When the Nets walked off the Barclays Center court on Wednesday night with a “What just happened?” look on their collective faces following a 115-110 choke job to a makeshift Indiana squad, a certain gaggle of Nets fans walked back inside from the proverbial ledge.
With that said, I'd rather see some more early reps from Agbaji and Minott rather than just handing the minutes to Powell. To my eyes, Powell's biggest issue at this point is his motor. He just disappears for large stretches of the game. Giving him more minutes will likely exacerbate the issue, not fix it.
Well, slot me into the pro-tanking contingent. Mark’s point in the comments is interesting, but I rather throw the rookies into the fire and let them try to level up. The difference in Egor and Noah’s play from November to now is proof the strategy has merit. And fwiw I still believe in Saraf too! Just needs a lot more healthy minutes.
I would argue the slow and steady approach proved worthy. The time in the G League boosted Traore and Wolf’s confidence while Demin was on a minutes restriction coming off the foot injury. Different now. Let em all cook. Or get cooked.
I have been thinking about your “tanking organically” line and I still think it is great terminology. The more I compare approaches, the more interesting the contrast with Utah looks to me.
The Nets are putting their real lineups out there and often getting buried early because the roster just is not strong enough. That can wear on confidence and it creates a risk that constant heavy losses eventually dull the coach’s message, even if he is doing the right things developmentally.
Utah’s model feels different. Their starting group is competitive for most of the game, sometimes even ahead after three quarters, and then the fourth quarter lineups tilt the result. The starters can still feel like they played winning basketball, and the coach keeps credibility because the plan is more transparent in how it plays out on the floor.
I still think Jordi is an excellent coach and the right long term guy. I just wonder if a more coordinated, explicit tank approach from the top down would better protect player confidence and coach buy in than what looks like pure roster weakness plus maximum effort every night.
Yes, and I agree with you completely about the dangers of losing too much. That is exactly why I keep coming back to the Utah model. It feels like an elegant solution to the problem.
They stay competitive with their main group for most of the game, protect player confidence, and keep the coach’s voice strong, while still landing where they want in the standings. It threads the needle between development, culture, and draft position.
I would love to see the Nets adopt something closer to that approach.
I agree that I'd like to see less Mann this year.
With that said, I'd rather see some more early reps from Agbaji and Minott rather than just handing the minutes to Powell. To my eyes, Powell's biggest issue at this point is his motor. He just disappears for large stretches of the game. Giving him more minutes will likely exacerbate the issue, not fix it.
Well, slot me into the pro-tanking contingent. Mark’s point in the comments is interesting, but I rather throw the rookies into the fire and let them try to level up. The difference in Egor and Noah’s play from November to now is proof the strategy has merit. And fwiw I still believe in Saraf too! Just needs a lot more healthy minutes.
I would argue the slow and steady approach proved worthy. The time in the G League boosted Traore and Wolf’s confidence while Demin was on a minutes restriction coming off the foot injury. Different now. Let em all cook. Or get cooked.
I have been thinking about your “tanking organically” line and I still think it is great terminology. The more I compare approaches, the more interesting the contrast with Utah looks to me.
The Nets are putting their real lineups out there and often getting buried early because the roster just is not strong enough. That can wear on confidence and it creates a risk that constant heavy losses eventually dull the coach’s message, even if he is doing the right things developmentally.
Utah’s model feels different. Their starting group is competitive for most of the game, sometimes even ahead after three quarters, and then the fourth quarter lineups tilt the result. The starters can still feel like they played winning basketball, and the coach keeps credibility because the plan is more transparent in how it plays out on the floor.
I still think Jordi is an excellent coach and the right long term guy. I just wonder if a more coordinated, explicit tank approach from the top down would better protect player confidence and coach buy in than what looks like pure roster weakness plus maximum effort every night.
You’re assuming the Nets main group can be similarly competitive. That hasn’t been the case recently even with a full lineup.
I’ve made the same points re bad habits from losing, etc. We just have to hope the organization has a plan beyond kicking the can down the road.
Yes, and I agree with you completely about the dangers of losing too much. That is exactly why I keep coming back to the Utah model. It feels like an elegant solution to the problem.
They stay competitive with their main group for most of the game, protect player confidence, and keep the coach’s voice strong, while still landing where they want in the standings. It threads the needle between development, culture, and draft position.
I would love to see the Nets adopt something closer to that approach.