From Russia With Dunk - A Brooklyn Nets Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

The FanSided Sports Network is looking for an Editorial Director to manage our NBA division.

The Editorial Director is responsible for the management of all of FanSided’s NBA team and general sites.

Responsibilities include:

- hiring and educating new editors

- tracking each site’s progress

- working with FanSided’s VP of Content to develop posting strategies and requirements

- submitting monthly reports on the division progress

-on-boarding of new staff writers

-working with the VP of Content to ensure timely execution of advertorial posts within FanSided NBA

-responsible for the overall success and growth of FanSided NBA

In addition to the role of Editorial Director, the candidate will also have the opportunity to run his or her own FanSided sites.

Editorial Directors are paid a stipend and hold a unique place among the FanSided leadership.This is an excellent position that will grow with the company.

We are looking for someone who understands not only the ins and outs of the NBA but also the ins and outs of the NBA fan culture. We want FanSided NBA to be fresh where other outlets are tired and edgy where the competition is dull. The NBA is vibrant, young and exciting. We want our sites to reflect that.

The right candidate will have a clear vision on how to make FanSided NBA natural home for every NBA fan.Blogging experience, social media savvy and familiarity with WordPress is expected.

To apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to patrick.allen@fansided.com>

FanSided is an equal opportunity employer. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

Check out the new look of FanSided 3.0, being rolled out now across the network. arrowheadaddict.com

About The FanSided Network:

Founded on April 1st, 2007 by Adam and Zach Best, the FanSided Network strives to create the most fan-friendly sports content on the net. What started as one blog (arrowheadaddict.com) is now a network of 200 sites covering professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, college athletics, soccer, MMA, wrestling and more.

FanSided aims to bring readers the best fan generated sports content, not only from our own writers but from around the web. Edgy, opinionated and funny. FanSided.

We are currently looking for a lead writer and multiple staff writers to cover the New Jersey Nets here on From Russia With Dunk. This is a great opportunity for aspiring sports writers!

To apply for the positions, head on over and fill out the FanSided writing application!

Hey Nets fans, even with Morrow dropping 3′s, K-Humph picking rebounds off the glass and Deron being the super star, Avery still loses his voice yelling instructions from the sideline.

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s game against Golden State, Avery will have his work cut out for him, as rookie coach and NY legend Mark Jackson brings his young Warriors squad to the Pru. Through our partner TiqIQ, we’re letting you know of a great way to get close to the action, to hear both coaches direct their minions: For this game between the Nets and Warriors, TiqIQ brings you a 50% off discount on tickets to pay only $45 for seats that are usually $90 near the court, right here.

There’s been a big change here at FanSided. Blake Lovell has moved from NBA director to soccer director (though he’ll remain the associate NBA director so he’s not gone for good). Replacing Blake will be Ben York, a former writer for Complex and a current writer for SLAM magazine. You can follow him on twitter at @bjyork. Sorry to bother you with the details but we value transparency at FRWD

You’ve probably seen these “5 reasons” posts all around FanSided. Reason being is that Ben’s making all of us do them (Due Thursday!) Normally I’m a rebel, but this post does give me a chance to catch up on all the stuff I’ve missed in the last month (a lot).

5) Brook Lopez is still a Net

-No, he’s not leaving in the immediate future. Lopez doesn’t become a restricted free agent until the 2012 season. But that doesn’t mean we can appreciate what we have! He’s one the best centers in the east, he’s young, and finally looked like the player he once was when Deron Williams ran the point. Sure there are questions surrounding him and the team, but Lopez is a building block for the future.

4) The Nets play in the Atlantic Division

-Let’s run through their division. The Celtics are OLD and messed up in trading away Kendrick Perkins. The Knicks are a D-League team save for STAT and Melo (Chauncey Billups doesn’t count) and are a terrible fit for D’Antoni. The 76er’s are on the rise but still need to answer a lot of questions (especially what the hell are they going to do with Andre Iguodala.) And the Raptors are worse off than the Nets. Tell me the Nets aren’t a year or two away from contending in that division.

3) Deron Williams is still a Net

-So what if his contract expires at the end of this season (if there is one)? Deron Williams is one of the 15 best players and the league and is a New Jersey Net for the year. And if Deron Williams decides to stay a Net after the season then high five to us because we gave up nothing for him. Even if he’s playing not so great in Turkey, the Nets are right to view him as a franchise player.

2) Mikhail Prokhorov is the owner of the New Jersey Nets

-Lockout politics aside, lets take a look at what’s happened since the big Russian became owner. The construction on the Barclays Center hasn’t hit any major delys (knock on wood), Kris Humphries married Kim Kardashain, Deron Williams became a Net, Jay-Z threw a big party to announce the name Brooklyn Nets, and Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian divorce reports surfaced. Yes Prokhorov isn’t the driving force behind all of these things, but he has certainly had a role in most of them. Prokhorov is a unique owner, both his tactics and his history. He’s one of the more interesting men in the league and a driving force behind the Nets.

1) “Chi towns D. Rose, I’m movin’ the Nets to BK”

-Brooklyn. It’s been about Brooklyn for 5 years now. Attendance issues have plagued the Nets for a few years now and a location change is an absolute must. They’re going to play in New York City in a brand new arena. If the Nets play their cards right they can market toward the hipster community (my suggestion: play whatever is popular on pitchfork). Basketball is cool, and that community just loves cool.

The fact that the Nets even got a shout out in a Jay-Z song cool. It’s a new day for this team. So yeah, it’s tough to get excited about the team that’s going to play next season (if there even is one), but the long term future can’t look brighter.

Due to the lockout, I’ve fallen out of the habit of looking at ESPN’s NBA page. Therefore, I didn’t know about the 5 on 5 roundtable feature ESPN was running about every team until a tweet about it came across my timeline. My reaction to the piece? 1) I’m offended I wasn’t asked to participate (just kidding) and 2) I thought the panelists were shockingly kind to the Nets. Lets run through their questions and see what they though/what I think.

1. Fact or Fiction: Deron Williams will be a Net in 2012-13.

Their answer: It was a unanimous fact, citing his positive quotes regarding the management and the direction of the team. They pretty much agreed this team was a roster move or two away from guaranteeing that Williams would stay with the Nets.

My answer: Fiction. I agree that Williams staying is dependent on improving the roster, but the team has to you…you know…improve it. The team hasn’t made any moves (Yes. I know it’s because of the lockout) so Williams has no reason to stay so far. The proper answer to this question is probably pass, since we don’t know what the team will look like when the season begins, but I’m taking the pessimistic route.

2. Fact or Fiction: Even if D-Will doesn’t stay, the trade was the right call.

Their answer: Also unanimous fact. Anytime you can grab a top-15 player, even if you’re not sure he’ll be around longer than a season and a half, you have to do it.

My answer: Strangely enough, I’m saying fact even though I’m skeptical about Williams staying past this season (If we have one). Aside from the reason above, the Deron Williams trade gave the Nets a lot of buzz. If he stayed, great, if not, they go back to where they were before. Devin Harris wasn’t working in Avery Johnson’s system and Derrick Favors looked decisively average. Even if Williams leaves, this trade will not be a franchise killer.

3. Fact or Fiction: Brooklyn and Dwight Howard belong together.

Their answer: A mix of facts and fictions. Those who say fact argue Dwight needs a change of scenery, plus he has an attitude right for the big apple. The other say he is a player who doesn’t belong anywhere.

My answer: Fiction. Dwight Howard is one of the Nets biggest targets, and rightfully so. His signing would ensure that Williams stays, plus he creates a lot of press for the team. I believe he needs a change of scenery, and Brooklyn would be a good fit, but I don’t buy into the “perfect fit” theory. Two reasons: Howard still has Los Angeles, and Brook Lopez.

4. Fact or Fiction: Brook Lopez has multiple All-Star Games in his future.

Their answer: More or less fact. He’s too talented and their aren’t a lot of great centers in the east.

My answer: Fact. He’s too young and talented not to, so long as he stays in the east. If Deron Williams stays in NJ he’ll have an elite point guard playing with him. If he leaves, he’ll be the guy on another team. Either way, he’ll make an all star team.

5. Fact or Fiction: The Nets will make the playoffs next season.

Their answer: 3 facts. 2 fictions. Those in favor say D-Will, those against cite everything else about this team.

My answer: Fiction. I already revealed my pessimistic nature before so this answer shouldn’t come as a surprise. Let’s not forget, there is still a lot of work to be done with this team. There are roster issues with Kris Humphries and Williams, we don’t know what we have in Marshon Brooks, and I just don’t think Avery Johnson is a good coach. Not to mention there’s the top six (Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Hawks, Magic) plus the upstart Wizards and 76′ers, and Jennings’ Bucks and Granger’s Pacers. The Nets aren’t there yet, but their heading in the right direction. Right now, that might be all worth asking for.

New Jersey Nets offseason questions- [ESPN]

The good news keeps on coming. The players and owners met yesterday and have agreed to meet both today and Friday to continue talks on ending the lockout. Obviously this news comes with the “these meetings do not guarantee a season” tag, but I’m willing to bet these latest meetings have been some of the most productive of the lockout.

To me, the best news is that both sides seem to realize how close to the deadline they are. David Stern has said, ”We know we have a real problem to solve,” and Derick Fisher, who is the head the players union, said “Time is running down, not necessarily out. I think we all feel in the room that if we continue to work at it we can possibly find a way to get a deal done.”

Let’s all hope this deal gets done. An Australian exchange student lives above me, and I would love to show him nothing more than a basketball game of the highest quality (No. Not the Nets).

Before I say anything bad, remember that this is good news. This meeting was the first face to face interaction that players and owners have had in two months. The meeting lasted about six hours, which makes it one of the longest meetings of the whole labor process. And for just for good measure, both the players and the owners agreed publicly on something for the first time (albeit it’s that the flow of information should be restricted, but it’s something).

Only good could have come from this meeting. The fact that both sides are meeting is a great great thing. However, don’t instantly go and assume we’re going to have a season. Both sides are VERY far apart. While every issue may have been discussed, the meeting was small (only six people) and it will be sometime until concrete progress is made. Still, it’s a step in the right direction.

And just so you know, training camp remains scheduled to start October 3rd.

Hey everyone. There are a few things I want to announce regarding From Russia with Dunk.

First, we now have a twitter account dedicated exclusively to From Russia with Dunk. You can follow it at http://twitter.com/frwdfansided.

Second, I’ve set up an e-mail account for From Russia with Dunk. If you have any comments, tips, or just want to write for us (not joking), shoot us an e-mail at fromrussiawithdunk@gmail.com

Finally, I promise more posts in the future. I have a few ideas to keep me going for a while until this lockout ends. We also will probably get some lockout news soon.

Until then just sit back and relax, until you realize we may not have an NBA season.

First off, let me apologize for that lack of posts. I’ve been rather busy the last week between packing and vacation. Then again, it’s tough to write about the Nets during a lockout when there is very little going on in terms of news. There are going to be some changes in how the site is run soon, but for now the only thing I can do is talk about the last nine days.

- Kris Humphires and Kim Kardashian got married! Congrats to the both of them! For more coverage on that you can go to literally anywhere on the internet.

- HoopsWorld editor Steven Kyler wrote a piece about the Free Agent class of 2012 and adressed the situation by saying “there is a truth to the situation in New Jersey that no one wants to admit: Deron Williams is likely gone in 2012.” Kyler offers no facts to back up his claim, but does manage to misspell Mickael Prokhorov.

- The Nets and YES have worked out an agreement to extend YES’s rights to televise Nets games to 2031-32. The Nets will receive $20 million a year for this deal, just about doubling what they made per year off television rights before.

- Bojan Bogdanovic is playing pretty well right now, having just had two straight 16 point performances. That said, he’s having trouble hitting three pointers.

- Jordan Williams tweeted “Thinkin bout takin the overseas route…I need ta hoop!! Lol” Impossible to tell how serious he is, but the fact that he tweeted expresses interest. Also relevant, Marshon Brooks has said he does not intend to head overseas.

- And finally the Nets announced their preseason schedule. They have home dates against the Knicks (Oct. 18), 76ers (Oct. 20), and Celtics (Oct. 24). They also play against the Knicks and Celtics on the road, and have a game scheduled against the 76ers in Trenton. Too bad none of these games will be played.

Big changes coming soon. I promise. Here’s a picture of Clyde Drexler

These are two photos of the Barclays Center that were uploaded on facebook in the last three days. The first is an overall shot of how the arena is coming together and the second is a simple shot of the side.

First things first, it’s fantastic to see the arena coming together this quickly. There shouldn’t be any doubt that this arena will be ready for the start of the 2012 season (assuming it happens). The overall photo shows that a lot of the base has been built, and they’re starting to put the roof together. The second photo shows that construction on the exterior has begun, and we’re going to soon see what this thing will actually look like from the outside.

I’m pretty excited about this arena. The Nets needed an arena and a change of location DESPERATELY. It seems as though the Barclays Center will be cool to look at. Now we just need to hope the designers didn’t screw up the functionality.

PS: Here’s a link to an article on Grantland about the construction of New Meadowlands Stadium, New Yankee Stadium, and Citi Field. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6851333/the-architecture-disaster