The King Is Here

LeBron James is in town tomorrow so let the speculation begin that this is where he will play in about two years.

Well, here or Newark or Brooklyn or maybe Manhattan or Cleveland.

As we all know, the speculation has begun. It’s part of the Nets’ plan. They cleared money to make a run at Jay-Z’s buddy and they’re relying heavily on that friendship to lure the King to a new castle.

But in a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer James addressed his future and said he doesn’t plan on leaving Cleveland.

"Every day it seems like [the media] has me going someplace else," James said. "I'm very happy here, I have said that over and over."

Of course, so much can change in such a long time. Remember how many times myself or someone else wrote that Jason Kidd said he wanted to end his career as a Net. Now who knows where he’s going to end it because if Dallas keeps going this way, he’s going to want out of there and want to play with James.

So let me be the first to say Kidd will end his career as a Net because after James signs here to play for his buddy, Kidd will want to return.  The Nets probably could get him cheap then.

Ah, Rod, Jeff Schwartz is on line 1. He wants to talk and say he's sorry. :)

Back to James and the Cavaliers, the Nets will have their hands full with him. As coach Lawrence Frank said today, he’s gotten better and he keeps getting better. In the past, the Nets would start off with Richard Jefferson on him, followed by Vince Carter, Kidd and whoever else they had. Jam es averaged 34.7 against the Nets last season.

Figure at the start it will be Bobby Simmons – who said he’s done “fairly well” in the past against LeBron. Last year, James averaged 32.3 against the Bucks to only 1.0 for Simmons. But Simmons only played in two of the four games.

Figure other Nets will get a shot at James too. If he’s healthy, Jarvis Hayes – who hasn’t had much success either against James - Carter, maybe Sean Williams some and Trenton Hassell some.

“Ain’t no one guarding him one-on-one,” Frank said.

A little later, after Frank praised all the Cavaliers and told us why they’re tough to play against and beat, a reporter asked what the Nets’ chances were of winning.

“I don’t know,” Frank said. “I don’t make the Vegas line. We’re going into the game to do everything we can to win. To quote a former Jets football coach, that’s why you play the game.”

***

The lineup will remain the same. Josh Boone and Eduardo Najera are out again. Hayes is questionable with the back spasms. None of the three practiced. The Nets only had 10 healthy bodies today.

***

It’s been a couple of days, but that third-quarter shooting show was incredible, especially when you consider who did it – the Nets.

“Hey, confidence does amazing things,” Devin Harris said. “Doesn’t it?”

Yeah, but 8-of-8 from three - have you ever seen anything like that?

“You see the way Atlanta shot the ball?” Harris said. “Phoenix shot the ball? I mean, Phoenix the whole quarter missed one shot, 13 –for-14?”

Yeah, but you’re the Nets.

“Hey,” Harris said, “confidence does amazing things.”

***
I know some of you have said the fact that Rod Thorn had to give the team a pep talk the other day is a reflection against the coach and I don’t necessarily disagree. Thorn does this a few times a year, though, and said he did it even when the Nets were good under then-coach Byron Scott. But this was early.

Probably the most important thing is they responded - at least in the two games over the weekend.

Comments

[Trenton Hassel]

Thorn`s pep talk had nothing to do with us winning them games. Thorn`s pep talk was some BS.

We won them games cause of Devin Harris. Not because something Rod Thorn said that the players don`t even listen too. Be real.

[JR]

If James comes here, which I doubt with the Brooklyn areana up in the air, I wouldnt mind a Kidd come back. Kidd, Harris, Lebron, Yi and Lopez works for me. Hopefully we can get draft Rubio or a SG. Then Kidd could come off the bench.

[Mr. Dollar Bills]

Kidd can keep his old *** in Dallas w/ his insider trading buddy!!!!!!!!!

Hey Al, next time ask Simmons if he think he's played "fairly well" this season.

"Boo Boo" Bobby Simmons, the worst small forward in the league. Bobby really puts the "small" in small forward.

Bobby "Capspace" Simmons