On draft day, the Brooklyn Nets acquired Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry from the Boston Celtics for three first round picks and role players from the Nets. The Nets unloaded some bad contracts off the books and Celtics are in full rebuilding mode. This trade was a big statement from the Nets. The Nets want to win now and feel that Pierce and KG still have something left in the tank that will propel them to a championship while providing leadership and toughness.
The Nets have set the bar high for themselves and are letting their fan base know that they intend to knock off the Miami Heat next year. It's going to be tough of course, but it's not a long shot. The Nets were an OK team last year, but are now looking to be one of the top three teams in the eastern conference. Yes, KG and Pierce are up there in age, but they are bringing something that rookie head coach Jason Kidd can't provide on the floor; toughness.
The Nets like most other NBA teams lacked toughness last year. Being a tough NBA team is not considered a priority, but that is why Boston was so successful with veterans who didn't mind pushing the opposing team around. Now the Nets look to be that team.
KG is in his late thirties, but can still be a bully around the basket and will play defense every night. He's not about stats, he's about winning. The same can be said for Pierce. Pierce has worn a Celtics jersey for his entire career, but a change of scenery and another chance to win a title should provide him with a spark. He also possess a certain aspect of toughness and leadership that the Nets lacked last year.
Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez have all been all stars in the last four years. The one thing that they all lack is leadership and toughness. With KG and Pierce now in Brooklyn that will probably change for the better.
Williams will probably say that he is a leader, but he isn't. He's a star, but not a leader. He has had issues in the past with coaches and at times can be selfish as well as a diva. He's a good point guard that has shown flashes of becoming a great one, and with the additions of Coach Kidd, KG, and Pierce, Williams may become that great point guard that the Nets have been waiting on for some time. Because KG and Pierce will not back down from Williams and maybe that's what he needs. Someone who's not a coach and demands respect at the same time.
Joe Johnson was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks last summer in what many seen as a salary dump, but that was clearly not the case. The Nets thought that pairing Johnson and Williams together would be a dominate back court. They were far from dominant and had chemistry issues at the beginning of the season, but finally developed that missing chemistry at the end of the season.
Joe Johnson is a good player with a quiet demeanor and is the kind of guy who lets his game do all the talking. He was considered by many a few years ago, as one of the top ten players in the league, but by having a quiet season in which his stats took a dive, he is another player like Williams who needs to add toughness to his game. He is the kind of player that doesn't need or want the spotlight, but still needs to be involved because he can be very inconsistent at times. This takes me to the next quiet guy; Brook Lopez.
Brook Lopez is considered one of the best big men in the league right behind Dwight Howard. Lopez made his first all star appearance this past year and will probably be a regular all star for years to come. Lopez like Williams can only benefit from KG and Pierce. Lopez has been criticized for the last few years for not being a good re bounder. He has a great offensive game that will continue to get better, and he plays defense. His only problem is rebounding. Maybe he doesn't want to box out guys in the post, he'd rather score instead! Who can blame him? But if the Nets want to win now, Lopez has to become a better re bounder.
Lopez will get to know Garnett very well and may even try to mirror Garnett's game. Lopez can shoot, pass, and defend in the same fashion as Garnett, but lacks that killer instinct that Garnett possess. The point I'm trying to make here is Lopez's game is gonna change dramatically because he will not only learn from one of the best power forwards to ever lace'em up, but will now have protection on the weak side. This front court of Lopez and Garnett is being overlooked right now, but when teams are slashing and driving to the rim, they will most likely think twice. Literally.
The Nets have so far turned heads this summer by the hiring of Jason Kidd as their head coach and bringing in savvy vets on the brink of retirement, it's clear they want to win now. Playing in a new city and in a new arena are sometimes pressed with expectations. Many will say that the Nets are old and slow now, but they have acquired nothing but winners this summer and maybe they are not just trying to win next year, but are trying to change the culture within the organization. Building a team to win is never easy, but Nets have assured themselves that they will not be pushed around or overlooked. Toughness and leadership will be in Brooklyn next year and who knows maybe the Eastern Conference crown. Peace!
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