According to ESPN.com, assistant coach Tom Barrise took over the team last night against the Los Angeles Lakers, while general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said team officials would meet after the squad returns to New Jersey and discuss who will coach for the rest of the season.

Larry Frank, head coach of the New Jersey Nets, has been "relieved" of his coaching duties.

What coach could possibly want the job? They would be inheriting one of the worst teams in NBA history. On the other hand, winning a game here or there would be seen as a serious improvement. You can’t do much worse, except maybe 0-18.

But even the “Zen Master” himself, Phil Jackson would have a hard time remaining calm with this team. There’s no structure, and nothing to build on at the moment. They don’t seem to have a reliable fan base, or a standout player who can give the team some visibility and elevate them to another level.

Perhaps LeBron James can help?

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Nets Fire Larry Frank

Brown stepped up the 2009 NBA playoffs and made significant contributions off the bench while Morrison continued to ride the pine.

Shannon Brown agrees to a two-year deal with the Lakers.

Phil Jackson certainly had confidence in Brown’s play. And the Lakers‘ owner took notice. As a result, Brown will receive a two-year, $4.2 million contract with the second season at his option. If he wants to build a permanent home in L.A., he’ll have the opportunity to do so. I’m sure he’s sick of bouncing from team to team. And settling in with the NBA Champs shouldn’t be too hard.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

Shannon Brown Finds A Home In L.A.

Shannon Brown - Los Angeles Lakers (Image: Zuma Press)

The deal, which was reported by ESPN.com, will provide guard depth for Los Angeles. With Derek Fisher aging and Jordan Farmar still looking for his niche in the NBA, Brown is a low-risk insurance policy that can pay off big.

In the 2009 NBA playoffs, Brown averaged 4.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. He shot 43.4% from the field and 48% from the three-point line. For his career, he is averaging 4.2 points in 10 minutes per game over the course of 92 regular season games.

Brown was originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and has also played with the Chicago Bulls and the Charlotte Bobcats.

Post from: EveryJoe

Shannon Brown Inks Deal with Lakers

Devastating news out of Houston tonight (Saturday, May 9th) as Yao Ming will be out for the remainder of the playoffs with a hairline fracture in his left foot.

This is obviously painful for not only Yao but Rocket nation as well. The fans and the players really thought Houston could compete with the Lakers and even possibly beat them. Now it looks like a rather bleak proposition, but I wouldn’t rule Houston out just yet.

Of course Houston is a better team with Yao playing 30+ minutes a game, that’s not the issue.

Transition Game?

Houston is a consistently half court team with a good, well rounded offense geared towards working it inside-out. Now that Yao is absent the offense is much more perimeter based other than the sprinkling of scoring Scola and Landry will have from time to time in the paint. The Rockets can exploit LA a little more in transition now and not feel too bad about it because Yao is, well, no longer there to slow it down. With Scola, Landry, and now forced into duty Brian Cook, the Rockets bigs can get up and down the court in a more fast break type of style if Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry get the freedom to push the ball at their discretion.  With Artest, Battier and Wafer on the wings, the Rockets do have some worthy scoring options. This could force the Lakers to make somewhat of a key decision in terms of who to play at the point guard spot. It’s apparent that Derek Fisher cannot stay with Brooks and that Jordan Farmar can, however, Derek Fisher has been the staple in the Lakers lineup and isn’t likely to sit the bench for too long. Farmar did prove in Game 3 that he is capable of producing but when push comes to shove I think Phil would rather see Fisher on the court more for if nothing else his leadership skills and intangibles. Thus, the Rockets could have an advantage by pushing the ball whenever possible.  Obviously Brooks will need to have a repeat of Game 1.  In Game 3 he missed a lot of open shots.

Lackluster Lakers?

This goes without saying, the Lakers are awfully athletic at every position as well, and it’s not like the Lakers do not know how to defend a fast break style of offense, but I have to wonder if it could take LA by surprise. Of course the Rockets will still have to make their fair share of baskets, which will be more difficult without Yao keeping the defense honest in the half court. All I know is that Adelman is probably going to open it up, go super small, and let loose guys like Brooks, Wafer, Scola, and Landry to try and be competent offensive sidekicks to Artest (this is an issue in its own right, Artest as the #1 option, oh boy). And I know the Rockets are mature and well coached enough to come out and play hard like they always do, making this a very winnable game seeing as the Lakers, for a lack of a better term, are soft—maybe not cutthroat enough to see this as a viable challenge—thus allowing Houston to steal a win.

Ron Ron must have a huge Game 4 for the Rockets to have a chance (Image:Newscom)

Insanity At Its Finest

You know, with the abundance of open shots Von Wafer missed in game 3, I’m willing to predict if he gets the same looks in Game 4 he will knock them down en route to a big game. He’s capable.

Depending on Von Wafer as an integral part of the scoring attack? Have I gone mad?

Oh yeah, almost forgot, there’s this thing called interior defense and Houston just got a whole lot worse  at it with this Yao guy no longer available.

I can see Gasol licking his chops right now. Odom too. Even softy Andrew Bynum is licking his chops, although I bet he doesn’t last long if the Rockets fast break.

Guess Houston is going to have to score well over 100 to pull out Game 4.

It’s going to be one helluva problem.

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston, We Have A Problem

Andrew Bynum to return on Thursday? (Image: Newscom)

This rumor is courtesy of Chris Broussard at ESPN The Magazine. According to Broussard, his source is close to the Lakers.

With the NBA playoffs beginning on April 18th, the Lakers will likely try to accelerate Bynum’s acclimation back into the fold. In fact, head coach Phil Jackson recently said that Bynum will likely head right back into the starting lineup. To make room, Lamar Odom would go to the bench.

Prior to getting hurt, Bynum was averaging 14 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game. The 21-year-old center is set to be a big piece in the Lakers’ hope of winning the 2009 NBA championship. Los Angeles last won the NBA championship in 2002.

Post from: EveryJoe

Andrew Bynum to Return to Lakers Thursday?

That was the one and only reason I didn’t like playing ball with guys. Of course, I will admit that I definitely became a better ball player by playing with them. I hate to admit it ladies, but guys are just in a different class physically than us. It isn’t as noticeable when we are kids, but you can certainly tell once you hit the late teens and early twenties.

I played in an all-guys basketball league in college. We had a team of all-girls and we played against guys. That league made me a better baller because I had to be quicker and smarter, I had to shoot better, I had to pass hard, and most importantly, I had to learn how to keep my cool.

Guys tend to be a little ill-tempered when it comes to fouls. (Maybe it’s all that testosterone?) They act like spoiled brats and complain to the ref, which is fine by me. I’d always let them whine and concentrate on the next play because I knew they’d still be thinking about it while I drove on them and tossed in a floater.

After watching game two of the NBA finals on Sunday, I realized that some things never change — even when you get to the NBA level.

Now, I will admit that there was a foul disparity. Boston went to the line 38 times to L.A.’s 10. BUT — if you saw the game, you’d understand why. Two words: Leon Powe (who Phil Jackson likes to call, “Pow?”)!

Powe drove the lane numerous times and yes he was contested on most of his shots. The reason the Lakers didn’t get to the foul line is because of the Celtic’s defense. They took away the lane from Kobe and the role players on the rest of the team weren’t nearly aggressive enough.

Kobe complained about not getting the calls — big surprise. He would laugh incredulously at Joe Crawford more than once, even getting a technical for it. He was off his game almost the entire night, albeit the 4th quarter comeback which was amazing. I agree that sometimes, you just don’t get the calls. Sometimes, the refs are blind. Sometimes, things just aren’t going to go your way.

But that doesn’t mean you should throw up your hands and cry about it. Suck it up. Keep driving to the basket and concentrate on the game. There’s nothing worse than throwing a hissy-fit and turning your back while the other team takes advantage of your inability to act like an adult and control your temper.

I think things are going to be different in game three. Kobe may even end up getting some “make-up” calls. But it wasn’t because of the foul disparity that the Lakers lost. It was simply because the Celtics played better. They played with more determination and heart. And they never lost sight of the game.

For another view on the foul issue, read Dan Wetzel’s column from Yahoo! Sports.

Image provided by Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Some Guys Just Like To Cry Foul