Major: I don't understand that. I know that the Nets don't have a go-to scorer like Walker and Pierce, but who on the Celtics was going to stop Jason Kidd? See, I would rather have a guy who is unstoppable (at times) like Kidd can be and gets others involved. Plus, the Nets have had a certain chemistry this season. The Celtics showed their playoff inexperience with Pierce choking at the end of Game 4 and "Cyber-Toine" doing a disappearing act in Games 5 and 6. I also find it hard to believe that people would think that an inexperienced playoff team like the Celtics were going to win a Game 7 on the road. It just doesn't happen very often, folks.
I don't understand that. I know that the Nets don't have a go-to scorer like Walker and Pierce, but who on the Celtics was going to stop Jason Kidd? Beats me -- I agree with you. I think the Nets are a damn good team. I don't think they have a shot in hell against the Lakers, but I think they can play the Kings pretty well (lose, but be competitive). I think they match up and can play that style of open-court basketball. I think a Kings/Nets series would be great, should it happen. Back to the topic, Richard Jefferson is one of those critical role players you need on a championship contender. Not a star, certainly, but you don't need 5 stars on the court to win.
Just read those links he had there. They all heard it from the national media seeping into their minds. The Nets weren't considered underdogs by seed, but by the media, sure. Same with the Kings. Jefferson is like Byron Scott.
MR, Can you believe they upped it publicly to Odom, Maggette and the #8 already? It is getting awfully close to where we discussed. Cool ain't it! (D@mn it, I hate using that word, but all the ain't phrases are coming up tonight)
Haha solid reasonings behind your "shots in the dark". Jefferson will be around Christie's level for defense. But offensively, he can be a 15 ppg guy, provided that he has a good PG. Obviosuly, he's not going to be a go-to guy, because he doesn't have a jumper or handle that's above average. But neither does Christie. As for Eddie, what will make him a star? The fact that he can shoot 3s?
Congrats, that would make him Doug Christie. Except his arms are shorter, and he's not quite the athlete that Christie is, and he's not even close to being the passer or ball handler that Christie is - so he'll be a lesser version of Dougie, if he works hard to develop that handling ability and passing. I should've thought it obvious, he's a 19yr old who was one of the best shotblockers in the NBA, he's got a smooth jumper, and good post moves that he'll demonstrate when he bulks up. He started out raw and made tangible improvement throughout the bulk of the season. And he's a damn good rebounder.
I really like Eddie Griffin....but I'm not so blind as to say this guy is a certain all-star and franchise player. Where in the world do you guys get that?? Just because T-Mac developed doesn't mean every other young guy who comes into the league will...at this point, EG is a man without a position.
Personally I don't think its Jefferson better than EG, its the way the team is ran from the PG position, thats where it all begins with the Nets. The Rockets starts and ends with Francis or Mobes jacking it up or dribbling out the clock or sometimes passing to an unsuspecting player watching the game from the 3 pt line. We need Francis to rebound out high and push the ball up court in to the lane with players on the wings going to THE BASKET instead of the 3 pt line. Thats so easy for a player to do (setting up at the 3pt line).......you don't have to run as far and you don't have to get out on the wing and go at it hard and keep up with the PG and finally use some of that God given talent to jump out of the Gym and finish strong! Thats what the Nets do, its so refreshing to watch that team play, and thats the key, they are a Team, and it didn't take 2 or 3 years for Kidd to make it happen after he got there. I don't think the Nets are any more talented than the Rockets, player to player, the Rockets may be more talented actually, but the PG makes all the players better and all they have to do is get open and watch for the ball and finish strong. Thats just my take on why Jefferson looks good, and why EG wasn't ROY, he could've been if he was running on the wing with the MVP!
15 ppg guy Doug Christie is not a 15 ppg guy. He relies on kick outs, he rarely creates for himself. That's the difference between him and Jefferson.
Don't worry, the last time "New York Knicks" and "champion" were ever uttered in the same sentence was nearly thirty years ago. He has a reason to be cranky.
Funny how your boy Shandon Anderson sure looked great in the Finals with a stud point guard, too. So, at what point in the season did it dawn on you that Jefferson was better than Shandon? hehehe
My boy Shandon? Where do you get this bull****? I do not like one player on the current Knicks squad. The only player I have ever liked on the Knicks is Ewing. He was the heart and soul of the Knicks (even at 37), and its a shame the Knicks pushed him out the door like they did. The championship comment has nothing to do with the Knicks having a long championship drought. It has everything to do with Manny bringing up rings everytime I direct comments at him, he's like Kenny frickin Smith (except when he talks about the Red Sox, and I don't really blame him). I do not bring up the "rings" argument because it is wrong to do that, but if people want to start with that, I'll tell them the blunt truth. It also has everything to do with Francis and Mobley not being able to share the ball, which will be the downfall of Francis led teams (downfall as in, they won't win a championship).
We don't have that bull**** anymore, you do ... hehe ... for 6 years, babby. If you close your eyes and think really hard, you can make Jefferson and Kidd look like Shandon and Stockton.
you can make Jefferson and Kidd Jefferson scored points when Kidd was out, too. I'd say Kidd assisted him 2 times. Most of his points were on penetration, or taking advantage of mismatches.
Actually Christie averaged around 15 points when he was with Toronto from '96 - '99. He averages 12.5 on a Sacramento team where he's not required to shoot as much. I'd say he is easily a 15 ppg player.
The difference is, Christie needs about 40 minutes per to average 15/16. Jefferson will need about 30-32 minute per to do so (the guy turns 22 this month, while Christie was about 28 when he did that). Trust me, Richard is better than Doug, you'll see. I'm done.
I think Jefferson has huge upside, but like all players it will be how much he works on his game. By playing with Kidd, it will help his confidence and allow him to blossom earlier then say someone like Eddie Griffin. A lot of success in the NBA is simply being on the right team at the right moment. Jefferson is a good player with good upside, and he is winning now, which will only help his confidence. I see him replacing Van Horn at the 3 by mid next year. DaDakota
We never drafted or traded for Jefferson, the Nets found him in the Draft. Nice job by the Nets. Rockets had nothing to do with Jefferson. We just gave them 3 picks for the Griffin thats it. If the Rockets had the picks they probaly would have taken somebody else completely different. And of course Griffin is way better than what we would of got in last years draft. Last years draft only great players and with extra potential were Gasol and Griffin. It is the same like when the Rockets got Cuttino with that 2nd round pick, scouting found him. If some other team was thinking of trading picks with us, they more than likely would not have taken Mobley, but since it did not happen, they can not say damm we got some scrub instead of Mobley that year if we traded for that pick back in the day. Nets management had made alot of great decisions, damm look where they are. Now that is a turn around, in makes Sacramento's turn around look no big deal.
