The vision and dreams of bringing a basketball team back to Brooklyn is coming closer to reality. The Nets organization have spent 35 years in New Jersey and today they officially made the announcement that not only did they change their name, but unveiled new colors. Gone are the days of blue, red and silver and hopefully the start of a winning franchise, the Nets made two consecutive NBA Finals appearances in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. Since 2007 however, they have endured five consecutive losing seasons and have been one of the laughingstocks of the league.
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After the disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday, the Portland Trail Blazers (26-29) had to have known their recent record against the lowly New Jersey Nets (19-37) and had a smile on their faces, the Nets have only won nine games in Portland the last couple of seasons and Portland just dominates the series against them.
A regular-season game between the 12-26 New Jersey Nets and 4-31 Charlotte Bobcats doesn’t exactly scream excitement.
But Deron Williams did his best to make it as thrilling as possible.
The Nets point guard dropped a ridiculous 57 on the Bobcats, setting a franchise record and leading his team to a 104-101 victory Sunday night. That’s the most points scored in the NBA this season and breaks the team record of 52 points shared by Mike Newlin and Ray Williams.
Williams, who came into the game averaging 21.7 points per game, shot 16 of 29 from the field and was a perfect 21 for 21 from the free-throw line.
Linsanity got the best of Deron Williams once already. He was determined not to let it happen again.
“This all started on me,” the New Jersey Nets star said.
It was a little over two weeks ago when New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin began his remarkable run against New Jersey, but Williams and the Nets were better prepared this time around. Williams scored a season-high 38 points, outplaying Lin and leading the Nets to a 100-92 victory over the Knicks in a game he where he wanted to redeem himself.
At 4-11, if New Jersey Nets fans thought their team was a mess now, they undoubtedly must abhor the prospect of the franchise’s future.
That’s because so many of the team’s plans are based on contingencies.
Deron Williams was acquired during last season’s trade deadline with the hope that the Nets could build an actual team around the talented point guard. However, Williams has apparently refused to re-sign with the team unless they land another superstar player—otherwise known as Dwight Howard.
The New Jersey Nets received a bit of bad news today when it was confirmed that Brook Lopez will be out six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery Friday to repair a non-displaced stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot. Lopez suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during Wednesday’s preseason game against the New York Knicks.
The New Jersey Nets made a smart personnel move on Wednesday by re-signing big man Kris Humphries to a one-year deal worth a reported $8 million. Smart not only because he no longer will he be hanging around that pack of Turkish Armenian narcissists—err…the Kardashians, but because the 6’9”, 235-pound power forward can be a force in the paint.
Furthermore, now that that 72-day media circus that some actually deemed a marriage is behind him, Humphries is actually excited to get back on the hardwood.
“Ninety Percent.”
That was Deron Williams’ answer when asked about the probability of returning to the New Jersey Nets for the upcoming season.
“My plan is to stay,” Williams said during an interview with WFAN radio Monday. “Hopefully we get some good talent in here to where I can stay.”
However, notice the stipulation. Obviously, 90 percent isn’t 100, and that 10 percent of doubt that seems to hang in the balance is dependent on whether or not the Nets make any big offseason moves.
The NBA lockout already has some players scrambling to find work.
It is being reported that New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams has signed an agreement to go to Turkey and play for Besiktas, which is the club that briefly employed Allen Iverson last season. Williams will reportedly earn $200,000 a month, or roughly $5 million. Sources say Williams would not be required to report to the Turkish club before the end of August and that his deal with them allows him to return to the NBA as soon as the work stoppage ends.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Clippers)
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Utah Jazz (from New Jersey)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Washington Wizards
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Charlotte Bobcats
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Utah Jazz
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Houston Rockets
