Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
The Nets have lost four in a row overall and nine straight at home, where attendance has dwindled at the $1 billion Barclays Center. The Nets had made the playoffs every year since relocating for the 2012-13 season, but they are 10-27, better only than the league-worst Philadelphia 76ers.
King had been GM since 2010, orchestrating a number of high-profile moves that led to just one playoff series victory. Hollins was in his second season as coach.
“It’s clear from our current state of affairs that we need new leadership,” owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement. “With the right basketball management and coach in place, we are going to create a winning culture and identity and give Brooklyn a team that it can be proud of and enjoy watching.”
Nets Fire Coach Lionel Hollins, Reassign GM Billy King-AP
All is far from well in NetsLand. Since Mikhail Prokhorov acquired the team in 2010, the franchise has made the playoffs twice, but is far light years away from being the championship contender he promised they’d be.
Why does all/any of this matter to us as Celtics fans? Because the Celtics hold the rights to Brooklyn’s first round pick in this year’s NBA draft. Not to mention the Nets’ first round picks in 2017, 2018. Boston can even swap their pick in ’17 with Brooklyn if they so choose. So at this juncture, as a fan of the Boston Celtics, you want the Nets to lose as many games as possible. And so far this season, that’s exactly what they’ve done-lose. Heading into today’s games, the Nets are 10-27. At 8-30, the Lakers are second worst, while the Sixers round out the “top 3” tankers at 4-35. One of my favorite websites, Tankathon, gave Brooklyn the top pick when I simulated the NBA lottery earlier. Let’s hope they’re right…
The Nets say that assistant coach Tony Brown will run the show in the interim, and the GM spot will remain “open” until they find, bribe, beg someone to replace King. Let’s hope this disarray leads to many, many more losses for the Brooklyn Nets.
Related link: Nets Fire Coach Reassign GM How Does It Affect Celtics?
On Page 2: Jordan Mickey’s D-League Time Ending Soon?
If you’re on Twitter at all, you know that Celtics fans have been clamoring for Danny Ainge and company to call Jordan Mickey back down to Boston. But not to just sit at the end of the bench in a cool outfit. C’s fans believe (and rightly so) that Mickey is NBA-ready now. And with some of the embarrassing losses of late, folks are asking; “where are the young guys?” In Mickey’s case, Celtics director of scouting David Lewis says that is quite obvious his defense is where it needs to be, but he’d like to see Jordan become more of a “rim-roller.”
Though the Celtics haven’t seen Mickey under NBA conditions, he has the support for that move from David Lewis, the Celtics’ director of scouting and the Red Claws general manager.
“He can play in an NBA game tomorrow,” Lewis said. “He’s a good shooter, but he doesn’t put pressure on a defense as much that way as rolling to the rim. That will be the crux of his maturity in the NBA — as a rim roller.
“He’s one of the best natural shot-blockers in the league,” Lewis added of the 6-foot-8 forward’s development as the D-League’s leading rim protector with a 4.5 blocks per game average. “He doesn’t have (Utah’s) Rudy Gobert’s size, but these guys don’t even see him coming when he gets to their shot.”
The Celtics have definitely got themselves a future star and defensive presence when it comes to Jordan Mickey. Not to mention an extremely gifted athlete (more on that in a moment). The question is, when do they decide to commit to him as an everyday bench player? Well with the current situation at the forward and center spot, things are quite crowded. Don’t be surprised if Danny decides to free up some space before next month’s trade deadline which could start to make Mickey’s future a bit clearer.
Check out this ridiculous block that Mickey had on Thursday night:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh7oupSEp7g&w=615&h=330]
The rest of the links:
Globe: Focus Changes For Brad Stevens After Visiting Former Player
CSNNE: Bradley On Status Versus Grizzlies “I’m Playing”
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