Bleacher Report - Articles by Ray Smith

Why Shaq's New Jersey Nets Plan is Right

Ray Smith — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:51:35 -0500

According to a report on NJ.com, Shaquille O'Neal has expressed interest in ownership of the Nets and moving them to Newark. I'm going to lay out to you why Shaq wanting the team to move to Newark could be a positive thing for Nets fans who wish to see their team stay in New Jersey instead of selling out to the city of New York.

Shaquille O'Neal is a player who is running out of years on the court and is beginning to plan his retirement. Fortunately, Shaq is recession proof and has enough money for me, you, and him to settle down and purchase a small island. Shaq, though he has travelled around, is a Jersey guy; Newark to be exact.

As many Jerseyans know, living close to New York City is a great benefit. The job market, the party scene, the high house values and the Yankees all make being a part of the New York metropolitan area a lot of fun.

However, as a resident of a state that is mocked for so many reasons unknown to me, we Jerseyans have a sense of pride. We love the New York scene, but not everything has to be about New York. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country and has a lot of people who attach to the "Jersey identity."

An outsider from Ohio, Bruce Ratner, is trying to steal the Nets, one of two teams who share the New Jersey name. He has no idea about the Jersey identity but rather sees the Nets as a possibility to anchor his Atlantic Yards project which has received much criticism from one of the coolest areas of New York City, downtown Brooklyn.

Many people are pointing fingers at Nets fans saying that it is their own fault for not supporting a team. Anyone that thinks this has not been to the Izod Center and dealt with the parking situation and they have not been following the fact that management has told the Nets fans that their team will be leaving them for New York City as soon as they can get out of there. Why put any money into a team that just wants to bail as soon as possible?

But Shaquille O'Neal gave me, as a Nets fan, fresh hope that this team can keep their Jersey ties. He is someone who knows about the hardships of Newark, a tough city, that is looking to rebound. There has been an attempt at a renaissance in the city of Newark, and the addition of an NBA franchise could do nothing but help.

So Mr. Ratner, please get off of your New York City high horse, and look to a city that could use the financial help: Newark. It is not the hipster neighborhood of Brooklyn that could use the job boost, it is the city of Newark that could benefit from the addition of this franchise.

Sell the team Mr. Ratner. There are plenty of Jersey guys such as the owner of the Devils, Jeff Vanderbeek and one of the greatest centers and a Newark native, Shaquille O'Neal that could help this franchise flourish in an embattled city. Jay-Z, a once New Jersey native, stay on board: use your status to help the team flourish in a city full of residents looking for leaders.

It is time for the State of New Jersey to rally around this team. As each day goes on, it seems as if Brooklyn is turning into a pipe dream for the greedy ownership of this team. Newarkers are far and wide reaching, including Jason Alexander, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Joe Rogan, Redman, Max Weinberg, Kat Deluna, and Shaquille O'Neal.

There are many other famous New Jerseyans out there such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Nicholson, Tara Reid, Zack Braff, James Gandolfini, Kevin Smith, John Travolta, Jon Stewart, and Bruce Willis.

It's time for a call to Jerseyans to rally, just like Shaq is. Help out the city of Newark by adding the Nets franchise to a city that could use it. Ratner, it's time to say goodbye to your dreams of moving the team that Jersey represents with to the center of Knicks Nation in Brooklyn.

Mr. Ratner, as Bruce Springsteen once said, this is my hometown. New Jerseyans aren't ready to give up a fight for this team. Move the Nets to Newark!

Why Yi Jianlian's Broken Pinkie Should Force the New Jersey Nets To Make a Trade

Ray Smith — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:50:07 -0500

Right after writing the recap, I found out about the Nets' newest injury. Just as they are about to get their point guard back and about to have a healthy team coming back to Jersey to face an abysmal Thunder team, word got out that Yi Jianlian has broken his pinkie finger.

The Nets are not very deep at the 4 position to begin with. Now Yi leaves the Nets with: a hurting rookie, Ryan Anderson (back problems), Eduardo Najera (like Jim Carrey, fun for five minutes but then gets ugly), Josh Boone (caused an uninterested crowd of 12,000 Nets fans to boo, also went 1-4 from the line in the loss to the Bucks), and Sean Williams (playing for the 14ers or something currently).

This is the time for the Nets to make a deal. I know they are technically in rebuilding, but it's time to take a gamble. Let's be honest, there is no one in the Atlantic who is competing except for the Celtics. This is a good chance for the Nets to take advantage of a season in which people are waiting for two years for free agents.

If the Nets can bring someone in via trade or free agency, it could boost attendance in the funeral home known as the Izod Center, and it can show their Jersey fans that they're not just waiting to go to Brooklyn to do something. This would help calm the nerves in the awkward boos and exchanges between the team and fans at home games.

Andrea Bargnani could be a good addition and a great complement to Lopez down low. With Bosh and O'Neal in Toronto, the seven-footer's minutes have been limited. When Yi returns, if the Nets wanted to continue the development of Yi after he returns, Bargnani has played the 3 previously. Maybe some competition for the spot would also wake Yi up to be the top-10 player everyone thought he would be.

If Bargnani is not being moved, Jermaine O'Neal could also be added. But there is not much talent on the Nets side to move, so getting rid of draft picks would be a necessity.

Gerald Wallace has been talked about as a player about to be traded as recently as this week where ESPN discussed him going to the Mavericks. One problem with him: His contract extends past 2010, a cardinal sin in the NY area for NBA general managers. But he could run the court with Harris and Carter and emerge as a new big three in the East.

In all likelihood, the Nets will probably do nothing and continue on their plan of rebuilding for the move across the Hudson (but hopefully it will be a move down the turnpike to Newark). However, a good addition this season could move the Nets up in a conference in which they are already in seventh place at a game under .500. The players above are only brainstormed ideas who I think could help the Nets right now.

Nets fans are being told to be patient, and that 2010 is coming. But if the Nets play in front of 16,000 on a good night in the Izod Center, why would anyone in 2010 want to come play for them?

I personally think LeBron will sign an extension at the end of this season for a max deal, Nash will go to the Knicks and D'Antoni, while Bosh will go out west. Maybe Dwyane Wade is a possibility for 2010, but it's tough to tell at this point.

What do you think the Nets should do? Try and go out and get someone or continue with the rebuilding process? I personally think they should try their best to make a move, shop some players around for unhappy players in other cities, and see what can be done.

Otherwise, continue to see the Nets hemorrhage money in front of uninterested paid crowds around 50 percent at the Izod Center.

Any thoughts, Nets fans?

Nets-Bucks: New Jersey Loses Tough One After Mounting 14-Point Comeback

Ray Smith — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:41:37 -0500

As Luke Ridnour's floater bounced around the rim, I just knew this was the way it was going to end for the Nets.

After trailing by 14 in a road game with Devin Harris again in a suit, the Nets mounted a comeback led by the unselfish play of Vince Carter, who dished out a career-high 14 assists. But Ridour's 10th point of the game erased the Nets comeback and dropped them to a game under .500 in a 104-102 loss.

The story for the small number of Nets reporters leading up to this game was the match up of Jefferson vs. his old team. RJ, the Nets second highest scorer in the teams NBA history, had a slow night. Jefferson shot only 3-15 from the field for 13 points. Of the traded players, it was Simmons and Yi who showed up to help their team.

Yi scored 16 points, which continues a nice four game stretch for him in which he has scored in double digits. Simmons made the biggest splash for the Nets in the fourth quarter, in which off a feed from Vince Carter, he tied the game with about 10 seconds to go. Simmons scored 15 points, all from three point land.

For the Nets, thus far this season, they have been able to hang around in second place in an otherwise atrocious Atlantic division (of course I am not saying the Celtics are atrocious, but the division itself is the worst in the league). Their inconsistency has kept them from making the leap from mediocre to good.

Vince Carter was a main component of this comeback. With Devin Harris they definitely would have been victorious in this match up. However, teams have injuries and it's part of the game. Harris should be back for the match up against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at the Izod Center. He was questionable for the Milwaukee game, but if there was any aggravation I would say it was the right move to sit out tonight's game. Big ups to Keyon Dooling who continued to fill in for Harris.

The team showed heart tonight, but without their other star guard, they were unable to complete the comeback against a less than stellar Bucks team.

When the Nets come back on Monday night, if you're an area fan, there are a number of great deals available to go out and see the Nets. eBay offers plenty of lower-level tickets for under $20, which I'll be taking advantage of, and there is even a Ticketmaster deal that is giving tickets away (yes, for real). Check out this ticketmaster offer.

Just choose the game and use the Paperfast code and the word "ONUS" for the password. There is a 75 cent charge but still, it's a great way to watch the NBA: free.

Enjoy, Go Nets!

Vince Carter Shows Why He's Captain in 100-89 Win Over Memphis Grizzlies

Ray Smith — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:49:36 -0500

Yes, I know, it was only the Grizzlies. But yes, these were only the Nets. The Nets at home, no less. Plus, with Devin Harris in a vacant second row (usually there are some seats filled there) the Nets had to do without their leading scorer. So to say this win was a gimme would be false.

Last year, when the Nets dealt Jason Kidd to the Mavericks, many people thought Carter would be next. However, it was Richard Jefferson who was shipped off to sports hell (Milwaukee) instead of Carter. Then, to the surprise of fans, Carter was still on the roster in the beginning of the season.

With the team planning a rebuilding year, many people predicted that Carter would be moved. Now, at .500, not moving Carter was the right choice, as evidenced by his play against Memphis last night.

The Nets could have probably moved Carter in their attempt to rebuild in order to line up for the LeBron James sweepstakes. However, they kept their savvy veteran. A night like last night's game showed why he is still an integral part of the Nets, and one of the main reasons the team is knocking down the low expectations set for them in September.

With Harris out, the Nets knew that assists and points would have to come from somewhere.

Carter recorded 12 assists for the Nets and scored 25 points. On countless occasions he set up Jarvis Hayes and Brook Lopez, two otherwise less than popular players in the league, to make them look great. He played the role of captain by making the right passes, shots, and free throws.

If the Nets keep Carter for the rest of his contract, it would be a commitment that they still want to be competitive. While he has not escaped criticisms about selfish play, he showed in a game that the Nets needed to win to get back to .500 that he is capable of being an unselfish player while still dominating.

The Nets should keep Carter, let the most productive back court in basketball stick around, and see what it can do for the fans of Jersey.

New Jersey Nets Unhappy With Booing Boone?

Ray Smith — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:06:26 -0500

Last night I was one of 12,314 people to attend the game of two of the more troubled franchises in sports: The Sacramento Kings at the New Jersey Nets. While a relatively new Nets fan, I have taken a liking to the team in the last few years. The prospect of the team leaving New Jersey has left a bad taste in the mouths of the Jersey fans who continue to show and attendance for this mediocre team has been struggling.

As reported on NJ.com, Vince Carter and Keyon Dooling took issue to the fact that fans were booing in the first half when the team was struggling and mocking Josh Boone following several missed free throws, including an air balled free throw attempt. I myself booed Boone loudly, especially following the air ball.

For many years, as a Yankees and Rangers fan, it has become common to let players know when they are struggling. I feel that it should be a "drive" for the team to perform better. There are many aspects of this that makes the situation interesting.

1) The people at the games, including myself, have accepted that this is a team in limbo. There is a possibility that this team will jump to our neighboring state, New York, even though there is an offer for the team to play for free in Newark, NJ, an urban center and basketball city.

This plan has been rejected by Bruce "The Rat" Ratner even though his company's stock has fallen to $6 and he has received opposition from the "Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn" concerned citizens group. New Jersey and Brooklyn residents are both opposed to the plan, so why go forward? Anyway, back to the booing issue.

2) Josh Boone is a let down player. Ever since starring at UConn, he has been a seventh or eighth man at best for a sub par franchise, the Nets. It seems that the Nets fans have had enough of him, and air balling a free throw in a close game warrants booing. I know the Nets are doing much better than anticipated, but when they play well, it's time to keep it up and not fall back on the "low expectations from the beginning of the year" excuse.

3) The Nets are 7-12 at home but are only one game under .500. The play at the IZOD Center has been abysmal; denying that would be kidding yourself. There were a few games they should have won like against Chicago (come back to tie it with 2:00 left) but a game like last night should have been a blowout.

The fans play a pretty penny to continue to support a team that tells its fans that they are leaving them. Granted, there are easier ways to sit up close and personal, example, I paid 10 dollars on ebay to sit downstairs for last nights game and might be able to do it for Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies. But the attendance isn't as bad as people make it out to be. They were 22nd earlier in the year, which means there are still eight teams who draw less.

Being a team near the Knicks brings up the comparisons all the time; if we're not selling out then to some the Nets are viewed as a failure. But I've been to games where all sections were filled this year, (vs. Chicago and Atlanta), and the people continue to support them. If we continue to show up to watch and support this team, we have the right to express our disappointment.

4) The Nets should be happy people give a damn. For the mess of a parking situation in the construction site known as the Meadowlands, the inaccessibility of the games as far as public transportation go, and the mediocrity of the team, there are still people who care. If people are booing, it's because they care.

There are people who get frustrated with the Nets play when it's poor, so Vince, Keyon: smile when you hear the boos, people give a damn about how you guys are playing. Let it be motivation, because when there's an interested fan base that is booing, when you win it will be so much better.