>I think he'll certainly make things *better* by better
>utilizing guys like Simmons than Nash did and finding creative
>sets to theoretically execute (assuming the stars want to get
>on board).
>
>But this team isn't going to be better on defense through
>effort alone. The guards are all small, and every guard/wing
>outside of O'Neal is *real* bad on defense. Claxton and
>Simmons aren't rim protectors. And as you pointed out, they
>are *incredibly* restricted in the potential moves they can
>make due to lack of draft equity.
>
>Like, their defense right now, small sample size
>notwithstanding, is on pace to be easily one of the worst in
>*years.* And there's a roster component to that struggle,
>without question. Then when you add the reluctance of certain
>players on the roster to give a flying fuck about off-ball
>action, the problems compound.
>
>So even with a really smart on-court coach like Udoka, I
>just... don't know what realistically he can do with this
>roster. If he can make this defense even a top 20 in the NBA
>defense, he'd make my Coach of the Year shortlist, lol.

Udoka is clearly a better head coach than Nash and to paraphrase the Iron Sheik, he had a hand in humbling the Nets old country style last year when he swept them, so I'd hope at least Durant would seriously lend an ear to what Udoka will sell to the team. I wonder how well Kyrie and Udoka meshed when Udoka was an assistant in Boston when Kyrie was there, assuming they did indeed cross paths.

I mainly agree with you about this possibly failing because I don't know how much Ben Simmons will improve matters as he going to be the x-factor for this team to prosper. He's going to have to be a scoring threat to open up the half court and properly run the point and I have my doubts if he's mentally and physically capable of doing that, at least to the level he'll need to for the Nets to win now and right now.