by L.A. Sharp
Is KG too old to be an impact player? Is Pierce past his prime? Is Kidd too inexperienced to coach the highest payroll in the NBA? Is Deron Williams overrated?
Well, unfortunately for the new Brooklyn franchise, the answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES.
This past off-season when this team was first slapped together, I listened to so many talking heads as they spoke about this patchwork group of individual stars. People would go on and on about how the Brooklyn Nets would challenge the Miami Heat in the East. They said that the experience and talent of the Brooklyn Nets would be too much for most teams in the East, including the Pacers!
I listened and listened, until finally I had had enough.
When will fans and so-called experts learn that there is no fast lane to success in the NBA, especially when you are dealing with a team whose nucleus consists of aging stars such as Garnett, Pierce, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams. Yes, Deron Williams.
Although Deron is only 29 years old, already his game is beginning to regress, and the decline is apparent, particularly in his mental approach to the game. This year I have witnessed repeated mental lapses in his game, consisting of a general lack of desire on both ends of the court.
If Deron was expected to be what Rondo was to KG and Peirce in Boston, this team was doomed from the very beginning. Because what Rondo was in Boston, was a tireless worker on both ends of the court, which is something Williams has never been. And as the years are beginning to add up, this lack of work ethic is becoming more glaring game after game. Recently Kidd has called out his entire team in public, challenging their character and work ethic, and so far, there has been no response, particularly from Williams – the assumed leader on the floor.
If the Nets franchise had any ideas of KG and Peirce being the saviors, they are sadly mistaken. The magic they once were able to muster in Boston is long gone. The countless wars of the past have taken their toll. At this point, it is quite evident that the NBA legends have seen better days. The mileage on their incredible careers is starting to add up; and both are looking more like broken down used cars, unable to get out of 3rd gear on a nightly basis.
Quite frankly, Brooklyn will need an influx of young talent very soon if they are going to save this train wreck. Perhaps their first mistake was firing Avery Johnson; a proven and experienced coach who is used to handling aging stars. However, what’s done is done. Now this team will have to deal with the present. Fixing this mess will only take place in the off-season, as this current season will no doubt continue to drive in this slow lane to Nowhere, USA. Hello Brooklyn.
L.A. Sharp, for War Room Sports
