Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 137 – NBA Blog

Nets hire Doug Overton as assistant coach

The New Jersey Nets have named Doug Overton as an assistant coach, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Overton joins Brian Hill and Tom Barrise as a member of Head Coach Lawrence Frank’s staff.

“We are very pleased to add Doug to Coach Frank’s staff,” said Thorn. “He was a player who conducted himself with a great deal of professionalism for 11 seasons in the NBA, and his addition will be an asset to both our players and coaches.”

Overton had 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 assists.

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Byron Scott hopes CP3 makes Team USA

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (John Reid) reports: One day after it was announced that there won’t be tryouts for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, Hornets Coach Byron Scott said he can’t see a team without his star guard, Chris Paul, on it. “I think if they are going to make a team, then he (Paul) should definitely be on it,” Scott said Wednesday. “If they are going to try out guys, that’s a different story. I don’t see how you’ll leave out a guy that was runner-up to the MVP. “I just don’t see how you do it. But I don’t know what the criteria is, but Chris is the ultimate point guard as far as making people around him better. He is very unselfish, and he is a true point guard.” … Jason Kidd appears to be a lock to make the team.

Nets need size

The Bergen Record (Al Iannazzone) writes the following in his blog: Yes, they have some size with Josh Boone, Stromile Swift and Sean Williams, but they need more since it’s too early to say whether Nenad Krstic or DeSagana Diop will be back. Right now, I would say the chances are better for Krstic from a sheer dollar perspective. My hunch is someone – the Mavericks, for instance – will give Diop more than the Nets. They need to improve inside. They have said it repeatedly. The Nets’ best bet would be to do it via trade – I would go after Elton Brand, Marcus Camby, and restricted free-agent Josh Smith in a sign-and-trade to name a few – since there is no guarantee they’re going to find an impact big at 10. Plus who knows if Kevin Love or Anthony Randolph will be on the board still.

Will LeBron ever leave Cavs?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Bill Livingston) blogs: James is not going to be leaving for Milwaukee, San Antonio or even Detroit. The challenge will come, I think, from the New York Knicks. Many believe the biggest pitch will be made by the New Jersey Nets when they relocate to Brooklyn, N.Y., in time for James’ free agency year. James is a personal friend with Nets part owner Jay-Z, the rap artist. The Nets also might trade for James’ pal Carmelo Anthony. But offensive mastermind Mike D’Antoni is the Knicks’ new coach. He will put in a fluid system that could let a player like James average almost unheard-of numbers. The Knicks are the big team in the media capital of the country, and they will be clearing salary-cap space for the next two years. The Lakers wooed Shaquille O’Neal away from Orlando by challenging him to match Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s legacy and restore the Lakers’ greatness. Orlando did everything it could to no avail.

Jay-Z to rep Nets at draft lottery Tuesday

Nets investor and music executive Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter will represent the Nets at the NBA Draft Lottery tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, at the studios of NBA Entertainment in Secaucus, NJ. The Draft Lottery will be televised live on ESPN from 8 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

No word on if Tupac will represent any Cali teams.

I think it’s cool that Jay-Z will rep the Nets. I support anything that adds interest to an already-important event that will help determine the future of a few squads.

InsideHoops talks with Darrell Armstrong

The New Jersey Nets finished the 2007-08 regular season with 34 wins and 48 losses, failing to make the NBA playoffs. Veteran point guard Darrell Armstrong, whose pro career began in 1994, played 11.0 minutes per game as a backup. While his stats are low, his leadership drive is high. InsideHoops.com contributor Randy Zellea recently met with Armstrong for an exclusive interview.

Read it here.

Mark Jackson leaving YES network

The New York post (Phil Mushnick) reports: Mark Jackson, the Nets’ popular YES analyst the last three seasons and a top candidate to become coach of the Knicks, hit YES with a farewell bomb last night when he announced on the air he would not be returning to call Net games… Jackson’s relationship with YES had been poor since Jackson, two seasons ago, rejoined ABC/ESPN, apparently without consulting YES.

Apr. 16: Celtics 105, Nets 94

The AP reports: Second-stringer Leon Powe scored a career-high 27 points, adding 11 rebounds for his sixth career double-double, while Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and the rest of the Boston starters rested up for the playoffs. With their NBA-best 66 wins, the Celtics had already clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference and a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round… Tony Allen scored 18 for Boston, which won its fourth straight game and the 11th of its last 12. Richard Jefferson scored 24 points, and Nenad Krstic scored 13 with a season-high 12 rebounds. The Nets ended up 34-48, missing the playoffs for first time since 2001.

Apr. 15: Nets 112, Bobcats 108

The AP reports: For the New Jersey Nets, missing the playoffs took a lot the fun out of rallying from a 20-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Bobcats. Richard Jefferson scored 28 points and hit a go-ahead jumper in overtime and the Nets limited the Bobcats to 47 points in the final 29 minutes in a 112-108 meaningless victory on Tuesday night… Vince Carter added 18 points, Devin Harris had 17 and eight assists and Bostjan Nachbar added eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Nets won their second straight… Jason Richardson had 31 points (and 8 steals) to lead Charlotte in the game between two non-playoff teams. Nazr Mohammed added 19 points, Raymond Felton had 18 and Okafor had 15 rebounds.

Apr. 12: Nets 111, Bucks 98

The AP reports: Richard Jefferson scored 24 points and Vince Carter added 21 as the Nets beat Milwaukee 111-98 on Saturday night, spoiling Bucks general manager John Hammond’s first game watching his new team play… The Nets had 34 assists and 14 turnovers, with three of their leading scorers spending the game making plenty of passes. Carter had 10 assists, Devin Harris had nine and Jefferson had seven… InsideHoops.com Stat Note: For the Bucks, Ramon Sessions had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists.