Something had to be wrong. Here were throngs of media types. More importantly, here were players, talented players who can run up and down a court without falling down or getting arrested. This was the start of training camp for the Nets? The New Jersey Nets?
“They know they have a chance in this shortened season. There’s a window of opportunity for us. Now it’s, ‘Are we going to take advantage?'” proposed coach John Calipari, who has one of the deepest and most excitingly versatile teams in the NBA. “I’m excited but more importantly, this is the first year I can feel they expect to win.”
And he’s right. Usually, Nets goals go something like, “If we can avoid using the crematorium …” But these are not the same old Nets of past seasons. Last year, they made a trip to the playoffs (OK, there was a quick ouster) but they got there. This year, they hope to get there again and last a little longer via a 50-game season.
At their new training site in East Rutherford, the Nets began the day by celebrating All-Star Jayson Williams signing a new seven-year, $100.1 million contract. Players were brought out for interviews, including free-agent signee Eric Murdock, who took a three-year, $5.78 million deal. Jim McIlvaine, the newly acquired center, had to sit out the opening practice session until the league formally approved the trade that brought him from Seattle. And then came the work.
“It was a good first day. In two and a half hours, we had like 70 turnovers,” Calipari said. “I’m not even worried about these pre-season games. I’m shooting for the sixth.”
As in the sixth of February, a Saturday, when the Nets open in Atlanta. The Nets will stage their home opener the following night, Feb. 7, also against the Hawks.
And so now, it’s a question of preparation and chemistry.
“It’s not going to be long. Why? The way we play,” Sam Cassell said, addressing the chemistry. “Everyone knows their roles. We had six or seven guys averaging double figures last year and not too many teams can say that. If people want shots, you can get them. But not everybody can lead the scoring. This year you have to sacrifice to win games.”
And maybe just to get some playing time. At center, there is terrific depth with Williams, Rony Seikaly and McIlvaine.
“With this schedule, with like eight games in 10 night, you need a lot of big bodies,” Williams said.
The Nets have undergone some serious personnel makeover in the past several seasons. There were trades involving players whose numbers rivaled the population of Omaha. Last season, there was a huge deal on draft night to acquire Keith Van Horn and then another monster move to beat the trading deadline. A roster spot remains and Calipari indicated the opening will likely go to a veteran.
“I’m going to let it ride,” Calipari said, reminding that last season the Nets signed Sherman Douglas on opening night.
“We just hope everyone can pick up where we left off and get back into rhythm soon as we define each individual role on the team,” Kerry Kittles said. “Hopefully, doing that we’ll be able to get off to an early start and make an impact in New Jersey.”
But amid the excitement and expectation came a voice of caution.
“The main thing we have to do is not live off our press clippings,” said Kendall Gill, who drew high praise for his conditioning from Calipari. *Jayson Williams is locked up and now the Nets have begun negotiations to extend the contract of Kerry Kittles. “I would like to see it get done. We’re talking. We’re trying to work it out now. We’ll see what happens. You know how negotiations are. They take time.” Kittles can re-up because he has gone through two of his three years from his rookie scale contract … Kendall Gill on his blonde highlights: “It’s my new job. I’m a male exotic dancer.”