Brooklyn Nets: Battle For The City Begins

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

THE DAWNING OF A NEW RIVALRY:

 

 

New York Knicks

vs.

BROOKLYN NETS

 

FROM

Nassau Coliseum

Long Island, N.Y.

 

BROOKLYN NETS:

Pre-Season Showdown Versus Manhattan Knicks;

It's Time To Face The Competition.

An era ends.  A new age begins.  Over the last thirty five years, the New York Knicks foot print extended out and dominated the desolation of East Rutherford.  The days when Nets players got taunted by Knicks crowds in their own arena, as was the case in the Meadowlands arena and in Newark, are done.  The Nets have a new home crowd now, passionate and loyal as any.  Many native Brooklynites that will be attending games this season have no particular need, want, or even like for Manhattan.  So proceed thee now with caution Knickerbockers.  In eight more days they'll be  entering the very different Borough of Kings.


The Billboard Wars which played out over the last two winters, and the Battle for Melo are both long behind us.  While the first official game isn't until November 1st, the modern Battle for Brooklyn and the greater city is upon us.  Sometime late next Thursday afternoon, the New York Knicks in all likelihood will traverse the Manhattan Bridge and file down Flatbush Avenue.  Their destination will be Barclays Center, to engage the Brooklyn Nets on their home court for the first time in history.

First, Brooklyn and New York will return to the site of the Nets organization's greatest triumphs to date.  Wednesday's pre-season game will be played in Long Island's Nassau Coliseum; the arena where the once formerly New York Nets won two American Basketball Association championships.  Those were the days of Julius Erving, more popularly known as Dr. J.  This trip into Long Island also hearkens back to the days when the Knicks imposed not one, but two territorial rights tariffs against the Nets.  On top of paying the NBA entrance fee once the NBA/ABA merger took effect, the Nets were also forced to pay the Knicks their due tax for entry into the local market.  The Knicks nailed them again for the Nets subsequent move into New Jersey.


This time, the Nets relocated to the 4th largest city in America, which just also happens to be right next door, and the Knicks weren't entitled to a dime.  Conveniently forgotten, if not ignored, Brooklyn is the western tip of Long Island.  So I guess in a manner of speaking, the cycle is complete.


If you're headed to the Nassau Coliseum and get overwhelmed by a waft of Tiger Balm, that would be the Knicks you smell.  When you write names on paper, they have a great team.  In truth, I think the Knicks are in deep trouble.  They have more senior citizens on the books than AARP.  Amare and Camby are already out.  And Rasheed Wallace, is back (!?) and out as well.  The only real question is - Who's next?  My money is on Jason Kidd having to swipe his Medicaid card.


Having Amare off the floor only makes Melo's world better anyway.  Right?  That used to be the case.  The return of Ray Felton and the arrival of Jason Kidd should change that.  Amare and Melo no longer need to learn how to exist together.  The Knicks have two guards who will decide things for them.  I'm even looking for Felton and Kidd to elevate Tyson Chandler's offensive game as well.


The Knicks biggest concern is now health, and lack of youth.  Coach Woodson is going to have to manage his team very carefully.  The Knicks actually have a few players who want to play defense now.  But how long will they manage to stay on the court?


In their first pre-season as the Brooklyn Nets, the team is also not without their problems.  While cohesiveness is still going to be a work in progress, their defense is far below Coach Avery's standards.  Based on their overall play so far, who could blame Coach for voicing displeasure after allowing 100 points in three of five games.  Despite a 3-2 record, the Nets have allowed 510 points, for a 102 ppg average.  They have scored 484 points, for a 96.8 ppg average.  I would also venture to say the team's overall free throw shooting needs major improvement as well.  But hey, that's why it's called practice.


Tonight, the Battle for the City begins.  Let's get it on!






Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets: Know Your Team #3 - Dr. J

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

BROOKLYN NETS

est.

April 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1- Know Your Team; 1967-1968

#2 - Know Your Team; 1969-1972

 

 

 

Dr. J

 

 

 

1973-1976

 

THE JULIUS ERVING YEARS

 

The ABA/NBA Merger

 

1977:

The End Of Basketball On Long Island

 

 

In their fifth season under owner Roy Boe's care, and now playing their home games in the Nassau Coliseum, the franchise was much more settled, which in turn laid the foundations for success.  In fact, with one acquisition the Nets would begin their greatest period in franchise history.

 

 

Rick Barry's two seasons with the organization brought a measure of respect to the Nets, and for his part, some legitimacy to what the American Basketball Association was trying to accomplish.  But with the forward's departure back to the NBA, the Nets were left with another void to fill.

 

 

One poorly played season removed from Rick Barry, the Nets looked again to the organization from which they secured their former prized forward; the Virginia Squires.  From them, the Nets acquired Julius Erving.  The local kid was coming home to play in his own backyard.  After two seasons and a scoring title in Virginia, Erving made his New York debut with the start of the 1973-1974 season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the next three seasons, Julius Erving participated in every game the Nets played.  He led the league for three straight seasons in field goals made, and twice led the league in field goals attempted and total points.

 

 

In his first season with the Nets, Dr. J led the league, averaging twenty seven points per game.  He  was named the American Basketball Association MVP, and led the New York Nets to their first ever ABA championship.

 

 

The Nets were knocked out of the 1974-1975 playoffs rather early.  In the regular season however, Dr. J averaged almost twenty eight points per game, and earned his second MVP award.

 

 

During the 1975-1976 season, the Doctor led the league again with a twenty nine points per game average.  Julius Erving won his third consecutive MVP award.  And the Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets for their second ABA championship in three years.

 

 

That turned out to be the last American Basketball Association game ever played.  The ABA and NBA finally merged.  Four teams were absorbed into the NBA from the ABA.  The San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, and the New York Nets were taken into the National Basketball Association.

 

 

This situation put the Nets into a financial bind.  On top of paying the entrance fee for admittance into the NBA, the Nets were now also on the hook for territorial rights fees due the Knicks for entering their turf.  The debate still rages today as to whether the measures taken by the Nets were necessary.  But the result of the Nets due bills caused them to sell Julius Erving; many say, in haste.

 

 

Just like that, the glory days out in Long Island; Dr. J's home; were over.  The aftermath of losing Julius Erving was too much for owner Roy Boe to withstand.  Major change was headed the organization's way yet again.  For the 1977-1978 season, Roy Boe moved the organization back to New Jersey, where they would eventually settle into the Meadowlands Arena.  Before 1978 expired, Roy Boe sold the team.  A great ten year run was over.

 

 

The New Jersey Nets era was about to begin.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB 

Brooklyn Nets: Know Your Team; 1969-1972

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

 BROOKLYN NETS

est.

2012

 

 

 

 

#1- Know Your Team; 1967-1968

 

1969 - 1972

 

ROY BOE PURCHASES TEAM FROM ARTHUR BROWN

 and

THE RICK BARRY ERA

 

 

Both at the gate and in the standings, the team's second year in the American Basketball Association, and their first complete season in Long Island playing as the New York Nets was an overwhelming failure.  So at the conclusion of the 1968 season, the team's first owner, Arthur Brown, sold the club to a gentleman named Roy Boe.


He moved the team from the Long Island Arena in Commack, to the Island Garden Arena in West Hempstead.  With a capacity of just over five thousand, the Nets called this home for the next four seasons until they moved into the newly built Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.  They co-occupied the building with their fellow fledglings in some respects, the NHL's New York Islanders; whom Roy Boe would also come to own.
 

 

Mr. Boe stayed in possession of the team for the next decade.  Under him, the Nets rose to the pinnacle of the American Basketball Association.  He oversaw the team's entry into the National Basketball Association when the leagues merged.  And just prior to selling the team in 1978, he  relocated the Nets to New Jersey (yet again) and into a then, state of the art arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.  How that arena later came to be despised is an entirely different matter.  Between the Nets and the New Jersey Devils however, it has seen its fair share of good times.


The Nets made the playoffs in Roy Boe's first season.  Unlike in the 1967 inaugural season when they were made to forfeit due to ongoing arena dilemmas, in the summer of '69, they actually played their playoffs games.  Then in time for the 1970 season, the New York Nets obtained their first franchise star.  Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, forward Rick Barry was acquired in a trade with the Virginia Squires.


Rick Barry only played two seasons with the Nets.  Prior to the NBA/ABA merger, contractual legalities forced Barry back to his NBA team of origination; the Warriors; for the 1972-73 season.  But in those two seasons on Long Island, Rick Barry led the ABA in scoring with a 29-point per game average in an unjured 1970 season, and a 31-point per game average during a full 1971 season.


Rick Barry led the Nets to the 1971-1972 ABA Championship series against the Indiana Pacers.  The New York Nets lost four games to two.  The following season would be their first full campaign playing in the Nassau Coliseum.  But just like that, the Rick Barry era was over.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Nets - Know Your Team; 1967-1968

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

DECEMBER - 2010

 

Media Day ~ New Uniforms Unveiled

 

BROOKLYN NETS: Know Your Team.

Moving the Nets to Brooklyn damn near took an act of Congress when you consider how long ago they should have already been here.  But the fact this organization survived its first two years of existence is a modern miracle.

1967 - 1968

FIRST TWO SEASONS UNDER ARTHUR BROWN

 

Founded in 1967, the team we now call the Brooklyn Nets were charter members of the old American Basketball Association.  More importantly and particular to the Nets, they were entering New York Knickerbocker country.  While the original plan was to set camp within New York City, the organization was forced to open its inaugural season inside an armory in Teaneck, New Jersey.  They played their first ABA season as the New Jersey Americans.


That first edition featured household names like Levern Tart, John Mathis, Walt Simon, Barry Liebowicz, Stew Johnson, Dan Anderson, Dexter Westbrook, Al Beard, Tony Jackson, John Austin, Jim Caldwell, Mel Nowell, Art Heyman, Bruce Spraggins, Bobby Lloyd, and Bob McIntyre.  They made the playoffs that first season.  But due to snafus in arena scheduling, and a lack of adequate alternatives, the Americans were forced to forfeit.


In 1968, the team moved its home games to Commack, Long Island.  The organization changed its name and officially became the New York Nets.  Year two in the ABA was a far less successful endeavour that 1967 was.  The team finished last with a 17-61 record.  Compared to their first season in Teaneck, attendance plummeted in Long Island.  At the conclusion of the 1968 season, the original owner of the team, Art Brown, put the team up for sale.

PREVIOUS SERIES:  BARCLAYS CENTER - THIRTY PICTURES IN THIRTY DAYS

 

#30 - Thirty More Days Till Jay-Z Blows The Doors Wide Open

#29 - Barclays Center; T-Minus Twenty-Nine Days

#28 - Barclays Center - Crossbeams and Concrete

#27 - Barclays Center - They Came Out In The Tens And Tens

#26 - Barclays Center - Thank You For You Labor

#25 - Sidewalk Closed. Use Other Side

#24 - Barclays Center - Untitled, Just Because

#23 - Valentine's Day 2011

#22 - Year One A.G. - After Groundbreaking

#21 - Barclays Center - Ya Gotta Start Somewhere

#20 - Barclays Center - Where's the Doorbell?

#19 - Barclays Center - Howdy Neighbor!

#18 - NETS UNVEIL NEW FLOOR PATTERN

#17 - September Is Just The Beginning

#16 - Last Call For Some, Is Not Last Call For Others

#15 - Barclays Center - Dude, Where's My Seat?

#14 - A Sign Of Things to Come

#13 - Growing Season Starts In December

#12 - Next Stop, Barclays Center. Watch For The Closing Doors

#11- "Keep Off The Grass!"

#10 - Barclays Center - Brrrrr!

#9 - Where's The Remote?

RIBBON CUTTING DAY ~ BARCLAYS CENTER SNEAK PEEK

#6 - Lets Raise It Up The Flagpole

#5 - Barclays Center - Who Needs Tickets?

#4 - Walk Towards The Light

#3 - All Trains Lead To Brooklyn

#2 - The First Lady Of Barclays Center?

OPEN THE DOORS!

Mike.BTB

Uh...Brooklyn(NETS).... We Got a Problem Here!

It's time to talk about the National Basketball Association NETS squad and the proposed move to DownTown Brooklyn (as I watch the Jets playoff game vs. the Bengals).

I'm not going to give you the complete history here or do what's already been done.  Here is the brief background history:

Established 1967, owned by a trucking magnate, the team was to be known as the N.Y. Freighters of the new American Basketball Association.  Issues made them go to New Jersey where they operated as the N.J. Americans.  Issues made them come back to New York for the 1968 season where they operated as the New York Nets.  The two leagues, NBA & ABA merged by the 1976-77 season.  The 1977-78 season had the Nets on the move to New Jersey again where they remained the Nets into our present time.  Consider yourself updated.  Let's move on.

Bruce Ratner, a real estate developer, is no stranger to Brooklyn.  He is a major reason for the changing skyline of downtown Brooklyn.  At the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, (the same location O'Malley wanted to build a new Ebbets Field for the Dodgers but was stonewalled by NYC Tzar of everything at the time, Robert Moses), is the rail yard and junction for the Long Island Railroad Brooklyn terminal Station.  It is over this property Bruce Ratner has grand designs for retail, residential and office towers.  Ratner, Mayor Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz and the MTA (metropolitan transit authority, which owned the property) all seemed in agreement of this snarky little deal for the MTA selling the property to Ratner for below market value.  Again, I don't want to re-invent the wheel here.  He needed insane financing to the tune of over $1 billion to get this done.  He was guaranteed, eventually was, and still is facing opposition because of the use of NYC/NYS Eminent Domain laws.  This was all while the economy was still steaming ahead and everyone had dreams of the future being "the Jetsons" like.  The economy tanked.  Ratners financing plan and court battles with eminent domain gave him more problems than a math book.

In the face of all this he was facing firm deadlines for tax break purposes from the State of NY.  All along, his hook to get all this done was to buy the Nets, build an arena as part of this grand project and move the Nets to Brooklyn.  If things went according to original plans, they'd be starting play here next season.  Obviously things are turning out differently for Mr. Ratner.  As part of this hook, Jay-Z would be a small share holder of the team.  This isn't about Jay-Z's motivations for wanting to participate.  Obviously he's from a near-by neighborhood and I'm sure his reasons are sound business minded moves.  I'm concentrating on the bigger picture.

Ratner was forced to alter his scale and design several times.  It got dark for him and the project looked in jeopardy.

Enter Mikhail Prokhorov, a billionaire from Russia.  He played basketball as a youth in school and owns a share of the Russian team CSKA MOSCOW.  He's passionate about basketball.  He's serious about becoming the majority owner of the Nets.  He's willing to cut Ratner the check.  He gets a team and arena and Ratner gets his money to finance his complex of multiple towers.  Recently, the Ratner  financing bonds sale when extremely well.  NYS passed down their decision on eminent domain and gave Ratner the go ahead with the project.  FINALLY.  Things are looking OK for a change.  OR are they?

Pick up today's paper and look at the records and standings.  The Nets are last in the division with a 3-32 record.  That's less than one win for every ten they play.  Ouch!

Ratner, fresh from buying the team, was faced with the Kenyon Martin problem of free agency.  Not only was he a popular Net, he was good!  He was my favorite Nets' player.  Well, Ratner cheap-ed out on a deal and Kenyon went to Denver.  That's when we knew for sure the basketball operations of this team were furthest from his grand scheme.  He just wanted his fantasy land built.  The Nets were a way of getting it done.  There was an unexpected Net's fan-base backlash.  The Nets had to get VINCANITY Vince Carter to mute fan INSANITY and displeasure.  The Jason Kidd, R.J. K.Kittles, K-Mart era is done.  They won two Eastern Conference Championships in a row back in 2001-2003 and were dismantled.  The team does have a good basketball mind working for them in Rod Thorn.  But right now, with plans to move the team here to Brooklyn looking like reality,  the team stinks to high heaven.  And there's your problem.  Let me tell you why.

I'm not the one they need to worry about.  I'm already a life-long Knicks fan.  If anyone needs to worry about my rooting loyalties, it's the Knicks.  If the Nets come to Brooklyn?... O! FUGGEDABOUDIT!!
I may remain a Knicks fan.  But I'll be spending my money right here in Brooklyn.  There's a very good chance, unimaginable to me once upon a time, I may switch to the Nets; - Meaning should they both play each other in say, an Eastern Conf. Championship series, hmmm, times may be a-changin'.

This is what I was thinking today, because I drove by the sight where all this is supposed to take place. 

Making my way through the downtown neighborhoods, I came across COMMODORE BARRY PARK.  I saw two young men playing one-on-one basketball.  It was 25 degrees outside today.  But that's what we do here.  A little cold doesn't stop many here.

In my forward but friendly way, I got their attention through the fence while they played.  I came right out and told them, I was thinking about the Nets moving here, and wanted to know what they thought about the situation, and if they wanted to be mentioned on my blog.  It was all good, we exchanged what they needed to know and I commenced with the questions upon their consent.

BloggerHood, meet KANE (right.) and FARRELL (left.), both age 16.  They seemed like good guys, well spoken, young but certainly not naive.  Like I said, I met them for the first time when I decided to ambush them with this blog.

Kane is a Knicks fan.  Farrell is a Nuggets fan.  Really?  I often wonder how that happens.  Me?  I don't understand not rooting for the home town team.  I don't begrudge him at all though.  As a matter of fact, when K-Mart and Camby (Knicks) went there, I myself kept an eye on Denver for a bit until I got over their respective departures.

Now, Here's the problem. And I don't think it's something the Nets should be taking lightly.  I am old already by corporate advertising standards.  I should be brand-loyal already.  On-going advertising of Brand-X isn't geared towards me anymore.  I've been buying the same toothpaste for 30 years - kinda thing.

Kane and Farrell are from one of the adjoining neighborhoods the "maybe Brooklyn" Nets will be drawing from.  They are the one's still developing their product loyalties.

I asked them first off, if they cared the Nets will be coming to Brooklyn.  To my surprise Farrell started off by saying not really.  Kane said he cared.  But that's when the stipulations started to surface. This is where the (Brooklyn) Nets have a problem.  While Farrell backed-up a bit and said he did care, it depended on the state of the team.

Both gentlemen were in agreement when they said they cared but it depended on how they play, if they come.  Kane was more willing to take off with the idea saying (paraphrasing) - If you're putting basketball in Brooklyn, you better come hard or don't come at all.  Farrell agreed 100%, he wasn't quiet, he was right there in the mix, but Kane opened that box.  Farrell made his point very clear though.  He said (again, paraphrasing) Ya' gravitate towards skill.  No one is gonna look up to you if you ain't got skill.

(usage of Brooklynese is all mine!)

I remind you, these cats are 16 year old basketball fans.  This is prime NBA breeding grounds in so far as team and league loyalties are concerned.

Me personally, if the Nets do finally get here to Brooklyn, I will be a very very happy camper.  I may always stay a Knicks fan at heart because I've been doing it for 35 years now.  But I know where most of my NBA expenditures will be going if they come.

If Ratner maintains control of this team and doesn't strike a deal with Mikhail Prokhorov,  his first order of business had better be to get in contact with his potential new fan base.  Kane, Farrell and I are not going to follow a looser.  Mr.Ratner, since you bought control of this team it has gotten incrementally worse where at present the team is 3-up and 32 down.  If you think us Brooklynites are going to fill your arena to see that?...You can FUGGEDABOUD 'Dat Too!!!  You're no stranger to us.  We know you're only interested in the real estate development aspect of this.  Purchasing the New Jersey Nets was merely a hook to get your way.  It's business.  I don't begrudge you, that.  I'm just saying you better see if you can secure and develop a little passion for one of your holdings you wanna bring here from Jersey.

My hopes are that Mr. Prokhorov, who has a passion for basketball buys control of the team, moves to Brooklyn as his primary residence as he is reported to be leaning towards, and works closely with the communities supporting his possible Brooklyn endeavor.  With his international resume, the league could be greatly enhanced by his inclusion to the league.

Kane and Farrell are in high school right now.  They will graduate before the team plays a game here, most likely.  In five years from now, God willing they're in mid-college.  Ten years from now at age 26, the Nets could have been here for 6 or 7 of those years?  My two friends, we hope will be in pursuit of their careers with their own discretionary income.  Families perhaps will be in their futures.  And you know sports teams are like family heirlooms. Just look at the Dodgers of Brooklyn past.  As a Nets owner you want Brooklynites to pass down their sport team loyalties right?

3 and 32.  That's the record.  The question is this.  Is what they're doing now, rebuilding, going to translate into success by the time they hit Brooklyn?  Or, if and when they get here, we will be forced to sit through another, or still continuing rebuilding period.  Hmmm?

Mr. Ratner, if you're bringing the Nets here just to have them be the latest incarnation of the Washington Generals (think GlobeTrotters folks)...you can just Fuggedit'.  I'd rather have the Fish That Saved Pittsburgh!

Just like my two new friends KANE and FARRELL said today, "If you're talking to me about Brooklyn and Basketball, you better come hard or go home!  People are going to gravitate towards the skill - no one will look to you if you don't have skill."

There it is.  Kane, Farrell and I said our part.  It's up to the Nets to listen to the conversation taking place around them.  This, Brooklyn, could be the new SPOT of all the NBA.  We can sit a celebrity row of rows too, and with much cooler stars.  Take That!

I want to thank Kane and Farrell very much for their time and input today.  I kinda ambushed them with the TROLLEY today but they seemed very cool about it and were nothing but smiles.

25 degrees and they were out there playin ball!  Of Course Basketball will Thrive Here.  They just better come strong!  The steam coming off Kane's head from playing in the cold is the same way I wanna see a Nets team in Brooklyn on the court....Smokin'!

OUT!

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