Post by pistons521 - MIA on Feb 16, 2009 19:24:17 GMT
THE MIAMI POST
The defending champion New Jersey Nets GM, Josh Barber, has been in quite a lot of controversial news these past few weeks, particularly regarding his lashing out at the committee of D5 for recent rating changes. Barber saw three of his starting five members lose ratings, most notably Jason Kidd decline 5 points.
Barber approached a local Miami newspaper station for his first interview this season.
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Thanks for sitting down with us today.[/b]
No problem, I felt this was about due.
So to jump right into things - you're coming off a championship season, how do you feel right now?
Mentally I feel strong. I am always mentally strong. But there is something physically wrong with me… my stomach will not stop gurgling. I don’t know why it started and I don’t know when, but I do know one thing… I am hungry for more.
You might want to get that checked out. Just kidding, that doesn't sound good for the rest of the league...You've gotten off to a great start, do you feel like you can repeat this year?
Yes we can repeat. We are hands down the best team in the league and if anyone wants to prove otherwise, they can try us on the court. With contenders like Utah and San Antonio off to sub-par starts, we can just keep building up these wins and get a nice lead on other top teams. One thing I am sure of is that the path to the championship is going to have to go through East Rutherford.
Even with that great start, it's no secret your players are getting older and have slowed down dramatically. Does it worry you that they might wear down as the season progresses?
Some say we are getting older. Want to know something? Out of our starting five, three of the guys had championships when they came to the Nets. Kidd won one last season with us, so that leaves K-Mart, who has already been to the finals with Kidd once. I am not sure why you think my players have slowed down dramatically. We have the best bench in the league, so I am not worried about fatigue. This team is unstoppable.
Following on that answer, does that mean you are not looking to trade anyone right now?
Trades are not imminent. Obviously we will take a look at any offers that come our way, but we are not shopping anyone heavily.
Hypothetically, who would be the first to go?
You know I am not going to answer that.
I can respect that, but can you tell me what kind of players you are looking for?
If a trade was to arise, we are looking for defensive-minded experienced players that will help us out even more.
Who would you say is your biggest threat right now? Give me one eastern conference team and one western conference team.
I think Charlotte is the clear-cut second best team in the East right now. I am glad that our preseason trade is really working out for both of us, and I continue to wish Grant (Hill), (Andrei) Kirilenko, and Jermaine (O'Neal) the best of luck. The Western Conference is very weak this season. I think Utah has been overrated in many people's eyes. San Antonio has been overachieving for the past two seasons and I think his glory is over. That leaves Phoenix, who I feel will win the West this season.
There's been a lot of media coverage over the new Miami Heat staff. Do you have any thoughts about that fiasco?
I wasn't aware that the Miami Heat had a staff. That's interesting.
Guess it's just big news down here. You said earlier you weren't looking to trade anyone, yet several reports suggest otherwise and that you are shopping players. Is it true you are actively looking to trade Ben Wallace, Kenyon Martin, or Tayshaun Prince?
Like I stated earlier, we are not looking to trade anyone. We are looking at offers that come our way.
Alright. Well obviously everyone is aware that you have publicly called out the committee here at D5 for the recent rating changes. Now, do you honestly feel like the committee is out to get you?
Of course I don't think the committee is out to get me in particular. First off, as much as I say committee in my posts, they had nothing to do with the changes, they were all based on the opinions of league members and interpreted by Boston. Secondly, I do actually believe that some of the ratings are wrong, but it is definitely not as bad as I make it seem. My reasoning behind all my arguments was solely my competitive side coming out as I tried to make a huge scene and get my players rated higher. I found the entire situation to be funny when some other people started to actually believe me. Anyway, it sorta worked because I think Boston said Kidd will be an 84 instead of 83. I do feel that Kidd is better than a lot of people give him credit for, but to tell you the truth these past few weeks have just been me messing with people.
Interesting. Well, last question: is there anything you would like to say to any naysayers or haters out there?
I would like formally call out Rasheed Wallace. WE ARE COMMING FOR YOU.
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Well there you have it folks. New Jersey wasn't serious with the whole rating fiasco, and is apparently coming after Rasheed.
The defending champion New Jersey Nets GM, Josh Barber, has been in quite a lot of controversial news these past few weeks, particularly regarding his lashing out at the committee of D5 for recent rating changes. Barber saw three of his starting five members lose ratings, most notably Jason Kidd decline 5 points.
Barber approached a local Miami newspaper station for his first interview this season.
---------------------------------------------------
Thanks for sitting down with us today.[/b]
No problem, I felt this was about due.
So to jump right into things - you're coming off a championship season, how do you feel right now?
Mentally I feel strong. I am always mentally strong. But there is something physically wrong with me… my stomach will not stop gurgling. I don’t know why it started and I don’t know when, but I do know one thing… I am hungry for more.
You might want to get that checked out. Just kidding, that doesn't sound good for the rest of the league...You've gotten off to a great start, do you feel like you can repeat this year?
Yes we can repeat. We are hands down the best team in the league and if anyone wants to prove otherwise, they can try us on the court. With contenders like Utah and San Antonio off to sub-par starts, we can just keep building up these wins and get a nice lead on other top teams. One thing I am sure of is that the path to the championship is going to have to go through East Rutherford.
Even with that great start, it's no secret your players are getting older and have slowed down dramatically. Does it worry you that they might wear down as the season progresses?
Some say we are getting older. Want to know something? Out of our starting five, three of the guys had championships when they came to the Nets. Kidd won one last season with us, so that leaves K-Mart, who has already been to the finals with Kidd once. I am not sure why you think my players have slowed down dramatically. We have the best bench in the league, so I am not worried about fatigue. This team is unstoppable.
Following on that answer, does that mean you are not looking to trade anyone right now?
Trades are not imminent. Obviously we will take a look at any offers that come our way, but we are not shopping anyone heavily.
Hypothetically, who would be the first to go?
You know I am not going to answer that.
I can respect that, but can you tell me what kind of players you are looking for?
If a trade was to arise, we are looking for defensive-minded experienced players that will help us out even more.
Who would you say is your biggest threat right now? Give me one eastern conference team and one western conference team.
I think Charlotte is the clear-cut second best team in the East right now. I am glad that our preseason trade is really working out for both of us, and I continue to wish Grant (Hill), (Andrei) Kirilenko, and Jermaine (O'Neal) the best of luck. The Western Conference is very weak this season. I think Utah has been overrated in many people's eyes. San Antonio has been overachieving for the past two seasons and I think his glory is over. That leaves Phoenix, who I feel will win the West this season.
There's been a lot of media coverage over the new Miami Heat staff. Do you have any thoughts about that fiasco?
I wasn't aware that the Miami Heat had a staff. That's interesting.
Guess it's just big news down here. You said earlier you weren't looking to trade anyone, yet several reports suggest otherwise and that you are shopping players. Is it true you are actively looking to trade Ben Wallace, Kenyon Martin, or Tayshaun Prince?
Like I stated earlier, we are not looking to trade anyone. We are looking at offers that come our way.
Alright. Well obviously everyone is aware that you have publicly called out the committee here at D5 for the recent rating changes. Now, do you honestly feel like the committee is out to get you?
Of course I don't think the committee is out to get me in particular. First off, as much as I say committee in my posts, they had nothing to do with the changes, they were all based on the opinions of league members and interpreted by Boston. Secondly, I do actually believe that some of the ratings are wrong, but it is definitely not as bad as I make it seem. My reasoning behind all my arguments was solely my competitive side coming out as I tried to make a huge scene and get my players rated higher. I found the entire situation to be funny when some other people started to actually believe me. Anyway, it sorta worked because I think Boston said Kidd will be an 84 instead of 83. I do feel that Kidd is better than a lot of people give him credit for, but to tell you the truth these past few weeks have just been me messing with people.
Interesting. Well, last question: is there anything you would like to say to any naysayers or haters out there?
I would like formally call out Rasheed Wallace. WE ARE COMMING FOR YOU.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Well there you have it folks. New Jersey wasn't serious with the whole rating fiasco, and is apparently coming after Rasheed.