East Rutherford, N.J.—Center Josh Boone began the 2008-09 season as the Nets' starting center, but after suffering a bone bruise on his ankle and missing a month, he returned to find Brook Lopez entrenched in his former spot. But after finally re-establishing his place in the rotation during the stretch run, he closed the season with a 16-game stretch in which he averaged 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds (1.5 offensive) and 1.1 blocks in 15.0 minutes per game. His energetic play off the bench bodes well for the upcoming year, and with an eye on '09, Boone took time to chat with NJNets.com.

Check out the interview below, and stay tuned for more as we wrap up the 2008-09 season with our end-of-season feature series on the Nets' players.

NJNets.com: Even though you just finished your third season, you're already the second-longest tenured Net. With so many new players, how long did it take for the team to jell?

Boone: I think we were really pretty much comfortable with each other once the season started because we were in here so early.  We were all here in August so we were all working together for a month-and-a-half before the season actually started.  We have a lot of good guys on this team.  We typically have good guys that come and play here and this year was no exception.  All the guys we brought in are quality guys.

NJNets.com: Your minutes were inconsistent this year, but picked up toward the end of the season. Where do you think you stand now?

Josh Boone: At the beginning of the year I was starting and playing a lot of minutes.  Obviously, it's a little bit of a different situation, but that’s how it goes in this league sometimes.  Things can change very drastically, whether it be from an injury or a guy not performing.  Things can change very quickly.

NJNets.com: So what are you looking to work on this offseason?

Boone: Just mainly offensive stuff: I need to get the jump shot a little bit better, and I need to be able to put the ball on the floor and do some things off the dribble.  There's a guy in New York that I'm going to be working with for most of the year. 

NJNets.com: Are there any other players or friends you'll work out with?

Boone: No not really, there really isn’t anybody else around here.  I live in Jersey now and I kind of stay here and everybody else goes home.

NJNets.com: What about vacation plans?

Boone: I have one (planned), I don’t know exactly when or where yet.  But there is definitely going to be one, probably in July sometime.

NJNets.com: Team-wise, what's the next step for this group?

Boone: I think that we will definitely have a chance next year to make the playoffs.  I think we had a chance this year -- we just lost some close games down the stretch and ended up not being able to make it.  But, I think we definitely should have a shot next year.

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