Nets News

Nets Hope European Trip Takes Them Somewhere
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October 6
New York Times
 
"Devin Harris took a few seconds before unknowingly interviewing the interviewer. "Umm, parlez-vous français?" he responded when asked if he knew any French. Other than that phrase, the answer for Harris, the Nets' point guard, was no. "That's about it for right now," he said. Harris and the Nets will soon have an opportunity to brush up on their French. Off they go this week, as basketball ambassadors to Paris and London for two games against the Miami Heat to begin the preseason. The trip continues the tradition of N.B.A. Europe Live, a brainchild of Commissioner David Stern in his quest to expand the league's reach. The New Orleans Hornets and the Washington Wizards will also start ..."
Carter making Nets his team
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October 5
Bergen Record
 
"During the Nets' summer overhaul, Vince Carter learned that people were speculating and some said he would ask for a trade because he didn't want to go through a rebuild. That was news to him. Carter insists he wants to remain a Net and believes he proved it by helping organize the voluntary workouts and pickup games at the team's practice facility in August and September. "When they said, 'You're going to jump ship,' I don't believe that," Carter said. "I'm here. It says New Jersey on my jersey and I'm going to do my job." In his first Nets' training camp without Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson as teammates, Carter is doing his job. He's leading this mostly young group. Devin Harris and ..."
Swift Hopes To Break Through Big-Man Jam
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October 5
New York Post
 
"The last thing Stromile Swift wants to do is play "what if?" Been there, done that. And changing the past isn't like changing a tire. But the 6-foot-10 Nets power forward can't help but wonder: What if he had not been drafted by the Grizzlies, who were in Vancouver at the time with Shareef Abdur-Rahim at the four? And that was before the move to Memphis, where they promptly added Paul Gasol. Swift, the No. 2 overall pick in 2000 behind a guy named Kenyon Martin, always wondered. "I used to think about that a lot, but I always felt everything happens for a reason. I was happy to be the No. 2 pick but I always thought, 'What if I was able to go somewhere else and start out playing?' " said ..."
Finally Healthy, Yi Rewarding Nets' Faith
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October 4
New York Post
 
"Yi Jianlian's shooting was off, as should have been expected, because he had been out for a week with a sprained left ankle. His defense was shaky, as should have been expected, because he's coming out of a rookie season during which "Yi" and "defense" never collided in the same sentence. But Yi, who finally practiced in Nets' camp yesterday, is showing the traits - basketball smarts, athleticism, grace - that led to the trade of Richard Jefferson . "Pretty good," Yi assessed of his first contact session, which ended with him working with GM Kiki Vandeweghe on positioning and timing. "My shape is good and I'm trying to catch up to the offensive plays and the defense of the team. We still ..."
Nets' Vets Seek Advice From Rook
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October 3
New York Post
 
"The story is well known by now. The Nets never thought Chris Douglas-Roberts would be available to them at the 40th spot in the NBA draft. Chris Douglas-Roberts never thought he would be available to anyone at 40. The Nets were ecstatic that he was. He was livid. So began their relationship: The Nets thrilled to have a guy they didn't think would last to them, Douglas-Roberts more than a half-million dollars (at least) poorer because he did. The 6-foot-7 wing still is ticked by the snub, still has a chip on his shoulder. "I feel like I have to keep a chip just to stay motivated," said Douglas-Roberts. "That's an extra boost for me. I come into the gym with that on my mind every day. As ..."
Boone Stakes His Claim
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October 2
New York Post
 
"Josh Boone admits it. Confidence never has been a strong suit. And not just in the pros. Dating back to UConn, the Nets' center seemed to have less faith in himself than others held in him. Last season helped. Boone became a rotation player. Then came a summer where Nets checked out of New Jersey with regularity. Guys were traded, not re-signed. Boone heard rumblings about himself and a new zip code. But he's still here. "I was hoping I'd be here. I enjoy being here and hopefully I'll stay for a little while," said Boone, heading into his third Net season - his first with a full, healthy training camp. It's also his first where he looks in the mirror and sees an NBA player because he's ..."
Thorn: Young, Retooled Nets Playoff Bound
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October 1
New York Post
 
"There is no Jason Kidd, no Richard Jefferson, no top-to-bottom track record. But, to Nets president Rod Thorn, there still should be no reason to expect anything less than the playoffs. Thorn, making his first preseason appearance with the media after undergoing his second knee replacement surgery in 3½ years, said he expects his re-made, re-tooled - and horribly young - Nets to be in the playoffs. Those thoughts basically put him in a minority populated pretty much only by his re-made, re-tooled and horribly young Nets. "I don't think there's been a year here since my second year that we weren't expected to make the playoffs, if not have a really good team," Thorn said. "I would think ..."
New Nets look rosy to Rod Thorn
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October 1
New York Daily News
 
"Rod Thorn has a bounce in his step these days, and not only because he recently underwent knee replacement surgery. The president of the Nets is feeling optimistic. While most critics predict that the Nets will finish near the back of the pack in the Eastern Conference, Thorn is expecting much bigger things. Such as a playoff appearance? "Yep," he said without hesitation. Thorn made his first public appearance at the team's training camp in East Rutherford Tuesday and addressed his recent health issues - the knee replacement and a heart arrhythmia - as well as several issues surrounding his team. But his most profound statement came when he was asked what he expected of the Nets, who ..."
This Year, Nets Put Emphasis on Defense
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October 1
New York Times
 
"The Nets nearly need name tags with their infusion of new players, are knee-deep in added components to their offense and are quickly readying themselves for a preseason trip overseas. Yet, their training camp practices have largely been skewered toward a singular focus. Defense. Lots of it. During the Nets' string of six straight playoff appearances, which came to a screeching halt last season, the team was energized by the octane of the alley-oops, from Kenyon Martin to Vince Carter to Richard Jefferson. But it was their defense, especially during their consecutive appearances in the finals, that defined them. Until last season. The defense took a sojourn, as did the Nets' playoff ..."
"I'm ready to go," Nets prez says
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September 30
Bergen Record
 
"Knee replacement surgery and a subsequent heart scare hasn't and won't slow down Rod Thorn. He said he won't cut back on the duties