The Final Grades

Here are the final grades for the 34-48 Nets. We are excluding those who have left.

Some of you probably will say I graded too kindly or on a curve because this team failed and for that everyone should fail. Here goes:

Vince Carter (B): He showed toughness and leadership by finishing out the season that on ankle that we may find out tomorrow need surgery. He also made up for a sluggish first half, and became a different player after the Jason Kidd trade, the player everyone expected him to be this season.

Richard Jefferson (B): He had his best individual season, but the Nets had their worst campaign in seven years, which confirms my belief that he can’t be your top player or top option. Jefferson had too many quiet second halves late in the season when Carter needed help. He also isn't as good defensively as he used to be.

Josh Boone (B-): No one expected him to be a starter or as productive as he proved to be. He still needs to develop a consistent post move, a short jumper, improve his free throw shooting and play on defense.

Devin Harris (B-): It’s hard to judge him on 25 games, but he has shown he can score and get in the lane. It’s also had to grade Harris because of whom he replaced. Harris hasn’t shown he’s the competitor or defensive player Kidd was, nor has he made his teammates better yet. Maybe next year.

Darrell Armstrong (B-): He did what he was brought here to do. Armstrong helped the Nets win a couple of games, was a great practice player and provided encouragement and advice to his teammates.

Bostjan Nachbar (C+): Like Carter, he deserves credit for playing until the end, despite a back injury. But Nachbar was too inconsistent and non-existent on the defensive end. He was much better late in the season offensively, though.

DeSagana Diop (C+): He was the Nets best paint protector in his 27 games, but needs to rebound better and show more of an offensive game.

Sean Williams (C): He was a surprise in the first half and helped the nets win some games with his athleticism and energy, but spent much of the final few months hardly playing. Too often he looked lost on both ends, but if he continues to work will improve.

Nenad Krstic (C-): He did everything he could to come back from reconstructive knee surgery, but never regained his old form. He struggled with his shot and defensively. He fully expects to be back his old self next year.

Stromile Swift (C-): Another one who’s tough to grade because of his short time here. He only played 22 games. After looking disinterested early in his Nets’ career, he showed his athleticism and leaping ability when he got consistent minutes toward the end of the season.

Marcus Williams (D+): His pre-season foot surgery set him back and he was in and out of the rotation after he returned. He hasn’t made the strides running the team or on the defensive end that coach Lawrence Frank hoped for at this point.

Trenton Hassell (D): Good defensively, but he’s got to hit an open shot.

Maurice Ager (Inc:) Didn’t see enough of him and what I saw wasn't impressive.

Keith Van Horn (Inc.): He made great money for a non-retired retired player.

Lawrence Frank: (C-): Lost his best player, first in spirit and then in body in what was another trying, distraction and injury-filled season. Frank never lost faith, but did  48 games, didn’t get effort from his team every night, didn’t get the most out of his players and had some of them questioning why they weren’t playing.

Rod Thorn (B): Last offseason’s changes didn’t work but Thorn made a good trade, the best possible one for Kidd.

Kiki Vandeweghe (Inc.): He helped with the Kidd trade, but wasn’t here long enough to earn a grade.

Comments

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

I'd give out my grade for Frank, but the American grading system doesn't go all they way down to Z

[Adam.y]

If Frank deserves a C- every other Net deserves an A+, Sean and Marcus deserve a better rating because they were definately harmed by Frank's incompitence when it comes to handeling his rookies.

[mina]

its still mind boggling how guys like van gundy, who had yao injured for half the seaon last year and tmac for the other half, and still won over 50 in the west, and was fired. how adelman rebuilt and changed sthe kings from a laughing stock franchise to a contender, and got fired. how carlisle, who is tyhe only coach to be on the top 5 in COY ballotiong for 4 straight yrs, and got fired.

and a guy like frank who is players didnt play hard for every noght, and a team full of talent and could sqeak in the playoffs, implemented a motion offense that was obviously a team killer, and has no patience and trust with his youngsters which is killing their dewvelopment still keeps his job.

if yuou ask me, that 9 mill, has everything to do with it. but thorn will have him on a very tight leash next year. frank is known for his very slow starts, which cost the nets dearly this year since they had a very soft schedule to start the season. another one of his infamous slow starts next year, and thorn just has to can him. if he doesnt the he has to be questioned. the good of the franchise should copme before any individual mistakes and personal feelings. lets see what next year brings us. it wont matter who the nets trade for or get through FA, if frank comes in next year with the same mind set, philosophies, and lack of trust and patience wwith his youngsters, they will underachieve like every year under franok. its toime frank takes a good look at the mirror.

and everybody ahs to remember when frank had no choice but to start marcus when kidd got traded and harris was injured. besided that one game in indiana, he was excellent. he actually put up kidd like numbers.. and this came after he was in the doghouse for about a whole month. which makes you wonder if frank really knows how to bring the bestouty of the youngsters.

[geo]

Yes, I do think you are too easy on the team. Carter and RJ were part of the reason why they had a horrendous first half. They played sluggish and indifferent and I don't think you can make up for that in the last 30 games. C+ at best

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

Mina,

The Nets ran a motion offense this year?

[MJT]

VC deserves an "A". He had ankles problems and still finished with 21 pts, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He is ranked only behind Kobe and Lebron with his stats.

[Steve B]

Frank should of got a F

[mjs]

Yeah, that motion offense did not exist most of the season. And, last check, Frank is not the only one who handles youngsters poorly.

I like to grade relative to expected performance. That said, VC is too high. Great finish, but what about the whole season before mid-Feb. Ankle injury aside, we expected more after $66 mil.

Frank aside for a minute, Thorn deserves a lower grade. How did that Magloire signing work out? And about that shooter to replace Eddie House? The Harris trade looks good on paper, but time will tell. I may go a little lower on Diop and Kristic, neither showed much this season. Kristic was a question mark from the onset, and turned out worse than we hoped.

www.njnetscast.com

[pmz]

you're way to easy on management. the TEFLON TWINS as i've named them the past 3 years should be replaced. teflon#1 has brought in a bunch of clinkers the past 3/4 years- makes over the bench every year. teflon#2 has the teams playing worst every year since he scott was wrongly fired. every year the defense gets worst. time for major changes.