While the defending champs ease into the 2012 season relatively unannounced, one of the NBA’s frontrunners in the race atop the hype machine belongs to the Brooklyn Nets. Spearheaded by owner Mikhail Prokharov, the Nets have graduated from everlasting afterthought to the object of fans and media conversation. Talks of big money, big time talent and the Barclays Center have spurned on either excitement or skepticism. Brooklyn’s brand building blitz continued with a Jay-Z (reportedly owns one-fifteenth of one percent of the franchise) hosted eight-day concert run at the glitzy arena bringing in a host of his musical friends and family. National attention has come in the form of Deron Williams gracing this week’s Sports Illustrated cover while the team will be spotlighted for NBA TV’s “The Association” series (next Tuesday at 10 PM).
Now, on to the actual ball club. But alas, let the hype roll on. “I think we have a chance to win the whole thing this year,” Joe Johnson told the New York Daily News. “I’m not just saying it. I honestly believe it.” The bravado displayed throughout the Nets franchise is to be expected, yet the latter subject is not. This the Joe Johnson whom fans have come to know as one of the more talented shooting guards the league, yet not having the mentality, personality or production fitting for superstar status. Perhaps that statement though is the perfect illustration of the stage the 11th year veteran is at. Continue reading
THE MARSHALL REVIEW 