Guru Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 5-on-5 Roundtable: Can Nets keep heads above .500 until NBA's March trade deadline? http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0711/nba_g_dwillts_576.jpg How far can the New Jersey Nets go while waiting for the Dwight Howard trade market to move? ESPN's John Hollinger has the scoop on each player on the Nets' roster. Now our 5-on-5 crew weighs in on what lies ahead in the team's last season in Newark, N.J. 1. For which Nets player is the 2011-12 season most important? Justin DeFeo, Nets Are Scorching: Brook Lopez. His play helps the Nets in two ways this season. With every "monster" block he swats or rebound he hauls in he'll help the Nets win games. But also, and maybe more importantly, he raises his trade value, which is useful in a far different way. See: Howard, Dwight. Zach Harper, Daily Dime Live: Deron Williams. A year ago, Williams was in the discussion for best point guard in the NBA, and even top-10 players. Now? He's almost an afterthought. Unless you were lucky enough to see him grace your favorite Turkish team with his presence. D-Will needs to get back to the dominant performer he once was and remind people how elite he is. Devin Kharpertian, Nets Are Scorching: Brook Lopez. Lopez averaged 20 points per game for the first time in his career last season, but at the cost of defense and rebounding. The answer for his decline lies somewhere between mononucleosis and laziness. He'll have to prove that black mark on his 2010-11 campaign was merely a fluke. Mike Mazzeo, ESPN NewYork: GM Billy King. He's not a player, but the Nets' future rides on what he does this season. With the team heading to Brooklyn, King must convince Deron Williams to stay at all costs. Pulling off a blockbuster trade for Dwight Howard will seal the deal. King is going to do everything in his power to make that happen. But will it? That's the $1 billion question. Danny Savitzky, Nets Are Scorching: Brook Lopez. Let's assume for a moment that Dwight Howard isn't joining the team in Newark or Brooklyn. In order for the Nets to have any hope at keeping Williams long term, Lopez will need to play a significant role on both sides of the ball. His offense is there, but his defense and rebounding need to improve dramatically to continue his ascension to franchise-center status. http://espn.go.com/n...oster-questions Very interesting read. I think Mike Mazzeo's answer to the most important player was right on the money. Our future does ride on what he can pull off THIS year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Universe Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Brook Lopez can be a close second. He is either bringing us Dwight or will be our future in Brooklyn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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