Pouring Salt in the Wounds

Jason Kidd probably does not have a future as a motivational speaker. I agree with Kidd’s assessment of the Nets inability to weather the opponents storm, “we’re so quick to bail, in the sense of mentally letting go of the rope.” I disagree with the timing of his comments and the extreme negativity.

Whether Kidd said a word on Monday or not, the Nets faced a tall order traveling to Utah, still without Carter, in game one of a notoriously difficult West Coast trip, facing a very good Utah team, who is lethal offensively, strong at home, and a bit cranky coming off a blowout loss in Indy. Knute Rockne speeches work best when the team actually has an opportunity to respond…not before Monday night’s blowout loss to Utah. I think after that loss, with two beatable, inexperienced teams upcoming, the rallying cry may work better.

Kidd did not stop with the harsh assessment of his teammates, saying he sees “no light at the end of the tunnel.” Is Kidd waving the white flag after ten games? At 34, does Kidd want out before he watches another year fly by? Good leaders should call out their teammates for lackluster effort, a benign assessment of the Nets last six games, but “no light at the end of the tunnel” sounds bleak, as if the guys in the locker room do not hold the solution. Did the Nets suddenly make wholesale changes since Kidd proclaimed this team as “the most talented team I’ve been on,” [other than the Olympics] only 3 weeks ago?

One last word on J. Kidd - when you decide to open your mouth, back it up on the court. Prior to last night Kidd averaged 15.6 points 10.8 assists, and 10 boards during the losing streak, numbers that warrant calling out teammates for some help. Last night, after his heartfelt commentary, Kidd posted 2 points on 1-9 shooting and 6 turnovers, another blowout loss. Speak softly, but carry a big stick.

• The numbers look bad from every angle. 27th in 3-point shooting, 29th in FG percentage, dead last in points scored and point differential. The Nets cannot throw it in the ocean right now, but even worse, they insist on continuing to hoist up outside shots. Antoine Wright needs to take it hard to the hole, Boki Nochbar should stick the 3 point shot in his back pocket until he starts to hit mid-range jumpers. Boki aggressively drove to the basket a few times when he started against Orlando, before unsuccessfully returning to the 3-point line.

  Without Carter in the lineup, the offense is stagnant and lost. Kidd needs to keep pushing the ball, Coach Frank should spread the court and have them run more set plays, particularly the pick and roll with Sean Williams that was successful against Miami. Finally, the players need to go the extra mile, make hard cuts, set good screens, and get easy baskets. The best way out of a horrendous shooting slump - take easier shots. Wright and Nochbar both have the one-on-one skills to get in the lane, use them.

  Defensively teams kill Jersey with open jump shots. Check out the opponent’s 3-point percentage after each game, gaudy numbers. Same formula, guard gets in the lane or opponent grabs an offensive board, swing the ball around the perimeter, Nets rotate late…swish. Yes, the points against stat shows the defense playing better, but watch the games, this defense has struggled. Maybe just not as much as the offense.

• Portland and Seattle will both play hard, but are young, inexperienced teams the Nets should handle. Expect Carter to return in one of these games, where even at less than 100% his presence will boost the offense. A disgruntled captain, blowout loss after blowout loss, inconsistent playing time causing some grumbling, a coach who may go on the hot seat, and a star player that never takes the court at less than 100%, the Nets need a few wins NOW before the atmosphere gets anymore toxic.