BK Nets: How Darryl Dawkins planted his flag in Bernard King's house

From the desk of:  

THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH  and  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

DARRYL DAWKINS

1957 - 2015
*

New Jersey Nets

1982 - 1987

BROOKLYN NETS: Darryl Dawkins planted his flag on Flatbush Avenue long before the team arrived, back during the wildly popular Bernard King's County era.

The Nets enterprise obviously enjoyed its greatest success when they played on Long Island. Spanning three years between 1973-1976, the New York Nets averaged 56 wins per season and captured 2 ABA championships.

Julius Erving was then infamously sold to the Philadelphia 76ers, while the team itself moved to New Jersey after the 1976-1977 season.  After which, the transplanted Nets unavoidably posted four consecutive sub-par seasons.

Then led by notables such as Otis Birdsong and Buck Williams, and coached by Larry Brown, the 1981-1982 the Nets finally emerged from the second division to join the ranks of Eastern Conference contenders.  Their 44-38 record was the team's first winning campaign since fleeing Long Island, and also earned them their first ever NBA playoff appearance.

For the 1982-1983 season, Birdsong and Williams, Mike Gminski, Sleepy Floyd, Len Elmore, Albert King, and the troubled Michael Ray Richardson, welcomed Darryl Dawkins into the fold.

Dawkins, affectionately known as Chocolate Thunder, was a center by trade, and was acquired from the 76ers to clog up the paint.  He did just that, and in fact led the league in personal fouls for two straight seasons upon his arrival.

His first two seasons with the Nets were by far his healthiest.  He played 81 games each year, and provided the Nets with double-digit scoring and 6 rebounds per game.

Overall, and despite injuries, I remember Dawkins playing an integral role in helping put a New Jersey team on the map.  With him, the Nets continued a run of 5 straight playoff appearances - without him, I'm not so sure.

He along with Dominique Wilkins, Dr. J of course, along with a few others, were the original highlight films before the spread of cable TV and prominence of ESPN.

Darryl was famously known for naming his dunks, and long before Bo Jackson arrived snapping baseball bats across his knee, Chocolate Thunder became notorious for shattering NBA backboards and making them rain glass.  The George Michaels' Sports Machine never failed in featuring a big Double-D Dunk of the Week.

That was cool back then...

He played for New Jersey during my mid-teens, obviously very impressionable years during one's life.

I've always been the type that when my favorite teams are idle, or even between commercials, I watch the other locals as intently.  To me, that's the beauty and benefit of being a sports fan in New York - or the symptoms of being a sports junkie.  Your choice.

The Nets (Devils and Jets) never inspired that Rangers/Islanders or Mets/Yankees "sports hatred" situation for me.  Yours truly found the New Jersey Nets of the 1980's an entertaining watch for as long as they weren't beating the Knicks.

The Knicks were the second team I ever came to know and root for as a young child after the Mets.

As a charter member of the NBA, the Knicks have long reigned over all of Empire City.

Yet, on any given city playground or cleverly devised and improvised basketball court during the 1980's - even deep within local hero Bernard King's own home turf - many a Brooklyn kid could be heard invoking the name of Chocolate Thunder! in assault of their playground rim.

I did...  In the 1980's, you did too!

When kids (then or now) invoke a player's name during local pick-up games, you know that player is somebody.  As Reggie Jackson once declared, "Fans don't boo nobodys."

In those days, going Chocolate Thunder on someone was the only credible response to having someone gone Bernard King all up in your face first.  Trust me, no one was getting Rory Sparrow on each other, nor were they flexing their inner Darwin Cook.  Lets face it, trying to go Otis or Buck on someone would have been weak as well.  You know the deal.

All I know is here in Brooklyn, for both Knicks and whatever Nets fans alike, Darryl Dawkins was the only answer if someone got all Bernard King on you in the park.

For my humble experience, we played with a friend whom we permanently renamed Chuck over his obscene proclivity for launching bricks.  But every time he did go BerNARD! on me, I resorted to Chocolate Thunder every time.

Around here, he somehow became a playground legend in defiance of a King.

Both on and off the court, he was one of the most gregarious persons on the planet.  I didn't understand that about him prior to his arrival from Philadelphia.  But I grew to know it well.

Darryl Dawkins passed away in August, and will be missed.

Brooklyn Nets: Jason Kidd's Jersey To Be Retired By Club

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS: A Jersey Rises In Brooklyn; Jason Kidd's #5 To Be Retired By Club.

Say it isn't so.  Tell me the Nets are not retiring Jason Kidd's jersey during a pre-season game in October.  Please tell me instead, this is some administrative error by Brett Yormark's staff, and that the real date will be much more conducive to a proper celebration for arguably (with all due respect to Dr.J....) the Nets best player ever.

That's how I started this post yesterday, before putting it off.

Today I read Jason Kidd himself requested the ceremony not be conducted during the season.  If that's the way Coach wants it, so let it be - it's his jersey.  His #5 will join those of #3-Drazen Petrovic, #23-John Williamson, #-25 Bill Melchionni, #32-Dr. J - Julius Irvin, and #52-Buck Williams.  The ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 17th.

I have memories of Dr.J in a Nets uniform.  I remember Irvin's last two seasons in Long Island before he was sold to the Philadelphia 76ers.  Otherwise, in my experience, Jason Kidd is indeed the best player to ever don a Nets jersey, bar none.  Between 2001 and 2008 Jason Kidd averaged 14.6 points per game, 9.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds.  He ushered in the new millennia by leading the then New Jersey Nets to back-to-back Eastern Conference championships in 2002 and 2003.

Jason Kidd is second all-time in the NBA in assists, and eighth in assists per game.  He is second all-time in steals, and ranks third in total 3-point shots made and total minutes played.  Of course he deserves the honor.  However, some, civilian or NBA, have their (legitimate...) issues with Jason Kidd.  For the record, I'm not one of them.  I just call 'em as I see 'em.

There is no doubt Jason Kidd is a risky choice for head coach.  The obvious reason is he has no experience.  Some experiments in OJT-coaching have worked, while some have failed miserably.  Working in his favor will be having Lawrence Frank by his side, and the fact he will be working with a largely veteran team.  Then there is the looming media affect.  Come opening night, no one will be able to escape the fact Jason Kidd will be suspended (DWI) for the first two games of the season.  I'm sure some outlet will also try to rehash the past, by bringing up purported incidences involving his then ex-wife, or how he may have malingered in his last days as a Nets player.  Wait.., they already have.

I'll say this for GM Billy King, Rod Thorn was never this bold or bodacious.  To criticize Mr. King over this hire would make me a hypocrite, for I'm the one who always says - Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.  Mr. Prokhorov still has every intention of winning a title within five years.  Billy King has certainly taken very bold steps towards that end.  But the grains of Coney Island sand grains running through his hour glass begin to run low.

The Nets are a win now team.  Good Luck Jason, and congratulations.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Know Your Team - #4; The 80's

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

September 2011

 

BROOKLYN NETS: Know Your Team - #4

 

#1- Know Your Team; 1967-1968

#2 - Know Your Team; 1969-1972

#3 - Know Your Team; The "Doctor J" Era

 

 

 

 

 

New Jersey And The 80's:

 

Chocolate Thunder

 

NETS RETIRE #52 ~ BUCK WILLIAMS

For me, the first half of the era back in New Jersey was highlighted by Chocolate Thunder.  He was most known for busting the league's glass backboards.  Darryl Dawkins was a highlight unto himself.  Fans and the media couldn't wait for him to do it again.  Acquired from Philly, Darryl Dawkins played five seasons in New Jersey.  He enjoyed his career year during the 1983-1984 season, when he averaged sixteen points per game.  For his size, he should have rebounded more.  Back problems saw to it he didn't.  Over his last three seasons in New Jersey, the big guy could never stay healthy enough to power the Nets far into the playoffs.


But the New Jersey Nets real stars were Otis Birdsong, the classy Buck Williams, and the troubled Sugar Ray - Michael Ray Richardson.  In supporting roles were Albert King, Mike Gminski, and Darwin Cook.


The Nets would be Sugar Ray's last NBA team.  He began his career with the New York Knicks.  His mastery on the court was only undone by the demons he fought off it.  I witnessed him play and can attest to his superior skills on a basketball court.  Before the Nets, he had a brief stint with Golden State.  After the Nets and his banishment from the NBA, Michael Ray Richardson would revive his career overseas in Europe.


Since Buck Williams' 1981-1982 rookie season and ever after, the Nets forward exuded professionalism.  For almost all eight seasons in a Nets uniform, all he did was play over eighty games a season.  As a member of the Nets, he twice led the league in games played and led the league in minutes played once.  Buck was not only a workhorse, he was a rebounding machine.  He led the league in offensive rebounds during the 1983-1984 regular season.  For seven of his eight seasons between 1981 and 1987, Buck averaged a double-double in points and rebounds.  Over those seven seasons Buck averaged seventeen points and twelve boards per game.


Buck Williams' #52 has been retired by the organization.

2012-1013 Pre-Season:

Game One - Nets 108; 76ers 105  o.t.

Pre-Season Game Two: Victorious In Barclays Opener

 

 

Pre-Season Game Three Final:

NETS   97

Celtics  96

 

 

COACH AVERY'S HEROES:  Up in Boston, the Nets took on the Celtics in pre-season game number three.  Paul Pierce was the game's high scorer with twenty nine points in twenty seven minutes played.  Rajon Rondo played thirty five minutes.  Kevin Garnett played fourteen minutes.  Jeff Green kicked in fourteen points off the bench.

 

After riding Deron Williams and Joe Johnson rather hard Monday night in the Barclays Center opener against the Wizards, Coach Johnson gave all his starters a rest Tuesday evening against the Celts.  Williams and Johnson joined Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, Marshon Brooks, and Kris Humphries as non participants.  Avery's Heroes were called to action in their place.

 

Six players clocked in over twenty minutes against Boston.  Getting it done for Brooklyn this evening was Tyshawn Taylor, who led the team with five assists.  Reggie Evans cleaned up on the boards leading the Nets with ten rebounds.  Seven came on the defensive end.  Then Andray Blatche pulled down another five rebounds on the offensive glass, and nine overall.  Carleton Scott chipped in with seven more off the bench.  Together, they helped the Nets win the rebounds battle by a 41-35 margin.

 

Indeed, Andray Blatche continued with his third consecutive strong game.  He led all Nets scorers with twenty three points.  Mirza Teletovic followed with eighteen points.  With 0:04 seconds left in a 96-96 deadlock, Mirza hit one of two free throws to put the Nets ahead of Boston by a point.  The Nets finally won their third straight game on a final Celtics missed three point attempt.

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

New Jersey Nets ~ The Final Days

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS:  Bid New Jersey Farewell Boys.  Monday
Will be the Last Game in the Garden State.  Fugheddaboudit!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - marked the last time the New York Knicks would ever cross the Hudson River to play the Nets in New Jersey.



New York Knick fans have long packed The Rock, or the old Brendan Byrne Arena to see the Knicks take on the New Jersey Nets.  Last Wednesday was no different in that regard.  That the Rock resoundingly gave the Knicks the feel of a home game was expected.  The fact that the Newark crowd booed their home team vociferously was just a shame.  The reason was largely due to the abundance of Knicks fans in the building.  But then, where were the Nets fans?

I assure you, such comfort levels will not be achieved in Brooklyn; not by invading Knicks fans anyway.  Fans of the Knickerbockers will no doubt flood into Barclays Center.  But playing the Nets will never ever feel like a home game on the road for the Knicks ever again.  Not in Brooklyn!

Times are changing folks.

Monday, April 23, 2012 - Tonight's game against Philadelphia will be the last time the Nets Basketball Club will ever play as a home team representing the State of New Jersey.

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

Philadelphia 76ers

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

From

The Rock

I wonder if the League planned this particular game on purpose.  After all, it was to the Philadelphia 76ers the Nets wound up selling Julius Erving; or more commonly referred to as Dr. J; back in 1977.  Many former Nets players will be on hand tonight for a half-time ceremony.  Over the last thirty five years, I guess my favorite edition of the Nets was the team with Otis Birdsong, Buck Williams, and Darryl Dawkins.  My favorite Net player in all the New Jersey years wound up being Kenyon Martin.  I was not at all pleased when new owner Bruce Ratner came on board and decided the Nets would not be resigning him as a free agent after the 2003-2004 season.  I believe letting Kenyon Martin leave for the Denver Nuggets precipitated the Nets premature break-up of the mid-2000's team that went to back-to-back NBA Finals.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 - will be the last game the New Jersey Nets ever play, period.  Their 2011-2012 season, and thirty-five year run of NBA Basketball in the Garden State will come to an end in Toronto.

THE FINAL GAME as THE NEW JERSEY NETS

NEW JERSEY NETS

vs.

Toronto Raptors

Beginning Monday, April 30, 2012 - this organization and the team will officially be recognized as "THE BROOKLYN NETS BASKETBALL CLUB"

BARCLAYS CENTER

~March 2010~

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

BARCLAYSCENTER.com

APRIL 2012

Mike.BTB

Knicks and Nets Battle in New Jersey for Final Time

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Next Stop  ~  An Inner-City Rivalry!

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

NEW YORK KNICKS

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

FROM

THE ROCK in NEWARK

NEW JERSEY

Thirty-five seasons of the New York/New Jersey interstate rivalry conclude tonight.  For this will be the last time the Knicks will tip-off against the Nets in New Jersey.  The next time the Knicks visit the Nets for a road game, they will be hopping on a bus headed to Brooklyn for a game in Barclays Center.

Barclays Center ~ View from Dean Street at Sixth Avenue

For the Nets, this will be a rather inglorious final clash between these teams in New Jersey.  Deron Williams will miss tonight's game with an injury.  And the Nets have since been eliminated from playoff contention after a regular season; that outside of surprisingly good play from some of their most junior members; is worthy of little words.

For the Knicks, in order to unleash the greatness of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks needed to be torn apart along the perforated edges first.  In the Melo System, apparently there is only room for one star.  Namely, the Media has reduced Amare Stoudemire, and Jeremy Lin, to mere flickers of light now.  And with Melo being the dominant force of gravity in the Knicks's universe, Landry Fields has also apparently been swallowed up by a black hole.

Then again, a rook name Iman Shumpert has carved out his own way no matter who's on the court.  And thank goodness for him.

Melo is right where he wants to be now; out from under Mike D'Antoni.  And say what you will about how the team has played under Mike Woodson, Melo is The Man right now due to a simple matter of attrition.  The same problems the Knicks had before, will be revisited once Amare comes back, or, tries to come back, and will worsen should the Knicks still be playing by the time Jeremy Lin gets back.  In the mean time, with everyone out of his way, including Mike D'Antoni, Melo is free to rule his world as he sees fit.  Because outside of a guy like Amare, Melo's team mates know exactly where their bread is being buttered right now.

That's not to say Melo hasn't been doing everything he can to help his team win lately; to include playing defense.  He has.  My thing is he just chose not to do it for D'Antoni.  Don't get me wrong, I think Mike Woodson is far better for the Knicks than D'Antoni and his stubborn commitment to his system were.

But I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't keep dumping on the Knicks in spite of them throwing Boston a resounding beating Tuesday night.  One night for me doesn't suddenly cloak the prior facts that when the team did well, Melo didn't.  And When Melo did well, the team didn't.  Like I said, it took the elimination of a few players from the floor in order for the real Melo to stand up.

He's standing tall all right.  And leading the Knicks - his way.  And that's where I have a problem.

And I will say to you now - the Knicks aren't nearly this successful without Tyson Chandler.  Not even close.  If his knee doesn't hold up, the Knicks are done, post haste.

Mike.BTB

BKN Nets ~ It's Official; We Are Brooklyn

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS:  Ground-Breaking of Barclays Center was the First Real Symbolic Event Marking the Return of Major League Sports to Brooklyn.  This Weekend Marked Event Number Two; Our Name is Now Official.

 

....And by the way, the Owner is Finally Back in Town.

He's back!  But after chasing down the Russian presidency and admitting he would have put the team in a Trust, Mikhail Prokhorov's word can no longer be taken at face value.  For me, he returns to a state of disappointment over his winter long absence.  Not to mention, the Nets' 35th and final season in the Garden State should have been handled with a little more ceremony, gratitude, and appreciation for fans in New Jersey.  That's where owners come in.  That's their job.  I just felt there could have been more done towards both affects.  Now, I feel he must show "US" all he finally means business, again.


The Nets have been officially eliminated from this year's playoffs.  That's not a big deal.  We all understood the situation coming into the season.  But the real work now lies ahead trying to see if Deron Williams will remain with the club and move with the team to Brooklyn.  And as if the Dwight Howard situation hasn't been complicated enough, it has now been determined he has a herniated disk in his back.  As has been theorized throughout, Dwight Howard's status will still play a large role in Deron Williams' decision to stay or leave.  With proper treatment and next season's trade deadline possibilities, Dwight Howard may still yet get traded from Orlando and become a Net before the inaugural 2012-2013 season in Brooklyn is through.


Mikhail Prokhorov still says he's committed to delivering an NBA championship level team to Brooklyn.  According to his own initial mission statement, he's got three years left in what was originally announced at the 2010-2011 NBA Draft Lottery "show", as a five year plan to make that happen.


But ever since last season's Melo Drama played out to bring Carmelo Anthony to either one of New York City's soon to be two NBA teams, Mr. Prokhorov, in my opinion, due to his absence from daily operations, failed to satisfy his duties as owner during during a time when his club was, or is, supposedly still courting its' new fan base, and during a time the Knicks seemed in apparent disarray.


His subtle yet powerfully amusing foreign  billionaire charisma could have only helped in establishing the Nets' emerging presence within the city.  But the bravado Mikhail Prokhorov brought with him was lost on an entire season.  For an owner's part, there is a Media war with Jim Dolan to be won, and Mikhail Prokhorov failed to assert his presence in this town after so effectively arriving on the scene.  To me, the winter was an opportunity lost on him to befriend Brooklyn prior, and leading up to this Fall's Opening season inside brand new Barclays Center.  Billboards can only get one so far.


This was the weekend when the NBA's Board of Governors was to give their stamp of final approval  for the Nets' move into the Borough of Kings, and officially granting them their name - the Brooklyn Nets - the name minority share holder and Brooklynite, Jay-Z, wanted so dearly.  After April 30, 2012, the New Jersey Nets will cease to be.  The team officially becomes.....

The Brooklyn Nets

Photo taken with permission from:

JUNIOR'S CAFE and RESTAURANT

Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn

 

This is a seminal moment for Kings County.  But the major pomp and celebration of the resurrection, and relaunch of pro sports in Brooklyn is largely still ahead of us.  That will all be handled with concerts at Barclays Center; a pre-season hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders; and a few other select events.  Then Opening Night for the Nets will arrive and.....

For now, gaining their name remains a quietly observed event.

Barclays Center ~ April 2012

Barclays Center site in March 2010

April 2011

APRIL 2012

Mike.BTB

NJ/BKN Nets ~ Today's Nets Blotter

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NJ/BROOKLYN NETS:  Points, Pain, and Putin;  Brooklyn Can't Be Too Far Away.



As moving day for the Nets draws closer, the basketball team across the Hudson continues to take on more and more of the characteristics that come with living the tested life in Brooklyn while increasing their yen for it's dramatics as well.  After all, nothing comes easy here.  But we love a good struggle when we see one.  And that's the way we like it.  We wear our trials and tribulations on our chests like a badge of courage.  Fortitude and resilience count for something in the Borough of Kings.  And so the Nets should fit in very nicely.



What do you say about a night Deron Williams drops fifty-seven points to beat a terrible Bobcat team; Brook Lopez sustains another injury to his foot/ankle that will cause him to miss more games; and a billionaire owner who should consider himself lucky to have run against Vladimir Putin in Russia's latest presidential election, and not only lose as expected, but gets to live to tell about it?  Let me know.



We have more pressing issues like..., parking?  What parking?  Did I say that?  But hey, at least it was decided which NYPD precinct will get the cushy assignment of patrolling the arena once it's open for business.  I can just hear the City's cries about overtime and meandering drunkards complaining about over-policing now.  Yes, interesting times lie ahead.


: /



Deron Williams established a new franchise record for points in a game with fifty-seven.  He also  establishes this season's League high.  Deron Williams breaks the Nets' record of fifty-two, formerly held by Ray Williams (1982), and Mike Newlin before him (1979).



Brook Lopez was just in his fifth game back from a broken right foot.  Now he rolled the ankle and the report is he left the arena on crutches.  That's problematic for the Nets on many levels as everyone knows.



Which leaves us with the matter of this team's owner.  It's high time Mikhail Prokhorov returns to Brooklyn to lead his team, and remain a presence through September.  I stated all my reasons in a January 21st post, linked here, -    The Nets Lack a Head of State:



In other things Nets - The team took out a full page ad in today's New York Daily News
promoting Nets basketball - live concerts - professional boxing - family shows - and college basketball; titled:

World-Class Sports and Entertainment is Back...In Brooklyn.

Ad - New York Daily News - Monday, March 5, 2012

Mike.BTB

NJ/BKN Nets ~ The Night D-Will Lit Up the Garden

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NJ/BROOKLYN NETS:   In the Midst of LINsanity, the Knicks' Crowd Was Frantic at the Garden Last Night.  Deron Williams Silenced Them All.

Beating the Knicks last night was probably the most fun I watched Deron Williams have since becoming a Net.  The assumed to be despondent point guard wasn't exactly Michael Jordan dropping fifty.  But it was still one of those singularly special games; like Reggie Miller had a few times; that every once in a while gets applauded in the Garden or at least admired with great respect.  Deron Williams had one of those games last night and in the process left the Knicks, and especially the Garden crowd, humbled.  Thirty eight points isn't the stuff of legends.  But burying eight three-pointers is the stuff home town headlines are made of.

The Nets haven't moved yet.  So the fact the Knicks' angle of last night's loss to New Jersey dominated the tabloids today is wholly expected.  But I ask you, once the move to Brooklyn is made and the Nets become a member of NYC's home teams, what kind of treatment will the papers give the newer kid on the block?

The Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Jets don't have such issues.  But the Rangers do.  The storied New York Rangers Hockey Club, who are in first place of the Eastern Conference and who share the same arena as the Knicks, can't get a back page, ever.  So, last night's game just got me to thinking -should Deron Williams have that kind of night as a Brooklyn Net.., A) - Would Deron get splatted all over the back page like a hero?  Or, B) - Will the spin be centered around the elder city team falling to it's younger Johnny-come-lately?

Just saying.

And what of being seemingly despondent over his situation with the Nets?  Well, the key word is, seemingly.  No one knows what he really feels.  That's why assumptions about his eventual departure from the team are easy to make.  Me?  Outwardly, he's saying the right things and leaving the door open like a good responsible person would.  Upon leaving Utah, he came to the Nets with some nagging rumors concerning his attitude and some nonsense about getting a coach fired.  If there was ever a situation begging for Deron Williams to act-out, wouldn't it be this one?  Call me an optimist, or a fool.  But he's been a stellar player and team mate, playing in a not so stellar situation.  I'll still take my chances and hope for the best, meaning he stays.  And in beating the Knicks last night, the Nets now have ten wins; only five less than the Celtics who currently own the eighth spot in the Eastern standings.

All it takes is for the "secret agreement" to come to fruition, and Dwight Howard signs with the Nets in the off-season.  Or, with Brook Lopez back on the court, perhaps a trade with the Magic can be revisited.  The secret agreement has nothing to do with the Hotel/Motel/Holiday Inn summit Howard and Mikhail Prokhorov held prior to the season's start.  I merely speak to the rumor Deron Williams and Dwight Howard want to play together in Brooklyn.

Dwight Howard hasn't felt what Deron Williams felt last night.  After a game like Thursday's, it's probably safe to say Deron has now gotten a really good taste of the kind of electricity this town can generate.  He seemed to relish in the moment.  And I think he liked it...ALOT.  I think he liked beating the other team in the area.  For the moment, this still is, what it's been - a NJ/NY rivalry.  But being able to do that to the Knicks wearing a Brooklyn jersey I believe speaks very loudly in the skull of Deron Williams.

Players say all they care about is being in a position to win.  I'm going to tell you something, outside of getting drafted by their team, deciding what kind of fans they want to play half their games in front of, and where they'd like to live, play into their decisions as well.

The Nets play the Orlando Magic Wednesday night.  In a perfect world and over a good steak dinner, maybe all it takes is for Deron Williams to start telling Dwight Howard about the great night he had lighting up the Knicks in the Garden and how the place was frantic and silenced at the same time.  Then all it takes is for them to start looking up at the sky, satisfied with a good meal, and wondering what the two of them can achieve together in Brooklyn.

The NBA is like that.  References on demand.

Mike.BTB

NJ/BKN Nets ~ Believe The Hype

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

N.J./BROOKLYN NETS:

Deron Williams Back Atop Flatbush Avenue.

Jay-Z gets an assisit during Lock-Out.

But Deron Williams is back at the point now.

During the NBA Lock-Out, Deron Williams had to be removed from the billboard campaigns promoting the Nets arrival in Brooklyn due later this year.  Entertainment mogal, team minority share owner, and proud new Papa - Jay-Z - had to step into the role of Flatbush Avenue front-man in his place.  But now the Nets' on-court star is back.  New Jersey's 2011-2012 All-Star Point Guard, Deron Williams, is back on top; on top of Basketball Boulevard, that is.  And this time, we're being told to BELIEVE THE HYPE.

On the court, there is some good news to report.  Brook Lopez is practicing again and is closer to making a return.  The Nets have also signed forward Andre Emmett from the D-League to a ten day contract.  He was second in the D-League in scoring this season.  To make room, Keith Bogans was waived by the team after having foot surgery.

Off the court, I'm sure you've heard by now, the New Jersey Devils will play the New York Islanders in an exhibition game at Barclays Center prior to the start of the 2012-2013 season.  It's only one game, but it seems like the possibilities are endless (?); that is if you can find a place to park.  The saga continues.

BARCLAYS CENTER:  February 2012

Atlantic Avenue

Rear View from Pacific Street

Dean Street Side

Mike.BTB

Knicks vs. Nets ~ Clash of the Tired

From the desks of:   DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SATURDAY NIGHT

NJ/BROOKLYN NETS

vs.

NEW YORK KNICKS

From,

33rd Street at 7th Avenue

NYC

The official end to the New Jersey Nets - New York Knicks slightly neighborly border war commences tonight in Madison Square Garden.  Because after June of this year, New Jersey will never visit the corner building at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue as the Nets ever again.  So take in what you can of it, because unfortunately tonight's game is shaping up to be more like a Battle of the Beaten and Battered than a prelude to a hot inner city rivalry.  No; instead these two teams are currently generating as much heat as the bottom side of a pillow.

But if you're one for living in the moment, then the Battle for Third Place is ON!  Enticing - isn't it?  The Knicks and Nets will be meeting for the third time this season.  The only difference this time is this game counts.  Both teams spent what the NBA called a pre-season playing two games against each other, in which the Knickerbockers took both.  But right about now, the Knicks might be wishing this game wouldn't count either.  They're the team with high expectations who aren't living up to them while the Nets are still trying to piece things together.

After two tough, tightly contested losses to the Bulls and then the Celtics last night, Saturday's game will be the Knicks' third game in three nights.  They lost by three points to Chicago and by two points to Boston.  What will they have left in the tank for tonight?  Good question.  Meanwhile, last night Shumpert and Tyson Chandler may have established a nice connection together and might be on to something moving forward.  Or maybe the aging Kevin Garnett just kept getting caught out of position?

Is there any good news in the Dutch Pants section of town?  I don't know.  Without a point guard, Don Nelson's old system of running the offense a-la through Anthony Mason; that is, through Carmelo Anthony isn't going very well for Coach D'Antoni.  Because he has a roster of round pegs he's trying to fit in square holes, I think we're finally starting the witness Coach get sweaty under the collar.  There's a smoldering fire building under his already hot seat.  A normally confident and sharp Coach D'Antoni sounds a little despondent lately.  When coaches start eluding to things in the abstract and saying things like - I don't know, -  that can't be good.


You know what else isn't too good?  Ending last night's game against the Celtics by launching two bricks.  They couldn't even negotiate a creative-to-decent in-bounds pass.  Little things like that to me wreak of apathy.  It didn't seem like the Knicks had a plan for their last two plays.  It looked more school yard to me.

The Nets will be playing their third game in four nights, and at least have a win over the Pistons to show for their efforts lately.  For the Nets, Deron Williams is Deron Williams, but now he's rolling with Anthony Morrow who's fresh of a forty-two point game against the T-Wolves.  While Coach D'Antoni has a bunch of mismatched players, Coach Avery is not sitting on any kind of hot seat.  He just wishes he had enough players.  Due to a couple of injuries, the Nets were only able to dress eight players a couple of nights ago.

Is there any good news for the future Hoops of Flatbush?  Well, Deron Williams has given his strongest indication to date that he will stay on with the Nets and move with the team to Brooklyn.  And word around the way is that Dwight Howard still views the Nets as his first option.  In more immediate matters, Brook Lopez is progressing well after his foot surgery.

So maybe there's actually something to this game tonight.  It's not exactly the Battle for the City yet.  One team has the gas pedal floored in their Honda Accord but isn't getting very far, while the other team can't understand why it's Benz is a lemon.  So yeah, games like this usually turn out to be rather fun to watch.  Let the Battle for Third Place...begin.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

3rd  -  New York Knickerbockers   8-15

4th -  New Jersey-Brooklyn Nets     8-16

Previous Posts:

 

Knicks:  Blame Dolan.  I Do.

Nets:  Team Lacks a Head of State.

Mike.BTB