Time for a Net Change
Listed in:Heading into their first round series against the Toronto Raptors, the major story surrounding the New Jersey Nets will be the return of Vince Carter to the team that drafted him after a divorce so messy it would fit perfectly into a daytime soap. On the fringes, we find the interesting dichotomy of the Raptors, the East’s best story winning the Atlantic going away against the Nets who were derailed by injuries on their way to a disappointing season.
For the most part the Nets’ keys to victory are obvious. We know Jason Kidd, Carter and Richard Jefferson must play well. Surprisingly, Miki Moore has filled in admirably for Nenad Krstic. However, the black hole on the Nets team has turned out to be Jason Collins at the five spot. It’s a problem that has tended to be overlooked because after the lost of Krstic, the Nets were generally assumed to be thin up front. So as a result, I’m left asking a question I never thought I’d be even thinking about this season; how come Josh Boone isn’t starting?
I’ve defended Collins in the past. He’s a serviceable big man. In past years his defensive abilities might have made him slightly above average. The problem is this year, Collins might well be the worst starter in the NBA.
Averaging 23.1 minutes per night, Collins has scored just 2.1 points per game, by far the lowest in his career. He’s also grabbed just 4.0 rebounds (lowest since his rookie season). He’s averaging just a half block per game.
Meanwhile Boone, in a paltry 10.8 minutes, is averaging 4.2 points, 2.9 boards and .34 blocks. So in less than half the time, Boone is scoring double, grabbing one board less and blocking almost as many shots.
Not that per 48 minute stats are the be all end all, because we do have to factor in fatigue, but comparatively here are the two matched up in per 48 minutes.
Collins: 4.4 PTS, 8.3 RB, 1.00 BLK, 1.9 TO
Boone: 17.5 PTS, 12.8 RB, 1.54 BLK, 2.3 TO
Again, that’s not to say this is what Josh Boone would do in 48 minutes, because I have my doubts as to whether he could last for 30 minutes, especially at this point in his young career. The point is to show that right now Boone in his limited minutes, is giving the Nets as much, if not more than Collins is in his starting role. The potential is certainly there that Boone in an expanded role, could give the Nets a lot more than Collins is right now. At worst, he’ll be slightly better.
This of course is just raw statistical data. That says nothing to the fact that Boone is far more athletic than Collins and runs the floor better, an asset to the up tempo game the Nets like to play. He also works very well off the pick and roll, as has been demonstrated with his play with his UConn teammate Marcus Williams. It’s no surprise the two have been at their best when they’ve played with each other.
The Nets are going to be underdogs in their series no matter who starts. But if the Nets want to give it their best chance at winning, they should put their best starting five on the floor. That’s a lineup that includes Josh Boone at the four or five in place of Jason Collins. I’m not sure how the heck anyone can dispute that at this point.
Now if it’s that clear cut, let’s hope Nets coach Lawrence Frank makes the change come Saturday for Game 1. Otherwise, with Jason Collins up against Chris Bosh, the Nets might have the biggest positional disadvantage of any of the first round match ups.
Comments
I'm leaning the same way as you, but check out Collins' plus/minus numbers.
http://www.82games.com/0607/06NJN12D.HTM
He's third on the team behind Carter and Kidd, and the Nets' defense is so much better with him out there.
It's a strange conflict of statistics, to be sure.
Posted by: Pradamaster | April 19, 2007 6:33 PM
In a sense, that doesn't surprise me. Not because Collins is a great defensive player, but because the other big men the Nets have are awful defensively. Moore shoots well but can't defend a lick and Robinson is washed up at this point.
The problem in comparing him to Boone directly is that until recently, (last month and half roughly) Boone hasn't gotten time with the first team. Frank for a long while played him at the end of the 1st quarter into the second, when the back ups were in and then buried him on the bench for the rest of the game.
That matters because the Nets, on the whole, are usually worse as a team when Boone is on, not because he's making them worse, but because instead of Kidd/Carter/RJ you've got Marcus Williams, Bostjon Nachbar and Antoine Wright. (Or previously Eddie House/ Hassan Adams) Wright's a good defender, but Williams is pretty atrocious D wise and Nachbar isn't anything to write home about guarding people either.
So all of that is saying is that Collins bonus there means he's better than Cliff Robinson but not Boone. Plus Boone is also positive in his rating at 82 games as well.
Really, the Nets have very little to lose. I didn't think I'd say this because I saw plenty of Josh Boone following the Big East. He never looked like anything more than an athletic talent who didn't know how to play basketball. But in the NBA he's playing like an entirely different player. Maybe the time he spent on the bench recovering from his shoulder surgery was actually beneficial to his development.
But whatever the reason the Nets should give him a shot. If he's not starting, they should be at least giving him around 20 minutes a night.
Posted by: Ben Valentine | April 19, 2007 11:45 PM
Ben, don't dis Robinson. According to Hubie Brown, what the Hawks really need is a solid power forward who can fill the lane, someone like Cliff Robinson.
Posted by: David Arnott | April 20, 2007 1:24 AM