The Nets would have to go on a major winning streak to escape the play-in tournament. Winding up in that extra round could have major offseason consequences, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Coach Steve Nash could find his job in jeopardy, despite all the obstacles he’s been forced to deal with this season. The roster could be overhauled, as Lewis notes only six players have guaranteed contracts for next season and two others can opt out of their deals.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks center Nerlens Noel did not play on Sunday due to plantar fasciitis and he could be out for an extended period, according to The New York Post’s Marc Berman. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Noel would not play until he recovered from the foot ailment and got some regular practice time. Noel has played in just 25 games due to an assortment of knee, hamstring and foot injuries. He signed a three-year, $27.7MM contract last summer with a team option for the final year.
- DeAndre Jordan said his prior relationships with coach Doc Rivers and starters James Harden and Tobias Harris, plus the need for a backup center, made the Sixers an easy choice after he cleared waivers, Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets. Jordan heaped praise on his former Clippers coach, Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. “He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, he’s more than a coach to me … when a new player comes to a team, it’s always everybody trying to get them to feel acclimated, but with Doc, he’s gonna curse me out like I’ve been here all season,” said Jordan, who played 10 minutes in his Sixers debut on Monday.
- The Raptors’ loss to the Cavaliers on Sunday makes it seem almost inevitable that Toronto will wind up in the play-in tournament, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Canada writes. The defeat dropped Toronto three games behind Cleveland, which sits in sixth place in the East and also holds a tiebreaker advantage over the Raptors.
How much do we have to read about the Nets? They are the most underperforming team in the NBA.
Maybe Durant, James and the TNT guys yukked it up over James Harden before the All-Star game, but the early results show that he is 10 times the team player that Durant, Irving and James are. Unlike them, he’s made all his teammates better. Those guys are soap opera prima donnas that complain about their team rosters because…you see….nothing is their fault…everyone else is to blame….unless they win a championship….then that’s all because of them.
Any new material Sam?
The I hate the NBA has kinda worn in the basketball boards believe it or not
@ Cap & Crunch;
I love teams such as the Suns, Bucks, Heat, Grizzlies, Cavs, Bulls, even 76’ers and others playing team basketball.
Troll someone else please.
So post that instead of the hates. What “early results… Ten times”? Just random grouching. What teammates improved bc of Harden?
Evan Fournier: Four years, $73MM….
Derrick Rose: Three years, $43.56MM….
Alec Burks: Three years, $30.04MM….
Nerlens Noel: Three years, $27.72MM….
Kemba Walker: Two years, $17.89MM…
And then consider that DeRozan had sincere interest in the Knicks who signed Fournier for 4/$78M while DeRozan ended up getting 3/$85M from the Bulls. Knicks could have made it work had they not bumbled all those other signings. Oh what could have been.
Those 3 year deals you list are all only 2 years (with a team option), and, guess what, it (really) matters, as does DDR’s age, when you’re building a team for a longer term than just the next couple of years. It’s a good thing for the NYK and their fans that the FO isn’t so bumbling as not knowing that.
Wow, really reaching to find something to nitpick there, DXC. My viewpoint is subjective, “and guess what”, so is yours. The only objective fact here is that the Knicks have been irrelevant for two decades.
Not really, they had a very good team in 2013. Just ran into the Pacers who were even better that year.
Didn’t they win a playoff series last year?
No
Oh yeah that’s right. But you still can’t call a fourth seed irrelevant
A team with no sustained success is irrelevant. If you’re happy with a playoff appearance every 10 years, that’s different topic for another day I guess.
I don’t get why Noel saw such a big contract. I get that NY wants the playoff buzz, but ton of gambling contracts and no serious moves at the deadline. They should have made a move at the deadline and retool over the summer. Curious what the front is aiming to do. They could’ve moved Burks and Reddish.
Yep, viewpoints are subjective. Facts aren’t, including the number of years of guaranteed salary under contracts.
I agree, I mischaracterized the length of the deals but it was honestly unintentional.
Original point still stands, those signings were horrific. DeRozan is an MVP candidate.
Fournier’s deal is 3 years, $58 million with a fourth year option, which is a hell of a lot different than Derozan’s 3/$85 million.
And none of those other deals are for the length you’ve written aside from Kemba’s, which was a low cost gamble. I agree that the Knicks spent a lot and haven’t gotten much, but at least be honest with how you represent those deals.
Really …… why would any non fan care. No facts. Why would Knicks want De R …..
Frankly we are better off with a lottery pick. If only Thibs would comply.
A non fan cares because the Knicks being good is great for the NBA.
Fair enough
Well the Jordan experiment worked well vs the bulls. Embiid and Jordan combined for 43 pts
45 bro. Jordan hit a couple free throws.
Thank u u are correct. Embiid 43, Jordan 2. Both put in equal work clearly
Jordan isn’t there to be Embiids equal.He only took 1 shot.And he also got 3 boards,2 assists and a block and a steal in 10minutes of work.
If you’re expecting a backup center to be Embiids equal,you’re gonna be disappointed with pretty much anybody they bring in.They got the w,that’s what really matters.
The original press release said Jordan would be covering Embiid’s minutes and that they expect him to play just as hard. How is that not expecting him to be equal? Stop making excuses.
Expecting a March bench addition to match a mvp canidates play isn’t realistic,regardless what the teams press release says.That’s not an excuse,it’s being realistic.
His 2 pts is still more than what Ben Simmons has given the Nets so far.
At this point in the year and especially the playoffs depth is crucial. This dismal showing from Jordan is a real cause for concern. Big mistake by Philly. Sorry to break it to you.
You’re trying to break it to me,but I’m still happy we got him.Ill take him over WCS.Unless Marc Gasol was gonna come back to the nba,or Robin Lopez was getting bought out,there aren’t many alternatives at this point in the season.Him + Millsap give us 2 veteran options with different styles to cover 10-12 minutes a game.Im good with that.
Well he’s going to need a performance closer to what Embiid is giving you than an accidental goaltending. Some fans are just totally delusional!
Yea,nets fans that think they’re getting something special in Ben Simmons.
They’re getting a defensive all star. What has Embiid ever won? At least DJ has some pedigree. Too bad it’s all gone now.
Jordan tapped out a few offensive rebounds to get second shots when the Bulls were on a run, could have turned the game.