No one promised it would be easy, but just consider Lawrence Frank’s first training camp as head coach of the Nets.
He welcomed a group that did not include Kenyon Martin but contained Jason Kidd with one eye on the transaction wire and one surgically-repaired knee in rehab. He did not find Kerry Kittles but found Alonzo Mourning attempting a comeback from a kidney transplant. He accepted a remade team that lacks a proven starting power forward, currently has a point-guard by committee makeup and might have trouble out-rebounding the San Diego Padres. Ain’t coaching great?
“He’s handled it all very well,” said Nets GM Ed Stefanski. “He’s always very organized, very positive. No matter what, you know we’ll always be organized and very well prepared for any situation.”
Frank took over last year in December when Byron Scott was canned, and showed that he’s more than short (5-8) and young (34) but can coach and direct. Of course, he’s going to have to show a lot of that this season. Typically, Frank is stressing positive over negative, looking at a half-full situation, not seeing a half-empty mess. With such a re-worked team, Frank took a back-to-Square One approach.
“We really have avoided letting what others called distractions affect us,” said Frank, who, in no particular order, yesterday said he had not settled on a starting point guard, had no firm timetable for Mourning doing contact work and had pretty much put the Kidd nighttime session no-show crisis behind the team. “It’s still early, but to me, the intensity level of these guys, especially for going two-a-days, has been outstanding.
“We’re really excited. We look forward to it. Where some see problems, we see possibilities and look forward to it.”
Right now, there are problems you can’t help but see. Rebounding is a nightmare. The question of Kidd and when he returns to active duty – and for how long he stays put – constantly hangs over the team’s head. What style works best with three new starters?
Frank has sifted through point guards, Travis Best, Jacque Vaughn and Zoran Planinic, and seen the skills and talents of each. But he insisted he has “no clue” which guy leads for the starting job.
Mourning is a complete question mark. He has taken baby steps toward a return to the court. “The season is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Mourning, who could start some contact work early this week if he receives the protective padding he is expected to wear.
Frank, who won a record-setting 13 games to start his head-coaching career, has tried to concentrate on matters within his control, with the primary focus being daily improvement.
“You move forward. You don’t live in the past,” Frank said. “Philosophically, we’re not going to try to re-invent the wheel. We’re going to go back to our foundation and start from square one, with the emphasis obviously where defensively we have to protect our paint and offensively have organized, disciplined possessions.”
Sounds easy.
