There is safety in numbers.
And if the plan falls right for the Nets, victories as well.
The Nets’ scheme for the present is simple: Use 10 guys, basically two units and have guys go at a high-octane pace. When the energy meter hits empty, subs come in and players recharge. It worked opening night Wednesday in Washington.
Sure, it helped that Washington shot like mannequins and played with the gusto of cardboard. It helped more that the Nets defended, got solid efforts throughout the roster, limited turnovers to 12 after a virtual giveaway fest in the preseason and hit open shots. Maybe there is something to this stay fresh idea.
“For this team to be successful, it’s important guys play in stretches but we give them rest in both halves,” said coach Lawrence Frank, whose Nets face Golden State in the home opener tomorrow. “We’d like to do it the way we did [Wednesday] . . . Can that be our stamp? Is that something we can rally around? We’re coming at you in numbers. This is how we’re going to play.”
One obvious benefit of a 10-man rotation is a decrease in fatigue. Vince Carter played 34 minutes – a level that Jason Kidd once dreamed of, when every year the Nets swore to get his minutes down and every year they really didn’t.
“You play the way the game goes. It could happen,” Carter said of going shorter minutes. “If our second unit plays like they did, it could be great. Minutes don’t matter. It’s the flow of the game. I figure if I can rest . . .”
Then the Nets have a stud weapon for the endgame. They played through Carter down the stretch and everybody benefited.
The Nets went 10 deep in the past. It was just that they didn’t have 10 guys who could actually play. And aiding the cause tremendously this time is the simple fact the Nets have people who can put the ball in the ocean. Yi Jianlian was a deadly 7-of-11. Jarvis Hayes was terrific at 6-of-9 off the bench. The team that for years couldn’t shoot straight, can finally make jump shots.
“Potentially, we’re really good,” Hayes said. “The Detroit team I was on, we had guys who could make shots. But, for pure shooters, this team ranks right up there. We’ve got a lot of guys who can stretch it. When you have an unselfish guy like Vince who demands so much attention kicking the ball out, it’s pretty tough to get a game plan against guys like Yi.”
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As expected, the Nets yesterday picked up the rookie contract options on Josh Boone (fourth year, $2.056 million), Sean Williams (third year, $1.629 million) and Yi Jianlian (third year, $3.194 million). They declined the third year on Maurice Ager ($1.88 mil).
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Trenton Hassell’s inner ear infection is now described as a viral infection. He is out indefinitely. Stromile Swift (bruised lower back) did treadmill and pool workouts yesterday. Eduardo Najera (wrist) still has not had contact practice, but says he’ll practice today. . . . Tomorrow’s home opener will be Fan Appreciation night, where everyone in attendance gets a T-shirt and the first 10,000 fans get a free hot dog.