Take a Seat, Guys

Lawrence Frank was red-faced from embarrassment and anger, and you could understand why he felt both.

On the day the Nets reached the midpoint, their coach reached his boiling point and the result was an eye-opener.

Frank benched Vince Carter and Devin Harris for the second half of the Nets' 105-85 loss today to the Celtics. It definitely was an attention-getter and a move you couldn't blame.

The Nets were down by 30 against the Celtics - 30. And this after they lost by 32 to the Celtics on Wednesday.

Where was their pride? Where was their anger? Where was their resistance? They were nowhere to be found so Frank put Carter and Harris on the bench.

"I was just totally embarrassed about our performance," Frank said after the Nets third-straight loss. "It starts with me and it goes on down to our main players. I think it was just an embarrassing start to the game and I decided to go in another direction."

Carter seemed OK. He was up, cheering for his teammates. Harris didn't seem as OK as Carter, though, and admitted "it took a lot of guts."

It did, and I tend to believe that Frank would not have done that to Jason Kidd if Kidd were still here. He wouldn't respond as well as Carter did to public humiliation. Plus, if you lose Kidd as a coach, you've lost him.

But I was among those who believed Kidd should have been benched after the migraine incident to send a message to the rest of the team. But the Nets would then be admitting Kidd didn't have a migraine, which they still haven't.

Anyway, this was Frank's way of sending a message, I believe Andy Reid-style.

The Eagles coach benched his best player, Donovan McNabb. It got everyone's attention and McNabb has been sharper, better and tomorrow plays in the NFC championship game.

So if the Nets are playing for the East title you'll know why.

Seriously, Frank had to do something and sitting Eduardo Najera and Ryan Anderson or Bobby Simmons and Jarvis Hayes wouldn't have done anything.

But sitting the two best players, your captain and the player the organization hopes is feeding LeBron James (cough) in a few years, the two you want to be on the All-Star team this season, that's going to open some eyes.

"You can read whatever you want to read into it," Frank said. "But like I said, as a representative of this organization I was very embarrassed by the way we came out."

There's no denying Carter hasn't played well the past three games, which coincides with his ankle injury. He's 7-for-32 with 22 points in the last three games. Harris has been abused by Rajon Rondo in the two meetings with the Celtics this past week and was among those who let Jerryd Bayless do whatever he wanted when Portland was in town.

Frank had to do something, and he isn't too worried about how his two best players will respond.

"You make the decisions you make, and they're well though-out," he said. "That's part of directing and leading a team. You're not there to have a consensus opinion. You're there to do what's in the best interests of the team."
 

Comments

[Barry from Brooklyn]

I applaud LFrank, It's about time he sent this sort of message. He's not the type to get in a players face, which is what I was hoping. I was thinking the same thing as far as this reminds me of the Eagles situation when Donavan was benched. When Carter and Devin came out shooting jump shot , after jump shot , after jump shot, i was like OH NO, here we go again. Why don't they get it? is it a mental block? Does Harris do everthing Carter does? with a performance like this neither belongs in the Allstar Game. I thought Devin was the best point guard in the East. Now I'm not so sure, Rondo made him look really bad. I think he (Rondo)took it personal that everyone is hyping Devin. It's not always about the points. They better get it together quickly or Rod will make changes.

[Barry from Brooklyn]

I'M SORRY THE KIDS HAD TO WITNESS THIS

[JayMS]

Honestly I haven't been a big LFrank fan but this was a great move on his part, way to send a message. I hate to watch Harris and VC settle for jump shots and just cruise through a game like it doesn't bother them to lose. I understand losing to the Celtics but I dont see why we can't compete with them. Brook Lopez- 28 and 10, if VC and Harris give 25 a piece there is no reason why we cant put up a fight. If the bobcats, knicks and warriors beat em why cant we atleast make it a close one?!

[StevieG]

Good point JayMS.
Great move by Frank. I always believed Frank's weakness is that he has not gotten into the face of the players and made them accountable. I don't think he is made that way but this is another way to get the attention of the players. You have to send a message when your two best players are not bringing intensity to the game especially when you should be up for a big game against one of the best team in the league. This game was a total embarrassment with the exception of Lopez’s game and the hustling play of Najera.
We know Carter can be passive defensively at times though he has given much more effort this year. But Harris, though he has become more productive offensively this year, has not been a force on the defensive end. He has just been average at best defensively this year. The Nets must realize that for them to win games, it starts on the defensive end. Celtics are a great example. While they can score, it’s their defense that won them the championship last season.
By the way, it is surprising that we miss Yi at times as another scorer on the floor and another long body upfront.

[StevieG]

By the way, the Nets made Scalabrine look like an All-Star.

[Rich]

I've been really disappointed with Harris' defense all year. He does not contain the dribble whatsoever, his man penetrates at will. I can't complain about Devin's offense, but c'mon, where has the D been? He's making his bigs look bad by forcing them to pick up fouls or getting torched by driving & dishing guards... Hey, Devin, we're noticing.

[sary]

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