There won’t be NBA games on Thanksgiving and Christmas appears in doubt. But it shouldn’t spoil the holiday spirit.
Many of us miss the NBA but you always can find things to be thankful for at this time of year. Here are some for the Nets and their fans:
They haven’t lost a game yet: Many of you probably had hopes for the postseason this year, especially with Deron Williams on the roster. Well, they still got a shot. Seem to remember two years ago their season was over by the end of November.
They haven’t lost Williams yet: That wording may not have been fair, but we were trying to match the previous entry. A better way to put it would be Deron Williams still is a Net. The organizations’ goal is too keep him and they will do everything to accomplish that.
There have been few Williams’ rumors: With no season, the speculation of Williams ending up in Dallas or with the Knicks or somewhere other than Newark/Brooklyn has been minimal. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Brook Lopez hasn’t been outrebounded by a guard yet: You know what happened last year; how infrequently he grabbed double-digit boards and how maddening he was on the glass. Not once recently have you or anyone in the Nets gotten worked up over that.
The Nets haven’t given up any free throw rebounds: They might have led the league last year in most times failing to grab the defensive board off a missed foul shot, which gave us a memorable Avery Johnson quote. “It's a free-throw rebound. Whatever happens that's the greatest gift you can get.”
Travis Outlaw hasn’t missed an open shot: It's the obligatory poke at Outlaw in there, but we still say he’s a decent role player. It’s his $7 million per year salary – which the Nets gave him – that makes him an easy target.
Humphries Takes New York: OK, the show is called something like Kim and Kourtney take New York, but many of us are going to watch the Kardashian's show because of Kris Humphries. You know they are going to make Humphries look bad, and try to show why Kim Kardashian asked for a divorce after 72 days. We feel bad for Humphries because he's a good guy and he hasn't been portrayed in the best light.
Here are some things to be thankful for, if and when the lockout is settled:
The Nets could be the most ready team: We’re not talking about chemistry or continuity. But with Williams lighting it up in Turkey, Jordan Farmar playing in Israel and various Nets spread across the globe, they should be in relatively good game shape and not have to play catch up from that standpoint. Camp will be short, so the more ready they are, the better.
The Nets can talk to Williams again: The biggest factor in keeping Williams will be to get him another superstar, but it also would help the Nets if they could communicate with their franchise player. Not talking to him at all hurts them.
The amnesty clause: If that item from negotiations makes it to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it means the Nets will be able to cut Outlaw and eventually get his salary off their books.
They can formally say goodbye to New Jersey: For New Yorkers, this isn’t that big of a deal. But the people of New Jersey deserve to have the Nets say goodbye to them the right way after 34 years in the Garden State. A playoff berth would be a nice farewell, but also a tease.
Just to cover the gamut, here are some things the Nets and their fans probably don’t appreciate because of the lockout:
They can’t see Williams: With each day that passes another day and game could be cut off from his Nets’ career. He can opt out in July and the Nets and their fans don’t want his bio to say he played 12 games for the Nets.
They can’t retool: No CBA means the Nets can’t spend all the money they have under the cap to try to make them a playoff team now or acquire the assets that could enable them to land Dwight Howard make them a championship contender later.
Lopez’s development could be slowed: He needs to be around his coaches to work on his body, mindset and game, especially after a bout with mono affected his training last summer. Lopez had a good offensive season despite that, but has room to grow and his development is critical for the Nets’ long-term future, whether he is with them or is part of a package for a certain Magic center.
Rookies may not be ready: MarShon Brooks and Jordan Williams won't have the benefit of a full training camp and will have to learn the NBA on the fly, and may have to gain some experience and PT in the D-League.
Williams and Jersey again: Can’t stress enough how not being able to talk to Williams hurts the Nets or that not having a full final season at the Prudential Center is a slap in the face to their fans.
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Follow me on Twitter: @Al_Iannazzone
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Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
