Yankees
Nets
The Nets will have a blue Christmas without Vince Carter and with 27 losses already.
Twenty-seven losses in 29 games doesn’t put it fully into perspective, but this does: two have been against the Wolves. But this is the holidays, time for laughter and good cheer and for asking for things.
So here’s the Nets’ Christmas Wish List:
Devin Harris: To prove he can lead a team and lead them to some wins; For Mikhail Prokhorov to be the Russian Mark Cuban and use his money to turn the Nets from worst to first.
Brook Lopez: More Walt Disney books and figurines and fewer games where he plays like Bambi like last night against Al Jefferson. But Lopez has been the Nets MVP thus far.
Courtney Lee: After spending his rookie season with Dwight Howard, for Lopez to continue to develop inside to open things up and to be able to knock down the shots the big man creates
Chris Douglas-Roberts: Good health and more wins. Really all the super-competitive CDR wants is wins.
Yi Jianlian: Stay healthy and disprove all Nets fans by having more games like last night.
Keyon Dooling: To be 27 and have 27-year-old hips again. He's 29.
Jarvis Hayes: To have that play back in Minnesota in the openerk when he tore his hamstring trying to block a shot from behind. He hasn't played since.
Terrence Williams: Knock down shots and be able to Tweet freely about whatever he wants.
Josh Boone: Someone to notice his hard work and improved play at power forward when Yi was out because a healthy Yi means much less of Boone.
Rafer Alston: A contender to put together a deal that doesn’t include Nets taking back multi-year salary.
Eduardo Najera: To be pain free and prove he’s worthy of his contract.
Trenton Hassell: His professionalism to be rewarded by a contender seeking defensive help.
Bobby Simmons: His professionalism to be rewarded by a contender needing veteran help.
Tony Battie: To be 30 and have 30-year-old knees again.
Sean Williams: To still be in the NBA next season and making NBA money.
Rod Thorn: Remain president and be able to spend Prokhorov’s money after years of being handcuffed financially and rebuild the Nets.
Kiki Vandeweghe: Return exclusively to his GM post; Yi to continue to have games like last night; more salary-saving moves.
Bruce Ratner: All the legal hurdles to be over and a shovel finally put in the ground in Brooklyn.
Mikhail Prokorov: Board of Governors approval and later OKs from LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire.
Brett Yormark: To somehow acquire Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Danilo Gallinari and Manu Ginobili so Yormark can sell sponsorships throughout Europe and South America; To draft John Wall and play with him for a chance to market the Great Wall and China.
Nets' fans: The clock to strike midnight, July 1, 2010.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
