All Eyes Watching

In another reminder of how disappointing the Nets underachieving season, TNT broadcasts tonight’s visit to Golden State nationally. When the networks and the league make the television schedule, it usually focuses on good teams, and star players. At 18-23 riding a six-game losing streak – or blowout streak - Turner wishes it had the NFL’s flex schedule option.

Problems occasionally come to a head on nationally televised game. Another lackluster effort, non-competitive loss where the defense gets beat around like a piñata and the embarrassment may force Thorn to make a coaching move, or pull the trigger. May sound extreme, but how many more games where the Nets play with less urgency than a charity game before Thorn, or even Bruce Ratner, have to rattle the cage?

Conversely, the Nets can make a statement. With Frank under mounting pressure, trade rumors starting to rumble, the players can do more than verbally defend the coach – play hard for him. Forget the coach, each player needs to show some pride, dig in on defense, dive for loose balls, and play 48 minutes hard. At this point, a competitive game would do, a win seems far-fetched after the past few games.

Prediction: If the Nets come out like they did against Pheonix, Baron and the boys may go for 100 points in three quarters.