What The Playoffs Mean: The Gorgeous Opportunity To Lose

The playoffs are the sacred text, broad and malleable enough to explain any point of view. They are the way players reach immortality, the way GMs keep their jobs for another year. They are the reason Courtney Lee, Trevor Ariza, JJ Barea and Derek Fisher are kind of close to household names. They are why they play the games and why we watch. But they also mean a lot more than this, which is why we are here. From now until the end of the finals, we'll be here, toiling away, trying to unpack exactly what makes these games so great, exactly What The Playoffs Mean.

This post was written by Benny Nadeau, an editorial intern at The Brooklyn Game, student at Emerson College and a Nets fan who uses "we" when talking about the team. He loves Toko Shengelia more than anyone, and we love him for that. Follow him @bennyflyz.


As a New Jersey Nets fan for so long, there is something incredibly painless about losing now. The Nets haven’t made the playoffs since the 2006-2007 season, and it has made me as hardened as my father who grew up with the chokiest of Red Sox teams. I cried when we traded Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks in 2008 so he could get a legitimate shot of winning a championship (he did) and learned to be unfairly skeptical about any NBA player with the last name of Williams (after drafting Marcus, Sean, Terrence). After enduring the miserable-record-setting 0-18 start to the 2009-2010 season en route to a horrifying 12-70 campaign, it was tough to see through the tears clouding my vision—but, to be fair, it was equally as hard to see through the paper bags as well.

Through all of this, there was hope: John Wall. The freakishly athletic would-be superstar out of Kentucky was the clear-cut top prize in the 2010 draft. And at a 25 percent chance at landing the number one pick and the savior to our floundering franchise, I decided to have an NBA Draft Lottery party. I invited all of my friends—the same ones who had given me reminders at every possible moment of the Nets’ futility—over to watch my team enter a new era of basketball.

I watched through my hands when the New Jersey Nets received the 3rd pick in the lottery. John Wall would go to Washington and the curse continued.

Its taken some time, but in an odd way, things have worked out.

Sick Priest Learns To Last Forever

I left the first Barclays Nets-Knicks game at halftime.

Who'd You Get?!: Kerry Kittles, Fleer Metal (1997)

We at No Regard used to collect basketball cards. Convincing a parent to shuttle us and our friends to the local collector's shop was a consistently important victory. When we found out KMart was selling entire boxes for $20, we almost wore out our bike tires pedaling back and forth.

Now we've unearthed the cache, and the results are stunning. We've been reminded that players named Dino Radja and Wesley Person briefly and forcefully carved out steady roles for themselves in the league. We've been straight tickled by the goofy casual pics. And we've been touched and inspired by the relentless optimism of the copywriters. We hope you enjoy this odd time capsule, a Utopian angle from which to view the league, where everyone is the next somebody and context is pointless.

Back of the card after the jump.

No Regard Previews: Wrecking Ball

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: New Jersey Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers

So long.

One Game We Won't Watch Tonight: I Don't Know, I Miss The Nets

NBA Middle Names: Anthony Morrow

We at No Regard spend a lot of time in our NBA knitting circles trying to figure out the human side of these players. Whether it's musing about their commutes to work, how much "Call of Duty" they play, or what their favorite snack food is, we like to remind ourselves that NBA players are nothing more than young men with enviable jobs. What better way to humanize our heroes than look up their middle names? 

Anthony Jarrad Morrow

No Regard Preview: The Legend

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: New Jersey Nets vs. Detroit Pistons

Did you know that Lawrence Frank is the only coach in the four major American sports leagues to go 13-0 in his first 13 games as the head coach of a new team? Did you know that, just like Michael Jordan, he got cut from his high school basketball team? Did you know that tonight Larry Frank returns home to New Jersey where his legendary status was certified?

Sure, some of you out there are going to watch two Eastern conferences favorites, Chicago and Philadelphia, battle it out in the City of Brotherly Love tonight. Others might look to a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, OKC vs. Dallas, to get their NBA fix this evening. And perhaps there are even some of you out there sick enough to take in the Wizards vs. Magic game for some dumb reason like, "I'm from Orlando, jerk." Yeah, yeah, whatever.

But for us, tonight is all about the Nets, the Pistons and Lawrence Frank—a man with two first names that never let his lack of basketball ability stand in the way of his undying passion for the game. Is Lawrence Frank perfect? Maybe not, but he's as close as any mortal walking planet earth. Is Lawrence Frank mortal? We're not sure.

Welcome home, Lawrence Frank.

One Game We Definitely Will Not Watch Tonight: Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers



Just in case you somehow forgot that this happened. (This is not to say we don't have an interest in seeing Blake's prey become a bloody memory right before our eyes tonight, it's just that we're on the east coast and we've got to catch up on some sleep. Sorry we're not sorry.)

If You See Something, Say Something: Giraffes, Secret Gardens and Petro's Game

IYSSSS is our semi-regular Internet intelligence report, a liberal arts approach to following the NBA on the Web. E-mail us at jewsforjesusshuttlesworth@gmail.com if you've got any suggestions.

LeBron James is Not Taller Than a Giraffe: After recently purchasing a stake in the historic English football club Liverpool, LeBron James headed across the pond to check out his investment in person. This video details the highlights of the King's trip, which includes meeting Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and attending a Manchester United-Liverpool match. Skip ahead to the end of the spot to "Small Talk" in which LeBron is grilled by a group of English kids. Questions like, "LeBron, shouldn't your first name be James?" and "LeBron, have you always been tall?" keep the Miami Heat superstar on his toes. LBJ does confirm that he is in fact, not taller than a giraffe.

Our Favorite Canadian's Secret: Here's another neat video worth watching! This NBA.com player profile takes a peak into Steve Nash's lifestyle, specifically his work ethic, diet and fitness regime. While Thunder Dan Majerle believes Steve's success comes from his insatiable desire to be the best, Channing Frye has his own theory: He hypothesizes that Nash has a "secret garden of magical fruits and vegetables" that has kept him fit late into his 30s. I tend to agree with Frye.

Jay-Z's Value to the Brooklyn Nets: The New Jersey Nets are struggling and Jay-Z just became a new father. But as the Nets continue to prepare for their move across two rivers, the entertainment mogul won't let either of these variables affect his strong influence over almost all the decisions being made by the franchise. From providing opinions on jersey colors to weighing in on architectural design questions, it's clear that Hova is more concerned about the Nets going 0-82 than he lets on.

Johan Petro's Fascinating Story: We leave you with Johan Petro's website, http://www.johanpetro27.com. Not wanting to give away too many of the treasures this Internet goldmine contains, here's how Petro's game is described in the biography section: "When you describe the prototypical NBA center, he is not complete without superlative size, strength and athleticism. He'll fight for rebounds in the trenches, but is just as quick to burn you with a shot from 15 feet. Johan Petro possesses all these skills and more, and bears all the promise of fulfilling his vast potential." That pretty much sums up exactly how I feel about Petro's game. Wait, I'm sorry, I forgot who we're talking about.

Who's Got My Miracle?

Monday's visit from the Hawks is pretty much exhibit A of what I will miss next year when the Nets leave New Jersey for Blue Ivy's billion-dollar nursery. I'm not talking about five-point losses that are much less contested than the final score indicates (though the team will hopefully improve next season). I'm also not referring to coach Avery Johnson's infuriating rotations. (It's borderline indefensible to play only eight guys in a drubbing when two guys who played zero minutes—Sundiata Gaines and DeShawn Stevenson—bring exactly the type of defensive Four Loko that last night's party desperately needed.)

I am instead talking about the ridiculous ease with which one can attend an NBA game in New Jersey right now.

No Regard Recap: Ever Since The Weigh In, I Knew He Was Petro

One Game We Watched Last Night: Indiana Pacers vs. New Jersey Nets

Pacers: 108, Nets: 94

No one will believe me, but there was a 60-second stretch last night when Johan Petro made three positive plays in a row. Honestly. This happened. I rewound the DVR four times to make sure. In the second quarter, the Pacers secured a defensive rebound and got an outlet pass to Louis Amundson. Petro, trailing, changed his path, cut off Amundson from behind and blocked the layup attempt. I swear. On the following trip back down the court, he parked himself at the right elbow, caught a pass, squared his shoulders and made a jumper. This is true. The Pacers then got the ball down to the other end, someone missed a shot and Petro (I swear) got the rebound. This is all true. (But I will admit, I just checked the box score again to make sure he recorded at least one rebound. He did.) He then made a few boneheaded plays that forced Avery to yank him, but I mean, when you play with woefully uncoordinated French fire, you're going to get burned.

Oh, also, Mr. Candace Parker played great, despite the 1-9 shooting. Really, he played very good defense.

Another also: Free Jordan Farmar.

One Game We Didn't Watch Last Night: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets





Bucks: 86, Nuggets: 91

No Regard Preview: Work To Be Done

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Indiana Pacers vs. New Jersey Nets

You know how going to work is the worst? How even if you have a pretty alright job, going to work in the morning is the worst? So does Deron Williams. He has to go to work every day and pass the ball to Johan Petro, who is bad at catching basketballs.

So you know what? Johan Petro also probably hates going to work because he's very under-qualified for the job he's been hired to do, and his work day is televised.

In fact, right now all the Nets look like they hate going to work. I don't blame them, it's been awful for us fans as well. But tonight we're all going back. I hope there's at least a birthday today so I get a cupcake.


One Game We Probably Won't Watch Tonight: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets

I would love to watch this game. Love to. But I'm just trying to be honest here. A holiday week was an odd time for the season to start. Family commitments, friend commitments and drinking commitments have prevented me from watching many games other than my Netsies. So as much as I'd love to check in on the Brandon Jennings-Stephen Jackson Tower of Terror (and seriously, I can't wait to see what this looks like), I just don't have enough eyeballs.

Tonight I need to check in on Greg Monroe and Jonas Jerebko as they try and not let Dwight grab every rebound ever made. I need to watch Mike D'Antoni drool over the most Mike D'Antoni player ever in Andrea Bargnani. I need to be reminded that Ricky Rubio is real. I need to see if the Mavs are ready to prove how important the second win of a season can be. I need to learn what Enes Kanter looks like. I need to find out what new vaccine LeBron and Wade have invented for tonight. Heck, I even feel compelled to see what new way the Washington Wizards have found to waste talent.

There's just too much I haven't seen yet in this young season to spend any time peeping Nene and Bogut bump into each other. And that's after I watch the Nets lose another one.

Mixtape for Deron

Nets fans are riddled with psychological complexes; that'll happen when you're constantly trying to convince people you exist. So when NJ shocked the world by trading for the superstar they craved in Deron Williams back in February, we didn't need the media's brash reporting to kickstart our anxiety. Once we heard the term "player option," our collective paranoia and inferiority leaped out of bed and bound down the stairs to fight for a seat at the breakfast table. I've since been able to push down the fear of losing Williams to free agency and the resulting Brooklyn oblivion. I'm trying on a brand new outfit for a Nets fan: Confidence.

A lot of Nets supporters seem to have done the same; I guess that's the reach of a great point guard. As Nets fans, we're suddenly optimistic about Williams' future with the team, and all it took was a five-game winning streak, 14 rebounds a game by Mr. Kardashian, and Brook Lopez playing like every day is Free Comic Book Day.

But, as we're told by everyone with a voice and a Nets press pass, the length of Deron's tenure with this squad hinges on the plan laid out by Billy King and Avery Johnson and endorsed by Prokhorov. Williams' Facebook page says he's thrilled about the glimpes of future that King has dropped into Williams' brain, but who knows what's real life anymore.

But you know what? We don't care. We're in love. We've fallen harder for this point guard savior than we did the last. The result is this mixtape, which is as much about Deron Williams as it is about Nets fandom and all its uncertainties. Is it filled with our begging him to stay? Yeah... it is. But it's also about what one man can do for a community; about what one man can do to the wounded hearts of so many faithful. Are we nervous about the future? You bet. But at least now we have a partner to share the anxiety with. Will he leave us? Maybe. But we dealt with heartbreak before, and it's taught us an important lesson: Love what you've got while you've got it.

Now for the tracklist...

D-Will Loves Mexican Food, Other Stuff

Last night, No Regard and friends attended the first home game for Deron Williams in a Net uniform. If you haven't heard about it, the game was incredibly exciting and featured clutch shots, serious dimage from Jersey's newest point guard and a heartbreaking and controversial loss for the home team.

Outside of the amazing basketball, half-court buzzer beater by Vujacic, rowdy crowd, and free D-Will tee-shirts for the first 10,000 fans (I didn't get one though, damn PATH train) the Nets also had a pretty cool introduction for Williams on the Jumbotron in between quarters. During this, the newest Net discussed some of his favorites. Seeing as I had imbibed in a fair amount of sodas before and during the game, I don't remember most of them. (Although, I was giddy about them at the time.) That said, I do recall him stating that Mexican is his favorite kind of food, specifically steak burritos, or steak something.

Sasha, you listening?

No Regard Previews: A New Show On Broadway

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight:
New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The scene is going to be wild tonight during the first game of the Melo Era in Madison Sqaure Garden. After almost a decade of terrible decisions, and pathetic basketball teams, New York Knick nation has a right to be ridiculously excited. And who better to take over the Big Apple than one of its own, Carmelo Anthony? This evening's game marks the start of something special for both New York City and the NBA. Seriously.

Nets Trade Lands Deron Williams

...and totally redeem yourself! Maybe more thoughts later, but for now we're busy looking for our old Sean Williams jersey.

Mikhail Prokhorov: Deal With It

"Yeah, he's a very interesting man. So, for me to just be in the room with him and just have a conversation with him, I would have loved that." - Carmelo Anthony

"This was no white knight sashaying into the States on a horse, but a basketball dummy on a donkey. This franchise has a long, illustrious history of sitcom moments, and this ranks with the most entertaining of all." - Adrian Wojnarowski

"So like the stern headmaster in a really wacky private school, he announced that he’s canceling the prom because his recalcitrant students lobbed a stink bomb into the science lab." - Dave D'Alessandro

"The Russian smelled a rat from an ocean away, and Mikhail Prokhorov swooped in Wednesday to stomp on it." - Ken Berger

"The deal is dead. Done. Denver, ‘Melo, Chris Sheridan, Woj, et al, shove it. The buck stops here... [Prokhorov] earned his stripes last night and he proved what should have been obvious from the get-go – no one becomes a billionaire by being a patsy." - Mark Ginocchio

HOUSTON WE HAVE A DOG

Rocket Dog from Rocket Dog on Vimeo.

News broke late last night that Terrence Williams would be packing his bags and leaving Newark for Houston in a minor three team trade between the Nets, Rockets, and Lakers. It should be understood that the above title is not a dig at Terrence, nor a reference to his general resemblance to a canine. It's simply the catchphrase to my favorite Tracy Morgan sketch, that also happens to demonstrate the way I feel about the Nets right now. How many young, promising players can I watch my favorite team strap rockets to and send off into orbit?

No Regard Daily Recap: Broken Promises, Happy Surprises

One Game We Watched Last Night Even Though We Told You We'd Watch Something Else: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Jersey Nets

Thunder: 123, Nets: 120 (3OT)

I was honestly excited for the Grizzlies-Hawks game. When Adam said those sorts of games are pretty much what we're about, I nodded silently but vigorously in my cubicle. Unfortunately, I didn't watch one second of said matchup. I was too busy detoxing in the Nets-Thunder triple overtime holistic sauna.

No Regard Daily Previews: 11-30-10

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Civil War Part II: New Jersey Nets vs. New York Knicks

Finally, for the first time in a long time, things are looking up for the two NBA teams geographically located within a few miles of the Hudson River. And for a staff full of avid Knicks and Nets fans, we couldn't be happier. Personally, having no horse in this race (Let's Go Celtics!), I thought it would be interesting to point out some of the newly found similarities between the two ball clubs which suggest what may or may not be impacting each team's improvement.

First similarity: Russians. Prokhorov and Mozgov. Both newcomers to their respective franchises. Prokhorov has made an immediate impact on the Nets and declared that they must do whatever it takes to win a ring within five years. Conversely, Mozgov received a warm welcome to the league from Blake Griffin and the illest posterizing dunk of the year.

No Regard Daily Preview: 21 Minutes Out of Your Day

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Atlanta Hawks vs. New Jersey Nets

Terrence, you don't need to tell us: Most of the No Regard staffers will be on a train by 6:00 pm tonight and at the Prudential Center by 6:19 pm, sans donuts. It's a field trip, kids, and permission slips have been collected.

With Prokhorov in attendance, expect a strong effort from the Nets against this reeling Hawks team. (When the boss walks by your cubicle, don't you give a little more effort?) Not a game the Nets should win, necessarily, but close to it. Points of emphasis:

• If Horford and Favors match up at any point, consider it a dissertation in rebounding. Favors is more athletic, but Horford's positioning skills are supreme.
• Lopez has been harangued recently, by coach and media alike, for being too soft. Any interaction with the always-testy Zaza Pachulia should inject him with a bit of much needed vigor, as Pachulia seems to piss off pretty much anyone he's ever matched up against.
• Devin Harris is going to be handful for either Mike Bibby or young Jeff Teague; he's too fast for the former, too crafty for the latter. Now replace "Mike Bibby" with "Anthony Morrow" and "Jeff Teague" with "Terrence Williams"; that's the situation the Nets will face in Joe Johnson.
• Our drinking game for the Hawks-Mavs game from this past weekend can easily be adapted here. Most of the rules were about the Hawks anyway. Updating the one about Mark Cuban for this game is just too perfect. Drink up!

One Game We Probably Won't Watch Tonight: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers

I promise we'll watch the Pacers one day soon, and it would make sense to start paying attention to them after their rout of the Miami Heat in South Beach last night. But this screams let-down game to me. And anyway, after we get back home from the game tonight, we're not going to have this on our DVRs—we're going to be watching judge shows.

No Regard Recap: 11-9-2010

One Game We Watched Last Night: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Jersey Nets

Cavs: 93 Nets: 91

The 2010-2011 Cavs are like kids whose father has died, but their mother doesn't think they're old enough to hear the truth yet.

"Your father," coach Byron Scott manages to say in a low voice, struggling to stay audible through a mask of dried tears, "had to go on a business trip."

"When will he be back?" quizzes Anderson Varejao.

"Not for a while."