Page 20 - Aruba Today
P. 20
20
SPORTSTuesday 12 January 2016
Prokhorov: Easy decision to begin Nets’ reset now
BRIAN MAHONEY Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov speaks during an NBA basketball news conference in New The Nets made the playoffs
AP Basketball Writer York, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. The Nets reassigned their general manager and fired coach Lionel the last three years but are
NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn Hollins on Sunday in the midst of their worst season since moving from New Jersey. 10-27 entering Monday’s
Nets owner Mikhail Prokho- game against San Antonio.
rov wanted a champion- (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Their likely spot in the NBA
ship, and his team never draft lottery will go to Bos-
got close. mined more than a month “I have to look at the real- right direction,” Prokhorov ton as payment from one of
Now he wants a reset, and King’s big trades, and they
said it was an easy decision ago that King and Hollins ity and make a change if said. “That’s what we have don’t fully control their own
to start it now. first-round pick until 2019.
“If we look at the team for weren’t among them. things are not going in the done. It was just very easy.” Our approach helped us
the time being, it’s clear to reach three playoffs in
we’re doing not the best a row but we have failed
way,” Prokhorov said Mon- to go further. And for us it’s
day. important to go further,”
A day after firing coach Li- Prokhorov said. “That’s why
onel Hollins and reassigning we need a small reset for
general manager Billy King, this year and I hope we’ll
Prokhorov blamed himself be back not as a playoff
for a win-quick strategy team, as a championship
that’s left the Nets in one of contender. This is my only
the NBA’s worst situations — goal.”
then said he hopes to con- He wanted a title within five
tend for an NBA title next years of buying the team
season. in 2010, and King was ag-
He’ll try to do that with new gressive in trying to build a
leadership that he hopes contender quickly. He ac-
will help clarify what kind of quired Deron Williams, Joe
team the Nets want to be Johnson, Paul Pierce and
and what kind of person- Kevin Garnett in moves
nel they will need. The Rus- that came at a future cost
sian billionaire had deter- the Nets are paying now.q
