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Holdover Forwards and Two from the Trade (Season Preview Pt. 2) Oct. 28, 2008 by Ben Couch - NJNETS.COM |
East Rutherford, NJ — Midway through training camp, the Nets scheduled an open practice for fans at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. They would scrimmage in front of the crowd that afternoon, but run a closed practice beforehand. When the team bus arrived at the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center, the first player on the floor was Sean Williams.
The second-year forward ran through a series of shooting drills, occasionally chasing down a rebound and loping down the court with a smooth dribble to fire away at the far end. It was a scene you wouldn’t have seen last season, when Williams might arrive five minutes before practice.
Williams’ rookie year started strong, but peaked in January, when the shot-blocking prodigy started all 15 games, averaging 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 21.7 minutes per game. Inconsistency and blown assignments on both ends began to cost him playing time and Williams finished the season playing only 11 minutes per game.
“That’s a player’s job, to think with along the coach, ‘What can I do to make an impact on a game and stay in it?’ ” said General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe. “That’s what I was talking about with Sean. He needs to simplify his game, really focus on the things he does well, and he does those well enough that already he can make an impact on a game. But he needs to minimize his weaknesses, and really get his strengths good enough so it’s important and his minutes expand.”
Williams played much of last season alongside Josh Boone, who started 53 games at center after a delayed start to the season, averaging 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as a starter. As a rookie in 2006-07, Boone logged only 11 minutes per game, all off the bench.
But after weathering a period of self-doubt dating to his sophomore year at UConn, Boone enters his third season beginning to believe in himself and his potential as an NBA player. The in-game experience proved crucial to his development, and the 13 double-doubles and single-game highs of 26 points and 17 rebounds (he had 16 three times) raised his confidence.
“You can get better in practice, but the best way to do it is to just be out there in the games," Boone said. “By me being on the floor and me being surrounded by guys that have been there for a long time and know what they’re doing, and have kind of mentored me – Twin (traded center Jason Collins) was really influential in that – for me, it definitely helped.”
Two from the Trade
The Nets made one of the biggest splashes at the 2008 NBA Draft before it even started, trading Richard Jefferson for Yi Jianlian, a 20-year-old forward, and Bobby Simmons, a seventh-year veteran. Yi is a legit 7-footer who can run the floor and shoot as well as most guards. Simmons, who struggled with injuries the last two seasons, earned the 2004-05 Most Improved Player Award after averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting .435 from deep and .466 overall for the Los Angeles Clippers.
As a rookie, Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25 minutes, though the quality of his season arced like a bell curve. He started solidly (9.7 PPG and 5.8 RPG in Nov.) and improved in December (12.1 PPG; 6.6 RPG; 50.3 FG%) before fatigue set in. Yi’s scoring declined each month thereafter, a period during which he shot no better than .426. By February, Charlie Villanueva had replaced Yi in the starting lineup.
“I think it’s important to go through these experiences to improve as a player,” said Yi, through a translator, whom he needs only occasionally. “That’s part of the whole learning experience.”
The combination of Yi’s size and potential have earned him frequent -- though premature -- comparisons to 2006-07 MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Devin Harris has experience playing alongside both players, and he can envision Yi reaching similar heights.
“There’s definitely flashes of it,” Harris said. “When you can shoot the ball the way those two guys can shoot, your game can progress so much more. This is only (Yi's) second year in. I think he’s a little further ahead than Dirk was his rookie year, but Dirk was extremely hard working. Yi has that same mentality. I definitely can see it happening.”
Simmons is more of a known quantity, claiming to be fully recovered from the foot and ankle injuries that cost him the 2006-07 season and limited him last year. Simmons’ outside shooting will complement Carter and Harris’ penetration, and his defensive prowess can help limit opposing swingmen.
But it’s his attitude that draws the biggest raves. Vandeweghe and Coach Lawrence Frank each praised Simmons’ ability to lead and meld into the team dynamic.
“He’s a very, very professional guy, he’s kind of got a hardhat, blue-collar mentality,” Frank said. “I think he understands, or will understand once we get to practicing, what his role is. And that’s a big thing. Some guys have a lot of talent, but have a hard time accepting their role within the team. And other guys – and you can go down the line from Shane Battier to Bruce Bowen – are guys who fit with the team. And I think Bobby’s one of those glue-type guys.”
Part I | Part II | Part III
This is Part Two of a three-part preview written for the Official 2008-2009 Nets Yearbook. Visit Izod Center to pick up your copy today.
