On the Road with Mike

The Brooklyn Nets will host the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays on the eve of Christmas Eve.

The Nets need to snap a three-game losing streak and get some momentum going as they head into the new year. The Sixers are coming off a big win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. They will soon enter seven-game stretch on the West Coast where they will face tough competition. So Philly needs every win they can get to stay in the playoff picture.

I’m disappointed I didn’t get a reindeer tie from Ryan Ruocco for Christmas. Was hoping to wear it in today’s broadcast: Sixers vs. Nets is coming up at 3:00 PM ET on YES.

WEB-Ruocco-and-Fratello-PHI_23DEC2012

On the Road with Mike

Nets fell to the Thunder 117-111 at home on Tuesday night, but it was a hell of a game. I felt for the officials because they had to make critical calls down the stretch, and even with the use of video replay it was difficult to make determinations on a few plays. The refs had to rely on their instincts and best judgement.

From the Booth

[nba-video vid=channels/tnt_overtime/2012/04/14/0021100888_bos_njn_fratello_funny.nba]

Czar Asks You

The Nets’ forthcoming relocation to Brooklyn, New York signals the end of a memorable era for sports fans in the Garden State. To commemorate 35 years of New Jersey Nets basketball, YES Network will count down the top Nets players in franchise history starting on April 8th when the Nets host the Cavaliers at the Prudential Center for the last time.

Who are your top five Nets of all time? Excluding current players, my top five Nets are:

  • Otis Birdsong: The scoring guard with a soft touch on his 20-foot jump shot and a consummate professional.
  • Buck Williams: One of the all-time great rebounders who brought his hardhat and lunch pail to the arena every night and did his job.
  • Kenny Anderson: A crafty, lefty point guard who could both score and run the show.
  • Derrick Coleman: The multi-skilled power forward who could score, defend and rebound.
  • Jason Kidd: A future Hall of Famer and one of the league’s premiere point guards throughout his long NBA career.

Listed below are some of the NBA players who made their marks as New Jersey Nets over the last four decades, and you can click here to view the Nets’ current roster. Tweet your picks to @NetsOnYES.

1970’s: Bernard King, John Williamson

1980’s: Otis Birdsong, Darryl Dawkins, Mike Gminski, Albert King, Michael Ray Richardson, Buck Williams

1990’s: Kenny Anderson, Derrick Coleman, Kendall Gill, Kerry Kittles, Stephon Marbury, Drazen Petrovic, Keith Van Horn, Jayson Williams

2000’s: Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day Ryan and I donned green ties for tonight’s Raptors at Nets broadcast.