New Jersey Nets 2008-09 Season Preview

Written September 21, 2008 by Luke Knight

The Nets finally began to tear it all down last season in an attempt to build it back up. For the first time since 2000, Jason Kidd will not start at the point position. Jason Kidd was traded; Marcus Williams was traded; Richard Jefferson was traded; Four free agents weren’t resigned. The team won only 34 games last season, so the “retooling” (the Nets nice way to say rebuilding) should improve New Jersey. Keep reading to find out just how improved we think the Nets will be this season. If you want to bet on the New Jersey Nets to win the NBA Championship this year head over to BetUS where you can get up to 135% in signup bonuses.

Devin Harris is Jason Kidd’s replacement and he has a lot going for him. He is young, fast, and experience away from being an elite point guard in this league. Harris averaged 14.8 ppg and 5.8 apg. Last season, Harris’s offense was better than most expected, but his defense did not live up to its reputation. Attributing the sagging defense to the Nets’ fast pace, New Jersey acquired Keyon Dooling from Orlando. Dooling is a solid back-up. He is experienced, tough defensively, versatile, and a solid shooter. Vince Carter could get some minutes at the point as well.

Vince Carter is the team’s leading returning scorer with 21.3 ppg. The Nets need Carter to be their everything man. Basically, Vince “The Man” Carter has to live up to that nickname. Carter needs to lead the team in points and assists per game and still pick up a half dozen rebounds or so. Dooling will back up Carter some here, and if he comes along the way the Nets want him to, Chris Douglas-Roberts, the rookie out of Memphis, will get some minutes here, but he will probably be more of a small forward.

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With Richard Jefferson gone, the Nets will open the competition for players like Bobby Simmons and shooter Jarvis Hayes. Simmons is a solid defensive player, who can also rebound and has solid 3-point ability. Hayes is not as solid on defense as Simmons, but is a solid shooter. Douglas-Roberts is deceptively quick and should get some minutes here. Eduardo Najera and Trenton Hassell could also get some time, but overall this position is a huge question mark for the Nets.

Yi Jianlian, who the Nets acquired in the Richard Jefferson trade, is the front-runner for this position. Yi has yet to prove himself in the NBA. Eduardo Najera, a solid short-minute player and tremendous locker room presence, will get some minutes here. Ryan Anderson, rookie out of California, needs to bulk up, but is a big man scorer, who could provide New Jersey with a much needed spark at power forward. This is another unproven position for the Nets.

Josh Boone racked up 13 double-doubles last season, but his interior defense was suspect. Brook Lopez, rookie out of Stanford, was drafted to alleviate these defensive concerns. Boone was one of the solid spots last season, but if Lopez develops into the potential player he could be, the Nets could be extremely solid at center. Lopez has better defense than expected and has a solid jumper, with range, to go with his post game.

Final Analysis

The Nets have too many question marks to be a contender in the Atlantic Division. They will improve from their horrendous season last year, but most of the players on this team need experience and that is going to come with losing games in a tough Eastern conference. As a whole, the Nets have a solid bench, but not so solid starting five. We have the Nets finishing 4th in Atlantic Division and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, but this is a team that has potential to improve drastically over the course of the season.

Check out other team predictions from Luke Knight:

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