2008-09 New Jersey Nets Wagering Preview

The New Jersey Nets, (34-48 SU, 33-47-2 ATS, 40-40-2 O/U) were pretty pathetic in 2007-08, recording an uninspiring record that was 14 games under .500 despite playing in the mediocre Eastern Conference - and even weaker Atlantic division - last season.

The Nets also failed to come through on a consistent basis for BetUS online NBA bettors, going just 37-42-2 against the spread, but will enter the 2008-09 regular season with a serious eye toward making some big strides in the near-future.

The Nets pulled off what may have been the best draft of any team in the league this offseason and made some wise offseason trades to acquire veteran players that can help the team immediately.

Of course, New Jersey’s best transaction may have been naming former NBA –All-Star forward Kiki Vandeweghe as its general manager after Vandeweghe overhauled the Denver Nuggets’ roster to make them perennial winners in the Western Conference the last few seasons.

While New Jersey averaged just 95.8 points per game last season, (25th) and gave up more points per contest than they scored, (100.9, 17th), the Nets should feel really good about being able to land talented former Stanford center Brook Lopez with the tenth overall pick in the draft, which is a major coup if you ask me, particularly for a player that was mentioned often as a third or fourth overall pick prior to the draft.

The Nets, who shot a feeble 44.3 percent from the field last season, (26th), then turned around and grabbed combination forward Ryan Anderson out of Southern Cal a surprise pick at No. 21 in the first round but may have dropped the ball in a big way with players like Donte Greene and Darrell Arthur still on the board.

While New Jersey went just 18-22-1 ATS at home and 15-25-1 ATS on the road, I think the Nets, thanks to Vandeweghe’s wise foresight, also pulled off the biggest and best steal of the entire 2008 NBA draft by getting two-time All-American shooting guard Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Memphis with the 40th overall selection in the second round, an amazing and questionable slide for a player that was so consistent during his four-year collegiate career at Memphis.

New Jersey posted identical 20-20-1 O/U marks, both at home and on the road last season and came in fourth place in the Atlantic division behind the Celtics, Raptors and Sixers.

The Nets also traded for lightning-quick point guard Devin Harris who averaged 15.4 points and 6.5 assists per game in 25 contests with the Nets after getting traded for aging veteran Jason Kidd at the annual trade deadline.

New Jersey also traded leading scorer Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee Bucks for talented 7-foot combination forward Yi Jianlian, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft while also acquiring former all-star forward Bobby Simmons in the deal. The Nets also acquired hard-working veteran power forward Eduardo Najera from the Denver Nuggets and underrated veteran small forward Jarvis Hayes this offseason to add some depth to the roster.