These aren’t the same old Nets.
It was hard to find the Nets over the past several years in national NBA coverage, as the team was winding down its tenure in New Jersey with rosters lacking talent in front of a fan base they soon would be leaving behind.
But now, thanks to the franchise’s move to Brooklyn and the significant influx of talent to the roster, the Nets have become one of the most talked-about teams in the sport.
“It’s exciting,” coach Avery Johnson said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ve moved our team to a whole new state, a new city, and changed everything about the team. We’ve got new players this year, and it’s exciting.
“There’s no team in the NBA that’s done what we’ve done [this offseason], so obviously the spotlight is going to be on us.”
That spotlight has focused on the Nets over the past week, thanks to the opening of training camp to tip off the season. The Nets were featured on “SportsCenter’’ on Tuesday and will be featured this season on NBA-TV’s reality show, “The Association,” which will follow the team throughout its first season in Brooklyn. Also, they will be featured on national television 18 times this season.
“It doesn’t matter either way,” said Joe Johnson of all of the attention. “But regardless of the exposure, I think we all understand and know what it takes to win. I’m sure everybody’s prepared for the challenge.”
The Nets also were featured on this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated, with Deron Williams depicted in the new home white Nets jerseys dribbling in front of a mural depicting Jackie Robinson, Julius Erving, streetball legend Fly Williams and Jay-Z.
“I think that’s one of the biggest publications out there, as far as sports are concerned, so it’s definitely an honor to be on there,” said Williams, who graced the cover for the first time. “[It] shows that people are starting to pay attention to what’s going on here, and what we can bring to Brooklyn.”
But with a raised profile comes raised expectations — something the Nets didn’t have to deal with the past few seasons in New Jersey. That change has been viewed as a good thing, with no one believing that more than Avery Johnson following two disappointing seasons on the court in New Jersey.
“I hope it does,” he said when asked if the extra spotlight will lead to extra pressure on his team to succeed. “I hope it does.
“Like I’ve said all along, we’re tired of not having pressure. Other teams are playing in the playoffs … That’s what we want.”
“I think that’s one of the biggest publications out there, as far as sports are concerned, so it’s definitely an honor to be on there,” said Williams, who graced the cover for the first time. “[It] shows that people are starting to pay attention to what’s going on here, and what we can bring to Brooklyn.”
But with a raised profile comes raised expectations — something the Nets didn’t have to deal with the past few seasons in New Jersey. That change has been viewed as a good thing, with no one believing that more than Johnson following two disappointing seasons on the court in New Jersey.
“I hope it does,” he said when asked if the extra spotlight will lead to extra pressure on his team to succeed. “I hope it does.
“Like I’ve said all along, we’re tired of not having pressure. Other teams are playing in the playoffs … That’s what we want.”
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Josh Childress sat out of practice with a left quad contusion, while Tyshawn Taylor continued to be limited with a strained right quadriceps. Jerry Stackhouse also was absent to have acupuncture on his right leg and Kris Humphries, who missed Monday’s practice following the death of his grandfather, returned to practice.