Inside Enemy Territory with “Nets Daily”
Seeing the New Jersey Nets enter the arena always brings back a flood of memories. However, it’s now been several years since the memories of Vince’s departure, and not to mention an extremely emotional six-game series. Change is coming. The New Jersey Nets will not be based out of New Jersey much longer and the balance of power in the Atlantic Division has shifted this season.
We sat down with Nets Daily to discuss the progress for the upcoming game. Please check out our answers on their page.
Q: How do New Jerseyans feel about the move of your basketball team?
It’s a mixed bag. I think in general, we’re disappointed that they’re moving. But we also realize that the IZOD Center is the worst building in the NBA, and is in a terrible location (isolated with no train access). Attendance is poor for various reasons.
I think a lot of us wish that the Nets had moved with the Devils to the new Prudential Center in Newark though. A new arena in a location that is easily accessible from everywhere in New Jersey, as well as Manhattan, is the ultimate solution. But the move obviously isn’t about the Nets or their New Jersey fans. It’s about the real estate project.
Q: Has the window closed on the Nets? Is it time for big changes within the organization both on and off the court?
The team as currently constructed can’t beat the Celtics or Pistons. So yeah, the window is closed in a way. But a major overhaul isn’t necessarily needed. There are pieces here to field a competitive team in the present, as well as pieces for a bright future. The best idea may be to break it down and build for three or four years down the road, but as the Celtics and Lakers have shown, a shrewd move or two could turn things around quickly.
Q: From around the league, people like Magic Johnson have started slagging on Vince again. Do you believe that he’s correct in his assessment, or way off base?
Vince has definitely lost some athleticism, but there’s no evidence that “his knees are shot.” He injured his ankle in the sixth game of the year and just now seems to be getting some explosion back. But Vince is who he is. He’s got as much talent as anyone in the league, but he rarely makes the most of it. If you were to remove him from the Nets and not replace him, they would be worse off. But he’s not a great fit with Kidd, Jefferson or even Lawrence Frank’s gameplan, and giving him $66 million was clearly not a wise move.
HoopsAddict.com would like to once again thank the writers at Nets Daily for their time. Please don’t forget to visit their site!
