Nothin' But Nets
Fansided

None of Brooklyn Nets’ Focus Should Be on New York Knicks

By Sean Costello

Mar 12, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks to pass the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Nets win 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks to pass the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Nets win 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) drives around New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee (5) and center Kyle O’Quinn (9) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn Nets won 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) drives around New York Knicks guard Courtney Lee (5) and center Kyle O’Quinn (9) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn Nets won 121-110. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Nets vs. Knicks Current State

Now, looking at both teams over seven months later, the Nets look like they may have actually had the better summer. Reason being? The Knicks seem to be regretting signing Noah to a monster $72 million dollar contract after he has been plagued by injuries and hasn’t lived up to expectations. Not only that, but Jennings is now a member of the Wizards after being waived by the Knicks, and it seems Rose will be taking himself elsewhere following the conclusion of this season.

Not to mention, there’s a growing concern that free agents will not want to play in the “Mecca of Basketball” with all the drama unfolding as of late. Incidents like Charles Oakley being thrown out of a Feb. 8 game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the Garden, and the current drama between Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson are partly to blame for that.

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The Knicks’ plan that once looked so promising is crumbling to pieces, which is similar to what happened when the Nets attempted to go all in with a win-now mentality and buy their way to an NBA championship.

We see it happen to almost every sports team at some point. No matter how hard a team tries, it will most likely need to rebuild at some point in its franchise’s history. It’s happened to the Los Angeles Lakers and even the New York Yankees, two teams that are never usually bad for long periods of time.

Was Jackson wrong for pulling the trigger on a Rose trade? Was he wrong for signing enticing free agents and looking to return to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons? It’s hard to tell, but there is one known fact, and that is that whatever the Zen Master ended up trying to do hasn’t worked out too well for the Knicks and for his legacy in the world of basketball.