August 21, 2007 - SUMMER EDITION
The Nets radio team of Chris Carrino and Tim Captsraw will be priming their vocal cords for the upcoming Nets season as they will be one of three NBA TV broadcasting teams calling the FIBA Americas Championship. See broadcast schedule.
Tim thinks adding Nets point guard Jason kidd to the Team USA roster will be a major boon to the squad.
“I think that is what they needed. Mike Krzyzewski taking over the team really tried to make it more of an organization, more of a team. I think what Jason Kidd brings now is a real team experience and attitude that he has brought to the Nets. He will bring it to Team USA. I think it’s exciting. I know Kobe Bryant thinks it’s the greatest thing in the world. I think the combination of that back court with their experience and handling things when things get tough will be a huge difference. A really nice part of Jason Kidd’s career will I think be him being a big part of eventually bringing back the gold medal to the United States. I think that’s going to happen and I think he’s going to be a big reason why. Not to say the rest of the world isn’t really good right now, but I think Jason Kidd is really one of the finishing pieces to the USA puzzle.”
Tim also answered some of your pressing fan questions. Following are select questions which you have asked over the summer.
Questions: Do you think that with all the off-season moves that the nets have made so far, that they are A) a better team? B) contenders for the eastern conference? Brandon S.
CAPSTRAW ANSWER: I think they addressed needs and that they did a very good job. I thought that Jamaal Magloire helps inside as an offensive presence for the Nets. I think he’s a guy that has something to prove; he was a good player a few years back, he made the all-star team in 2004. He’s a guy on a one year contract that has something to prove and we’ve often been amazed at how much better players play when they are in the presence of Jason Kidd. I think this will be an opportunity for Magloire to help the Nets to balance out their offense by providing some interior offensive abilities, a decent defender, a very solid rebounder. But I think offensively it would be nice to see the Nets play into the post some. I think that would help out their offensive attack.
Sean Williams really brings shot-blocking; we always hear everybody saying how badly the Nets needed shot-blocking. He’s an athletic presence but I still think it may take him a little time. That’s why I think the combination of the interior power and experience of Magloire with the young athleticism of Sean Williams is a good mix with what the Nets have. And I think obviously Nenad Krstic being back is huge. I thought certainly the Nets improved themselves. There’s no doubt about it.
On Marcus Williams, anytime you have a second year of doing any job – whether a broadcaster, a freshman becoming a sophomore in college, whether you play sports or not – think about how much easier the second year is in anything you have ever done in your life. I think that’s the case with Marcus Williams. He knows what’s expected. There were times last year when I thought he was a talented offensive player. He’s understanding that he needs to continue to work on his defense and I think he could have a very big year. Late in the year he lost some confidence but he’s a very, very important player to the Nets next season.
Questions: With Boston Getting KG and Ray Allen, Where do you think the Nets will finish in the division? Do you believe they will even make the playoffs? *Ricky*
CAPSTRAW ANSWER: I think the Nets chances in the division are very good. I still think Toronto is a very good team. The Celtics are much improved, obviously, but their 4 through 12 players I think have to be better for them to make a little more of an impact - although I think they could be very dangerous. The Nets will be challenged, the East will be so much fun, the Atlantic Division will be a whole lot of fun; but I still believe in the Nets and what they are all about. I think the Nets figured out what they wanted to be as the year went on last year. It took them some time, and they had some injuries, but they fought through a lot of issues and I think found what they are as a team at the end of last season.
May 21, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on May 18, 2007.
May 17, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on May 16, 2007.
May 15, 2007
Click here to listen to Nets radio analyst Tim Capstraw on WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog."
May 12, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on May 12, 2007.
May 9, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on May 8, 2007.
April 29, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on April 29, 2007.
April 21, 2007
Listen as Chris Carrino and Tim Capstraw answered e-mail questions during their halftime broadcast on April 21, 2007.
April 20, 2007
NJNets.com stood alongside the team buses with Nets radio analyst Tim Capstraw - just before he headed for Toronto - and got his take on some of the major points of the upcoming Nets-Raptors first-round series.
On the guard match ups...
You break down the point position. For the Nets, they have to contend with the speed of TJ Ford, and also the speed and pick-and-roll ability of Ford and Calderon. I've mentioned that TJ Ford is so fast that he could play tennis by himself. He is really fast, he is unbelievable from elbow to elbow. The Nets ability to keep him and Calderon out of the paint is of enormous importance.
The Nets would like to counter that occassionally with posting up Jason Kidd. So you have speed on one side against the strength and passing ability of Kidd on the other. It will be an interesting dynamic. Keeping Toronto's guards out of the paint is of incredible importance, whether it be in transition or in the half court.
The Vince Carter-Anthony Parker match up will be huge. Is toronto going to have the ABC philosophy? That is, Anybody But Carter, where they want to trap the ball out of his hands; they did that the last time the Nets were in Toronto. The Nets did not counter the traps well. That has been the difference in the Nets offense. They have countered the trapping on pick-and-rolls, whether it be to hit Boone or Mikki Moore in the block, or moving the ball around and making the extra pass. Vince Carter has been the catalyst for the Nets offensive abilities lately. When teams have trapped them, the Nets are better at reacting now.
Lawrence Frank has said "we can go offense" against this. Even if they trap, let's put Mikki Moore at the five, let's put Nachbar in and Jefferson, and we will figure out who the four is. We have shooters on the floor when Vince Carter gets trapped. The beauty of Vince is that he has almost had three triple-doubles lately. He has really moved the ball.
What will the Toronto Raptors do with Vince Carter? How aggressively will they trap? And, how will the Nets counter that trap with the shooters on the floor? They have been so much better lately, that's why i believe the Nets can win the series.
On Richard Jefferson...
He is a great weapon. I thought the way he played in the season finale against Chicago was enormous in that he had the ability to attack the basket. When you don't have great post up players, you have to make sure you have that one guy who is going to get to the free-throw line. A lot of times, it's not easy being Richard Jefferson. Sometimes you are the odd man out. Yet, i think he has played it well.
The Nets showed me a lot in the Chicago game. I wasn't sold on them until the other night. I wouldn't have thought they could win a playoff series, until i saw the level of how hard they played, their intensity level defensively, how focused they were, and how electric Jason Kidd was. He was dominant without even scoring a point in the first half. Didn't score until the end of the game. His rebounding, steals, and energy level was just incredible.
On Chris Bosh...
He is going to be an issue obviously. He is a border line all NBA player. Collins will play some, and Moore. Jefferson guarded him very well last year in a game. The Nets did not have anyone to stop him and they put Jefferson on him in the fourth quarter and he did a good job. I don't know if he is physically capable of doing that or maybe there is only so much you can do with Chris Bosh. He still might get his 25 and 10; i think he is a guy who you do the best you can against. He is that good and that talented that he can make shots and make plays.
I think the key is not getting fried by the speed of the guards or fried by three-point shots. I think Bosh might get what Bosh gets. You do the best you can, you know he is a one-on-one player. I think there is going to be a lot of offense in this series.
The coaching match up...
I give the edge to the Nets. I think coaching really becomes evident in the playoffs because you know each other so well and it's just all subtle things and adjustments you will make throughout the series. Sam Mitchell might be coach of the year in the NBA, but i can't tell you how much i think about Lawrence Frank in an X's and O's situation. I think he is very strong and the players believe in that.
X Factors...
Bargnani. How healthy is he? I know he came back the last game. He is an incredibly important player for them right now. He is the one extra shooter on the floor that they need to have. They have a lot of depth and good players, but i think Bargnani's health will be as important to the Raptors off the bench as Nachbar is for the Nets.
Also, look at the spacing of the games. Saturday to Tuesday. If you're not tired, you're not coming out in my book. There is a lot of space in this series.
I think the biggest key for the Nets is that they have learned how to play with an offensive lineup. Moore moving to center, Nachbar in the game. Because of that, i think they can outscore the Raptors, do an OK job defensively, but outscore them.
I think if the Nets can get it done in six, they can win the series. You don't want to go back up there.
April 15, 2007
QUESTION 1: Will Nenad Krstic or Eddie House come back for the playoffs? Zack Manalapan,NJ
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): Eddie first. He was injured on March 28th vs. Indiana. His timetable is around 4 weeks which puts him back in the middle of the first round. However, he needs to get his conditioning back and, just as important, his rhythm. Remember, it took Eddie a while to play his way back to form after his knee injury in the pre-season. Should the Nets advance to the second round, he has a chance, but if things are going well for the team they might not want to change the rotation.
As for Nenad, the team is wisely proceeding with caution. He will not be back for the playoffs. His rehab is going well and he will be ready to go for training camp.
QUESTION 2: How do you see this team during the off-season if they lose a coveted scorer like Vince Carter? How do you see the future of the New Jersey Nets until they move into their Barclay Center? Do the rookies look promising?? Blessen V.
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): First of all Blessen, don’t write off Vince just yet. Your question is still very hypothetical. But if they do lose Vince, they will either have received something back in a sign and trade or have some money to spend. Without a scorer like Vince, you hope they’ll have some more defensive minded players and players who will run the floor with Kidd and Jefferson. One thing is for sure, and this leads to the second part of your question, the team is not going into rebuilding mode. They may change, but management is not going to make moves unless those moves will keep them competitive over the next few years. If they were looking to break it down and start over, they would have done it at the trade deadline.
One or two players can make such a huge difference in the NBA. Fortunes can change quickly. With the assets they have now, they could be very different when they get to Brooklyn, but they should still be competitive.
As for the rookies, I don’t think you can be disappointed with Marcus Williams. He may have had some growing pains, but for the most part he has shown an ability to change the game offensively and make an impact. Boone has done a nice job finding a roll late in the season. He finishes around the basket and keeps rebounds alive. There is plenty of room for improvement but there is certainly promise.
As for Hasaan Adams, he has great energy and athleticism. What is his position? Can he become a consistent shooter? Those are the questions that remain unanswered in terms of his NBA future.
QUESTION 3: Do you think that the Nets will look to trade Collins next season? Mack B. Jersey City NJ
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): Well Mack, Jason is not going to be sought after as an individual target in a trade. If the Nets wanted to trade him for the sake of moving him, they would get back either bad players with expiring contracts or decent players with bad contracts. The only thing I see happening with Jason in a trade is him being a throw into a larger deal to move his contract or make the money work.
QUESTION 4: I been hearing that the nuggets might be buying kenyon martin out at the end of the season; if that is true do you see the nets picking him up for the mid level?
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): There is no doubt that the Nets have never been able to replace Kenyon Martin. He was the perfect fit on two Finals team. However, that Kenyon Martin they once had is no longer the Kenyon Martin you see today. The mid level is still a large sum of money and Kenyon’s health is an issue. Kenyon is a player who has relied on his athleticism. It’s not like Antonio McDyess or Chris Webber who were able to change their games and become different yet very effective players after serious knee problems. The Nets need the 2002 Kenyon Martin and they’re not going to find anything like that for the mid-level. It all depends on the price as to whether or not you take a chance, but the money may be better spent elsewhere.
QUESTION 5: Chris Carrino: Since you say Nenad Krstic will be working on his long-range jump shot with Bob Thate, do you think that he will be shooting 3 pointers like Dirk Nowitzki next season? I think Krstic has the ability to knock down those shots because I remember at the end of last season, against Philadelphia, Krstic knocked down a 3 pointer.
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): Steve, I wouldn’t start getting visions of Dirk, but look for Krstic to develop 3 point range at some point in the near future. You can envision him setting screens out on the perimeter and popping out to the three point line. In the end, he will probably be more of that kind of player than a real low post threat, although he has shown some promise with his back to the basket. You’re still looking at a 7 footer who can run the floor, finish around the basket and knock down jumpers. It’s easy to forget how much he has been missed.
April 6, 2007
QUESTION 1: Hi, this question is for Chris Carrino. If you remember me from earlier in the season I came up to you while you were working during the home games. At the Nets-Pistons game i asked for your autograph at the end before you went down to do the postgame. It was nice meeting you because you are my favorite broadcaster. I was wondering, do you have any tips on how to become a good broadcaster? (preferably play-by-play like you) Thanks for your time. Chris Rutherford, NJ
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): Hey Chris. I do remember you. When you originally asked me this question I was rushing downstairs to do the postgame show. Unfortunately, I can’t give you very good advice in 10 seconds. In fact, I can go on for hours on the subject (I’m very long winded) but I’ll do my best for you here.
While at Fordham University, I learned play-by-play from the legendary Marty Glickman. Marty’s mantra was “Consider the Listener.” Always understand what your purpose is and imagine how you sound to the listener.
When someone tunes in, they want a picture of the game. The most important part of this “word picture” is score and time. That’s the first thing people want to know. Then you want to describe the action in a way the listener can understand. Too much description can get confusing, too little can be frustrating to the listener. Get control of the game and phrase it so your listeners can “see it”.
Your voice is an instrument. Learn to play it like one. Know your voice’s strengths and limitations. Remember, what you say goes hand in hand with how you say it.
Become a student of the game. Listen to other broadcasters. Let the things you like influence your craft. Avoid the things that you don’t like. And it sounds cliché, but be yourself. Follow the principles first and foremost, but let your personality come through naturally.
Be well-read, be well rounded and be prepared. To paraphrase another Fordham graduate, Vin Scully, when asked what motivates him to prepare so thoroughly for a broadcast. His response was, “Fear! Fear of sounding like an idiot.”
QUESTION 2: do you think the nets will make the playoffs?
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): Yes. The teams following them just haven’t shown the ability to come up with a big winning streak to knock them off. I think now it’s a question of where they’ll finish. Watch Washington. The Nets play them twice over the final 8 games. With Arenas and Butler out, 6th place comes into the picture.
ANSWER (TIM CAPSTRAW): I think right now that they are in very good shape. They are in good shape today. Things could change significantly in the next week or so. We’ve seen this Nets team tease us a little. I think that right now you feel a little comfortable. You’d be very surprised (if they didn’t make it). Not only would the Nets have to play very poorly, but Orlando and the Knicks would have to take it up to another level and go on a roll. And I don’t see either one of those scenarios playing out.
You almost feel like they could play .500 basketball and be in really good shape. But if you’re the Nets, do you want to be playing .500 right now? I think they finally have to have a spurt to have success in the playoffs. I think they have to have a spurt so that they can believe in themselves to another level, prior to going into the playoffs.
QUESTION 3: Do you think the Nets will be a better team in the playoffs or they'll just play like they have been over the course of the season? Logan R.Trumbull, CT
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): That’s a great question. It seems to be what everyone is assuming, but is it reality? With the exception of the Eddie House injury, they’ve gotten some consistency with their rotation and they’ve started to make strides in the standings. This is what Nets fans have been waiting for. But there have been many times this season where you felt this team turned the proverbial corner, only to take steps back.
I think you’ll learn a lot from the way they close out the season. They’ve got the talent and experience to be a much more dangerous playoff opponent than their record will indicate after 82 games. Most of the key players have been through the playoff battles and this team has the ability to score. Will they defend with passion and get some swagger back over the last few weeks of the regular season? That will be an indicator of just how far they can go.
ANSWER (TIM CAPSTRAW): I don’t think (over the rest of the season) they are going to go .500 and then all of the sudden go against a one or two seed and think they can - over a seven game series - win it. I don’t think that will happen. I think they will have to go to a higher level between now and the playoffs and then peak as they start going into the playoffs. Maybe this can be the time of the season where they are riding a wave, but without that kind of wave I don’t see them having that much success.
Will they be better in the playoffs? I don’t think they will be better in the playoffs if they don’t play better in this last two or three weeks. I think they have played ok. I think they can feel better if they can beat some significant teams on the road – beat a Chicago on the road or some of the other teams on the road that have solid records. I think they have to get a couple of those. I think they have to have a taste of that to be able to play at the level they will need to in order to overcome an opposition’s home court advantage (in the playoffs).
I also think there is a huge difference between Detroit and the other seeds in the league. I think it’s very important to not only get in the playoffs, but I think the 7th seed is significantly more important than the 8th this year.
QUESTION 4: Who is the guy sitting next to Nenad Krstic behind the NETS' bench? I've noticed at all the games I've been to Nenad is always talking to him throughout the game.
ANSWER (CHRIS CARRINO): I think your referring to the magnificently tanned fellow with the glasses. He is Nets shooting coach Bob Thate, a laid back California guy who has done a terrific job. Bob took Krstic under his wing since joining the Nets and has been instrumental in helping him become a reliable jump shooter. In fact, when Nenad comes back next season, look for him to extend his range.
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