NBN Roundtable: New Year’s Resolutions For 2017
By Sandy Mui
Matt Pisani (@pisannd5)
Reflecting on 2016
The best thing that has happened to the Nets in 2016 was firing Billy King and replacing him with Sean Marks. King put it all on the table, and it did not work out for him or the Nets. Brooklyn searched for someone in a good organization that could make a change. They found Marks, a San Antonio Spurs guy, and Brooklyn fell in love. Marks has already made his marks with finding and signing Sean Kilpatrick, getting Jeremy Lin, and helping cut back the Nets’ cap space as well as getting head coach Kenny Atkinson. Marks can save Brooklyn, but it just may take some time.
The worst thing that happened to the Nets in 2016 was Luis Scola. Brooklyn is paying Scola $4.5 million this season, and he has been pretty terrible. He cannot score and he cannot rebound like he used to anymore. He did not even play against the Bulls. Something may be wrong with Scola, or maybe it is age. Either way, Brooklyn could have put that $4.5 million to use elsewhere.
I am content with the Nets at the end of 2016. I would have been happier if Jimmy Butler did not beat us at the buzzer, but, considering Lin is always out, the Nets are where I expected them to be. Brooklyn would have had more wins had Lin not gone down with his injury, but Brooklyn is nearly halfway to 20 wins, and we’re only two months into the season. So, with all that has happened, I am content with where Brooklyn is. They are fighting and even sometimes winning for me.
In 2016, Brooklyn has impressed me with their fight. Game in and game out, excluding the Cavs game, Brooklyn has fought. It caught everyone’s attention the first game of the year against the Celtics, when Brooklyn stormed back from more than 20 points down in the fourth quarter to get within two. This team has heart, and they like being the underdogs. They know that realistically they cannot make the playoffs, but they will try their darndest and have some fun along the way.
Looking Forward to 2017
I would like to see improvement in rebounding and assists. With Lin out, someone is going to need to control the floor and get the ball to where it needs to be. Isaiah Whitehead has his moments, and Spencer DInwiddie is capable of it at some point, but there really is no one else that can. Someone will need to take the reigns and lead this team until Lin can come back. As far as rebounding, Brook Lopez needs to be getting more than three to four rebounds per game. Trevor Booker is always getting double digit rebounds. If Lopez can up his rebound game, Brooklyn will have much better chances in the new year.
By the end of 2017, I expect Brooklyn to finally have a healthy team with one more asset. They have the draft, free agency, and the trade deadline to make something happen. Marks has already shown he is not afraid to make moves, so I expect more moves to be made. I do not expect any significant trades, but I can see a role player being added. I can also see someone coming to Brooklyn in free agency to help boost Brooklyn and put them back in playoff contention.
I would like to see Brooklyn sign Nerlens Noel. Noel has not been playing much, which means the Nets may be able to get him for relatively cheap. He could be a monster in the future if he is actually used and happy. Brooklyn could be a nice fit. Right now, the Nets’ only big man off of the bench for the most part is Justin Hamilton, and he is a shooter. Having this young big man on the team will improve the youth and brighten the future. Noel is a hell of a player, and Brooklyn should definitely target him this offseason.