Movement? What is this movement you speak of?
Coming straight to YouTube or Hulu soon!
We cut down the Nets like it's the NCAA spring tourney after the JUMP!
I won't pull any punches. The 2009-2010 New Jersey Nets season depends on one man and one man alone.
I'm of course referring to none other than Yi Jianlian aka The Movement.
Linking ain't Yi-zy:
- 2007 NBA Draft: We want Yi Jian Lian!
- The Yi Movement Continues...
- Yi's Got Yao Ming and the Ladies Running!
- Yi Dropping Double Doubles
- Spanish Fly vs Yi Fly
- China vs USA- It's Yi Time!
- RECAP: Team USA 119, China 73
- Yi is FIBA's Interview of the (Long)Week
- Yi's a Sure Thing + Coast II Coast Bust
- Yi at FIBA and 2k7 Draft
- Yi in 2k7
- Yi's Sweeter than Mango Mochi Ice Cream
- Nellie Loves Chinese Ballas
- Yi Chat with Chad Ford
- Scouts LOVE Yi
- Is The Yi Movement Over?
- Rumor: Warriors are Yi "Approved"
- Rumor: Warriors and Bulls Want Yi
- Dwight Howard Endorses The Movement
- Yi's "a sight to behold"
- Rumor: Yi Could Pull a Fran Vazquez
- The Yi Movement Gets Junkdafied
- Rumor: Jason Richardson for 5th Pick (Yi Jianlian), Theo Ratliff, and Sebastian Telfair
- Rumor: Jason Richardson + #18 pick to Grizzlies, Celtics or Bobcats
- Project O'Bust vs Yi Jianlian
- Yi in Town
- Rumor: Jason Richardson + #18 Pick for Bucks' #6 Pick (Yi Jianlian)
- Chris Mullin Talks about The Yi Movement
- Yi Jianlian Takes Over ESPN.com
- Yi Blogs like an American!
- Rumor: Warriors Trying Hard for Yi Jianlian
- Rumor: Andris Biedrins + #18 Pick for Bucks' #6 (Yi Jianlian)
- Rumor: Warriors Willing to Move Monta Ellis for Bobcats' #8 Pick if Yi's Available
- In the 2007 NBA Draft the Warriors will select...
- With the 6th pick in the 2k7 Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks take...
- Draft Day Reflection
- The Global Economic Logic to Yi's NBA Destination
- Friday Night Hoops- Yao vs Yi
I feel like a lot of otherwise smart hoops folks are quick to write off Yi as a bust. People are entitled to their own prerogative, but I'd like to take a second to highlight this comparison between Yi and KG.
Yi Jianlian (per 36)
- Rookie: 28.6% 3pt, 84.1% FT, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 tov
- Sophomore: 34.3% 3pt, 77.2% FT, 8.3 rpg, 1.8 tov
Kevin Garnett (per 36)
- Rookie: 3pt, 70.5% FT, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 tov
- Sophomore: 28.6% 3pt, 75.4% FT, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 tov
In case you're having trouble seeing it for yourself let me spell it out for you:
- FACT: While KG's 3pt % flat-lined across his first two seasons, Yi's showed dramatic improvement from year 1 to year 2, jumping nearly 6 percentage points.
- FACT: Yi was a superior free throw shooter compared to KG.
- FACT: Yi showed nice showed improvement in his rebounding rate, while KG's rate declined.
- FACT: Turnovers are incredibly costly in the game of basketball and Yi was able to cut his turnovers in year 2. On the other hand KG turned the ball over more in year 2, even surpassing Yi's year 1 rate.
These are the facts. I'm just here to illuminate them. Nothing but the facts.
One billion and one people know Yi is about to have a breakout season this year. Do you?
(Okay, I'll readily admit I've barely been able to hold in a big burst of laughter while while everything above this point in this article.)
(Thankfully) Moving on...
Rewing 2k8-2k9 Season: 34-48, tied for 11th in the Least
Wow they sure did miss that future Hall of Fame point guard who resurrected their franchise. No Kidding. (Normally I'd duck for cover from angry Nets fans pointing out the emergence of Devin Harris, but I have no fear here- there are no Nets fans. QUICK: Name the SB Nation Nets blog!) The Nets have just posted back-to-back seasons of 34 wins.
Projecting 2k9-2k10 Season: 34-48, Lottery bound
The Nets will be going for the trifecta this year. Back-to-back-to-back seasons of 34-48. How will they accomplish this mean feat minus the Vinsanity? I do like the TWill aka Gatorade Protector pick in the 2k9 draft and I'm looking for the Stanford big man to continue his rise. That should be more than enough to protect their very Warrior-like 34 win pace. The Nets aren't bad enough to win the lottery (odds are not in their favor) or land a valuable top 5 pick, but they're not good enough to make the playoffs. It's a frustrating situation to be stuck in, as we all know all too well here in Dubs land. Hey at least both teams are consistent.
Golden Predictions
- Brook Lopez continues on his path towards being the Diet Coke of Tim Duncans by dropping 15 ppg, 9 rpg, and 2 blks.
- Terrence Williams shows some flashes and looks to be a steady rotation swingman for the next 8+ seasons in the NBA.
- The Nets rank in the bottom 5 in fan attendance in the entire association.
- Devin Harris and Monta Ellis have eerily similar stats.
- Skip to My Lou and his expiring $5.25 million contract get traded before the deadline.
- Sean Williams makes a nice comeback.
- Yi Jianlian's got next!