Speaking Frankly With the Head Coach

Matt McQueeny, NJNets.com
September 26th, 2007

NJNets.com sat down with Nets Head Coach Lawrence Frank for his thoughts on a host of Nets subjects. Many of the quotes will be used for upcoming Season Previews and player features, but following is a transcript of the interview to whet your appetites in the meantime.

NJNets.com: For all the big deals that took place in the division this summer, is there ever an urge to follow suit or was it really a matter of the small moves to fit the puzzle that needed to be made for the Nets?

“You truly have to focus on who you are and what we want to represent as a team and as an organization. You can’t be reactionary; you have to be proactive and do what’s in the best interest of your team. I think the Eastern Conference as a whole has definitely gotten better. I think the Atlantic Division has gotten better. Yet at the same time, if we are able to keep our core healthy, we feel that we have as good a chance as any team. You have to acknowledge what the other teams are doing, yet at the same time you have to have a plan and be committed to the plan and not try to audibilize every single time somebody else makes a move.”

NJNets.com: You always gave credit to the team last year for not “letting go of the rope” even with everything that was happening with injuries and off-the-court stuff. That’s got to be an important trait that bodes well for the team at full strength?

“I think the way you look at it is health, chemistry, your competition, and how you deal with the outside factors. You make sure of the chemistry of your team, the health of your team, people who are right in front of you in terms of who you have to play in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, and then, how you deal with the outside influences. Every team has those fights, we’re not unique. The other 29 teams are going to have those same fights every day.”

NJNets.com: Seeing Jason Kidd in the FIBA Americas Tournament - on the heels of last regular and post-season - reminds everyone how special he is. With VC re-signed, and RJ coming in healthy, can you just talk to the ever-importance of “The Big Three”?

“We don’t refer to it as the big three - We’re a basketball team. Those guys are obviously our heavy lifters but everyone else has to be able to accept their role and then perform and do their role. Those guys are our difference-makers, so we rely on them, but at the end of the day it does come to your 15 or 14 man unit because everyone will contribute to at least one win during the course of the year.”

NJNets.com: What will Nenad Krstic’s return to the starting lineup mean?

“It’s going to be a slow development. I think we have to be careful to not put too much on his shoulders too early. We have to be ready to just read his body and see. With Curly (Krstic's nickname), it’s never going to be a question of work ethic; it’s just going to be a question of when his body is ready to accept the responsibility of being a full-time basketball player.”

NJNets.com: Jamaal Magloire looks to bring toughness down low and depth. How important do you hope his signing will be to the team and the season?

“With Jamaal, here was a guy a couple of years ago who was an all-star and then, basically, his role has lessened year in and year out. So this is an opportunity for him to establish a new perception in the league. I think he brings a toughness, he’s more of an old-school center, and yet he’s going to have to be mobile enough and agile enough to be able to defend his position. He brings a toughness and even though he doesn’t have great lift – he’s not a phenomenal athlete – he has an uncanny ability to be able to rebound the ball.”

NJNets.com: How important is the bench? Especially when it comes to getting Jason Kidd more rest during games?

“It’s very, very important. That’s when you truly play for each other, when you don’t want to let each other down. Every year we talk about trying to get Jason fewer minutes and every year, we play him more. So I’m going to say he’s going to play under 48 minutes a game. Because he won’t play 48 minutes, I won’t be a liar. There’s always a fine line between giving guys an opportunity and showing trust and also guys performing when given an opportunity. Sometimes you have to keep the big picture in mind in terms of developing guys yet at the same time it’s hard to do that at the expense of losing games that maybe you should win. Antoine (Wright) and Boki (Nachbar) have had two outstanding summers. Marcus has done some good things and usually you reap what you sow. So, hopefully for all our bench guys, we’re able to have good production. Our bench did a very good job last year and now we’re obviously minus Mikki (Moore), and Eddie (House), and Cliff (Robinson); but different guys get different opportunities.”

NJNets.com: The Atlantic Division looks to be better on paper. Playing to the team’s potential and with health, the Nets should probably vie to be at the top of the division?

“Without a doubt. We play and settle for nothing less. And yet Toronto is the returning division champs; Boston obviously has added two more all-stars, one of them being a first ballot hall-of-famer in Garnett; The Knicks added a double-double guy in Randolph; Philly continues to build their team around balance and Iguodala took off after the Iverson trade. At the same time, our goal is to win the division.”

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