December 19, 2012, Brooklyn Nets notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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Avery Johnson.
It most certainly has not been a December to remember for the Nets.
Entering last night’s home game against the Jazz, the Nets had lost
six-of-eight games and are averaging 92.5 points per game. Contrast that
to November, when the Nets averaged 95.7 points per game and won
11-of-15. Add to the mix Deron Williams’s recent comments about his
discomfort with Avery Johnson’s offense, and you have all the elements
for frustrated team.
So what is a coach to do?
Stay the course.
“Part of it is that we’re in this microwave Twitter age,” Avery Johnson
said in his pregame press conference Tuesday night. “We have to start
making our open shots. It’s a matter of time, and defensively, we’re
making a step in the right direction.
“Whatever the hubbub is, it’s part of the season. Part of the cycle of the season.”
While Johnson didn’t absolve Williams from criticism — the coach said
the point guard should have made the foul line jumper in Saturday’s
83-82 loss to the Bulls “in his sleep” — he was adamant the Nets need to
do a better job making sure their Big Three are in spaces they will be
most effective.
“They’re all unselfish guys and they all want to win. The trick is to
get them the ball where they function on a high level,” Johnson said.
“[We need to do a] better job spacing [and] passing. That’s the trick of
it. Get them the ball in the right spots.”
Big Apple Classic announcement
The Barclays Center and the historically black colleges announced on
Tuesday in a joint statement that the sides signed a “multi-year
agreement” for the state of the art arena to be the host venue for the
Big Apple Classic beginning in Dec. 2013.
Howard University, Hampton University, Virginia State University and
Virginia Union University are the four schools that will play in the
Classic. According to the statement, there will be a college fair and an
educational seminar as part of the Classic. Also, a percentage of the
profits are earmarked for the non-profit Educational Learning
Opportunities.
“We are proud to host a tournament that supports the strong tradition of
historically black colleges and universities. Our college basketball
events this season have brought a lot of excitement and energy to
Barclays Center and we are thrilled to add Big Apple Classic to our
lineup for next season,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark.
Among the primary objectives for the Barclays Center was to make it a
destination venue for preseason, in-season and postseason college
basketball tournaments. Already, it has hosted the Barclays Center
Classic, Coaches vs. Cancer, the Progressive Legends Classic and the
Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival. It will also host Brooklyn Hoops Holiday
Invitational, Long Island University-Brooklyn home games against Mt.
St. Mary’s and St. Francis-Brooklyn,and the men’s and women’s Atlantic
10 Tournament.
Follow Nets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Nets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1158434--nets-notebook-avery-johnson-not-panicking-over-slump
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:56 AM
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