nets are winning about as often as I stretch my arms to the sky and, like Superman, fly up into the clouds. Which really isn’t too often.

You’d think that on a young team that barely snatches a victory, the team’s top rookie would have a shot at major minutes, at least as a prime backup.

But lately, Terrence Williams mostly sits on the bench, chillin.

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports:

In his first 25 games, Williams averaged 24.4 minutes. He dropped to 10.3 minutes in his last eight games (attempting just 19 shots in 82 minutes). True, two other young guys, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts, eat up much of the minutes at two and three. And the return of Yi Jianlian has eliminated many of the small lineups that brought Williams time.

And Williams really hasn’t overwhelmed with his play when given the chance. But on the Nets, who has?

“He’s a rookie. And as a rookie he’s got to learn. We’ve got a lot of young players and it’s about finding minutes for everybody,” said interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, who will tweak his rotation tonight by using earlier substitutions. “Right now, it’s his time to learn.”

It’s probably just temporary. And could change any day or week. But for now, T-Will does plenty of watching.

Nets ban gambling on flights

Howard Beck and Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times report:

There are indications that the N.B.A. is now considering new gambling restrictions for players. One team has already acted. On Wednesday, the Nets informed players that gambling was no longer permitted on team flights.

“We did,” Rod Thorn, the Nets’ president, said Thursday in a telephone interview in which he confirmed that the team had instituted a ban. “I think after this incident with the Wizards that we just decided that we would not have any on our planes. We’ve never had a problem with it. But obviously, you can see what can happen.”

Thorn, who was formerly the chief of discipline for the N.B.A., said he was not aware of any other teams instituting a prohibition on gambling. He declined to speculate on whether Commissioner David Stern would act. However, a number of team executives, agents and others with ties to the league said they believed the matter was under serious consideration…

Playing cards, dominoes and dice to pass the time on team flights is an entrenched part of N.B.A. culture. Players sometimes bet with $100 bills, and the stakes can quickly reach into the thousands, which can lead to bruised egos and hard feelings.

Nets waive Rafer Alston, trade for Chris Quinn from Heat

Nets waive Rafer Alston, acquire Chris Quinn from Heat

The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Chris Quinn from the Miami Heat along with the Heat’s second round draft pick in 2012 and cash considerations in exchange for the Nets’ 2010 second round draft pick (protected 31-50), Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

In a separate transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on guard Rafer Alston.

According to ESPN.com, “the Nets used a trade exception to take on Quinn’s $1 million contract and complete the trade. Two league sources told ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan that Alston agreed to give back nearly $1 million of his $5.25 million salary to gain his freedom from the Nets.”

“There has never been a better person that has played for the Miami Heat than Chris Quinn,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “He is one of the hardest working, most dedicated people that we’ve ever experienced. We want to wish Chris nothing but the very best as he moves on in his career.”

Quinn, currently in his fourth NBA season out of Notre Dame, holds career averages 5.6 ppg and 2.2 apg in 168 games. He has been inactive for each of the Heat’s games during the 2009-10 season.

Alston, who was originally acquired via trade on June 25, 2009 from Orlando, has played in 27 games (13 starts) for the Nets this season, with averages of 9.7 ppg, 3.9 apg and 2.8 rpg. Currently in his 11th NBA season, Alston holds career averages of 10.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, and 2.8 rpg in 646 games.

Devin Harris thinks 75 percent of NBA players own weapons

NBA players are celebrities. The league is seen by much of the world. Everybody knows who the stars are. With 30 teams and at most 15 players on a roster, only 450 human beings on the planet can claim to be NBA players at any given time.

The select few dozen stars are household names.

And, these guys need to protest themselves.

Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger reports:

Harris estimates that “Seventy-five percent” of the players own weapons. He personally said he doesn’t have one, because, as he put it, “I have a pit bull.”

If Harris was referring to the human variety of pit bull (a bodyguard), who may in turn carry his own weapon, he didn’t say.

While the NBA wants its players to get over its obsession with firearms, most gun-owning players feel justified in carrying them because they are very tall and wealthy targets.

Sometimes, through no fault of their own whatsoever, violence finds them just because of what they drive.

Life can be complicated when random strangers passing by you all know who you are, but you don’t know them.

Yi Jianlian good in return

Jonathan Lehman of the New York Post reports:

In the span of 30 minutes Wednesday night, forward Yi Jianlian might have played his way into the starting lineup. At 2-27, the moribund Nets have little to lose — except their ninth straight game.

Yi showed little rust in his return from a seven-week absence because of knee and lip injuries, scoring 22 points in the 103-99 home loss to the (almost) equally woeful Timberwolves. He hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 7 of 12 shots overall, giving the Nets — who shoot a league-worst 41.6 percent and 27.9 on threes — a sorely needed perimeter threat.

“He stretches the floor for us,” point guard Devin Harris said. “He came out ready to play and it shows how hard he’s been working. His stroke we’ll definitely need for the rest of the season.”

Nets struggles continues

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports:

All the tortures of a season of misery returned for the Nets. There was the mandatory lousy shooting (.378), a requisite injury as Chris Douglas-Roberts sprained his right ankle with 4:47 left, and the near-obligatory loss, though one far easier to accept with the effort but a loss all the same, the Nets’ seventh straight.

“We have to try to find a way to bring it every night. It’s as simple as that. For whatever reason, we aren’t,” said Douglas-Roberts, (20 points), who went for X-rays (negative) and was able to walk afterwards, which he found encouraging. “We don’t have the luxury to turn it on and off.”

Especially against the likes of the Lakers, who got a big night from Kobe Bryant, celebrating his waiting-to-be-signed extension with 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists amid chants of “MVP” from a storm-thwarted announced crowd of 17,190. Pau Gasol (whose own three-year deal should be done before Bryant’s) had a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Mikhail Prokhorov passes NBA background examination

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports:

Mikhail D. Prokhorov has survived the N.B.A.’s background examination, helping the billionaire Russian oligarch take another step toward acquiring 80 percent of the Nets and 45 percent of the proposed Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He is said to be Russia’s richest man…

The N.B.A.’s decision to make known its clearance of Prokhorov’s background came a day after his company, Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holdings, closed on the deal to pay Forest City Ratner Companies, which is developing the Barclays Center as the part of the Atlantic Yards project, $200 million for his stakes in the team and the arena.

Prokhorov has also agreed to fund up to $60 million of the Nets’ losses until they move into the arena in 2012 and assume 80 percent of the team’s $207 million in debt. He has an option to buy up to 20 percent of Atlantic Yards.

Chris Dudley running for Oregon governor

Former NBA big-man Chris Dudley, who was a decent rebounder and defender, and one of the worst free throw shooters in the history of this universe, is pushing ahead in the world of politics.

The AP reports:

The 6-foot-11 Yale graduate told supporters Wednesday he wants to slow the growth of the state budget and considers his lack of political experience a plus.

He will compete for the Republican nomination against Allen Alley, John Lim and Bill Sizemore.

Should he win, Dudley’s first act as governor should be to make it state law that all little children learn to shoot free throws.

Aside from learning that he’s in the Republican party, I don’t know what his political views are. I will say that individual people tend to be more diverse than the overall general views of their party. But in general politics makes people angry so I stay away from talking too much about it on this-here fun basketball website. For now, though, until there’s a reason to feel differently, I say Vote Dudley!

Pacers drop Nets to 2-21

In Indiana, playing in front of what looked like about 375 fans (OK, maybe 7,000-8,000), the Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets 107-91. New Jersey drops to a 2-21 record.

Indiana is playing without injured star Danny Granger.

The Pacers had a nice balanced offense as six players scored double-digits. Rookie Tyler Hansbrough came off the bench for 21 points (though he took 18 shots), seven rebounds and three steals. Starting center Roy Hibbert (8-of-17) had 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Troy Murphy added 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Mike Dunleavy, still working his way back into condition, had 15 points off the bench. Brandon Rush, back to starting at shooting guard, had 10 points and 8 rebounds, though he committed five turnovers. And point guard T.J. Ford had 10 with 3 steals.

The Nets tossed bricks all night and shot 36.3% and hit just 3-of-13 from three-point range. They did earn 29 free throws, hitting 22. They were led by Brook Lopez (just 8-of-23) who had 25 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. Devin Harris scored 18 (on 16 shots), Rafer Alston had 17 (on 16 shots) and Courtney Lee scored 14 (on 15 shots).

Starting Nets forwards Chris Douglas-Roberts and Josh Boone combined to shoot 4-of-15.

The Nets were out-rebounded 55-41 and out-assisted 22-12. No Net dished more than three assists.

Nets get first road win of season

The New Jersey Nets went 0-18 before getting their first win of the season, a home victory against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Tuesday in Chicago, the Nets beat the Bulls to earn their first road win.

The AP reports:

Brook Lopez scored 25 points and Devin Harris hit to the go-ahead basket with 14.9 seconds left Tuesday night as the New Jersey Nets got their second win of the season and first on the road, beating the Chicago Bulls 103-101.

The Nets, who got off the worst start in NBA history at 0-18 before beating Charlotte and then losing to the Knicks, are now 2-19 — including 1-12 away from home.

Chris Douglas-Roberts added 20 points and Harris had 17 for New Jersey.

The Newark Star-Ledger reports:

“It’s huge. Huge because — I mean, we only have two wins — but this was the first one we really had to gut out,” Chris Douglas-Roberts said. “This was a gut check. Throughout the NBA season there are a lot of these, and it was great to see how we reacted to the pressure. We reacted great to a lot of different runs. This was a great win and a good sign. This shows that we can play like this. So it was great.”

Tony Battie: “We showed some mental toughness, and we never got rattled when things didn’t go our way. We persevered. We couldn’t stiff-arm them and get it under control, but we got a good road win.”

Next up for the Nets is a home game Wednesday against the struggling Golden State Warriors, a road game Friday against the beatable Indiana Pacers (who are now without injured star Danny Granger), and then tough games in Atlanta and Cleveland.