Going into the 2006/07 season, the New Jersey Nets are one of the biggest
question marks in the NBA. While they have had enough talent to make the
playoffs consistently for a good while, they have never been able to get over
the hump and win a championship.
The good news for the Nets is that they reside in one of the weakest
divisions in the NBA. None of the other teams in the Atlantic division pose a
serious threat to the Nets. Aside from that, however, the Nets are composed of
three star players and one or two nice role players. Jason Kidd is no longer the
best point guard in the league, as surgeries and age have slowed him. He still,
however, is able to get take good care of the ball while setting up his talented
teammates.
The Nets best players are high-flyers Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter.
Carter has long been one of the most talented players in the NBA, and is a
threat to explode for a large amount of points any game during the season. His
health issues have been a non-factor with the Nets, as he has only missed 8
games in the last two seasons. Richard Jefferson is another talented wing player
who does not have as much experience in the NBA as Carter does. He should
average around twenty points a game as usual.
In the post for the Nets are Nenad Kristic and Jason Collins. Kristic is a
talented young center who had Nets personnel raving by the end of last season.
He is expected to improve further and to help solidify a shaky center position
for the Nets. Collins is another young post player who has been disappointing
through his first five seasons in the league. His career points average of 5.3
is just not getting the job done nor is his career rebounds average of 4.9. New
Jersey should hope for at least a fifty percent improvement in both of those
categories from Collins.
Aside from their starting five, the Nets really do not have much depth to
rely on. Clifford Robinson is a player who has been in the league forever, but
is too old and unreliable to depend on as a backup. Eddie House is a good
sparkplug off the bench, but there is a reason why he has bounced from team to
team over the past few seasons.
The New Jersey Nets have enough talent to win a weak division with their
starting five rotation, but without any depth they will fall short again of a
title run.
