Hooped Up

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs — so lets go!

This year the New Jersey Nets have 99 problems and staying out of the draft lottery will not be one.

Last season, the Nets stumbled to a 34-48 record in the Atlantic and after trading away Vince Carter for maybe too little in return. That record will be continuing south in ’09-10 like the mercury in Newark on a cold winters day. BRRR!

With relocation, legal issues o’plenty, no marque players other than Devin Harris as a draw, and a shady Russian billionaire being the re-location savoir who may — or may not, know where the classy prostitutes kick it. The Nets are facing more challenges in the front office, than they will on the court this season.

By trading away Carter this summer to Orlando, Jersey hit the self destruct / save cap room / please help us LeBron button. Now, besides Devin Harris newly acquired Courtney Lee and promising sophomore Brook Lopez, the Nets have very limited offensive options. Lawrence Frank is a good enough coach to keep this squad interesting for 3 quarters a night, but that would be great if he coached the Devils.

So with that being said, I fully expect the Nets to finish in the basement of the Atlantic. So there, I said it — again.

Projected Starters: PG - Devin Harris / SG - Courtney Lee / SF – Terrence Williams / PF - Yi Jianlian / C - Brook Lopez

Sixth Man: Chris Douglas-Roberts

Reserves: Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, Will Blalock, Josh Boone, Bennett Davis, Keyon Dooling, Brian Hamilton, Trenton Hassell, Jarvis Hayes, Eduardo Najera, Bobby Simmons, Sean Williams

Projected Wins: 30

Team Theme Song: Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Do you really need an explanation?

Best plays from the ‘08-09 Season:

Two Net Blogs I Dig:
Nets Are Scorching
Netscast