I'm retiring at 10,000 posts. As you can see, that's coming up very soon. Being somewhat of an attention whore, I wanted to write a peace out post in my in between time here at work.
Don't really have the time to write a long winded post, I did so already here if you want to read:
http://insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142518
Mainly though, I wanted to say good bye to the Nets fan community. I've been a Nets fan all my life. I think the Nets, outside of family, are my longest standing relationship with anything or anyone.
And here we are, on the cusp of moving my hometown team to Brooklyn. While one can argue that I owe them for the years and years of entertainment..I can't help but feel slighted that they can just up and move away. Through all this in the last few years of the talk of the Nets moving there, I think I've taken subconscious steps to distance myself from the team. I've taken up loving college basketball and my college team, the Illini. As childish as it sounds, I doubt they'll ever move the University anywhere.
Anyway, some tidbits about my love for the Nets:
Favorite moment: Going to the Finals in '02 (After losing season after losing season it was definitely a redeeming moment.)
Favorite Net: Kerry Kittles-- No one better knock on him
My earliest moment as a Net fan: Losing in the first round in '92.
Nets players I spent my childhood playing days trying to imitate: Kittles, Cassell, Kendall Gill (two points for also being an Illini)
Favorite Nets bench player: Rodney Rogers--he wasn't that good for us but I loved Rodney a lot.
Well that's really unfair. As a kid, I really spent most of my time trying to be Nick Van Exel. I love the Nets, but now that I think of it, most of the players didn't factor in my game.
But why do I love them so much? I think it just had to with it being the home team and my parents teaching me the values of loyalty and sticking with a choice I made. All my friends growing up were Knicks fans. As well as a good amount of Bulls, Lakers, and Rockets fans. But I was one of only a few Net fans. It was redeeming to spit back at their faces (well not the Lakers fans) in the early 2000s, but nonetheless you get my point.
All rambling aside, this is what I'm thinking for the future of our Nets:
-Brook has been a surprise. I have a lot of high hopes for him. I'm not saying Tim Duncan like everyone else is, but I'd be really happy if became a more aggressive version of Pau Gasol. I think that would be key
-Devin is nice, but I don't really see him much more than a selling point to FA next year.
-Speaking of next year, we better start shelling out cash for the big names. I doubt Wade or LeBron come, but I'd be happy with an Amare or Bosh. Joe Johnson would be great too.
-If we have a top pick next year, I want Greg Monroe first. I say that even knowing I said Amare and or Bosh as a FA I want.
-I'm not that high on Courtney Lee. I don't see a star, but rather a very good role player. I've been saying Courtney Lee reminds me of Anthony Parker. Plays good defense, has some offense, smart player, but nothing spectacular. I'd be happy with that.
-I'm excited for Terrence Williams. I'll admit, I kinda wanted Gerald Henderson. T-Will has a higher ceiling, but sometimes I question whether or not he's aggressive enough. If we did get Joe Johnson, I'd be really happy with Terrence playing along with him.
-We need a new coach. An offensive coach. Frank is nice, but I'd like a new one. I wanted Flip Saunders, but now I'm not sure who we can get that's available.
-Yi.. I'm not hoping or expecting anything. Right now he's the king of setting useless picks. Everyone raise their hands if you've seen Yi run down and then hard cut to an on-ball screen and see his teammates wave off the pick. He just doesn't have the IQ to play with the team. I don't know if it's lost in translation or its general basketball IQ but he needs to spend more time playing with our guys and learning more about their tendency. Also some confidence would help.
Anyway, that's all for now. I'll come back if our 2010 FA plans pan out, but outside that I'm gonna be silently supporting this team till they move to Brooklyn. At that time, I may switch over to a full Knicks fan.
For those who don't know, I'm retiring.
If we can retire jerseys, you would be up there.
