This is encouraging. Thorn is one of the smartest basketball execs out there. Certainly value his opinion more than Chad Ford's. Now what we don't know is whether he chose to highlight the Knicks' chances to impove or was asked about them and chose to give a politic answer.

House, btw, is a very good pickup for the Nets, imo. One of JKidd's great values is helping a team get the most out of talented but undisciplined guys.

A HOUSE PARTY FOR
FAVE NETS
August 18, 2006 -- Nets president Rod Thorn sized up the weak Atlantic Division yesterday and rated it improved. Thorn cited two teams that made massive strides this summer, Toronto, with the addition of T.J. Ford and No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani, and - yes - the sad-sack Knicks.
Thorn doesn't often talk about the Nets' cross-river rivals publicly, as the organization privately feels the Knicks get too much attention comparative to too little results.

But Thorn yesterday admitted the Knicks will be a bigger factor next season with the Larry Brown-Isiah Thomas-Stephon Marbury hate triangle behind them.

"I think the Knicks are improved with the addition of [Jared] Jeffries and there won't be as much ancillary stuff obviously this year as last," Thorn said. "I think they're an improved team. They have talented players."

Left unsaid is the Nets will be enormous favorites to win the Atlantic Division for the fifth time in six years. The Nets won the Atlantic last season by 11 games over Philly.

Thorn yesterday spoke on a conference call to officially announce the signing of reserve combo guard Eddie House to a one-year, $1.4 million deal - another piece the Nets feel could get them back to the NBA Finals for the third time this millennium.

The Nets don't think they were far away from the world-champion Heat, who ousted them in five games after Cliff Robinson got suspended. In House, the Nets add a reserve sharpshooter to complement the driving forces of Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

"Everybody plays us the same way, they double-team Carter and Jefferson," Thorn said. "We have players on the weak side open all the time. We did not consistently hit those shots last year, particularly those bench players. [House] heats up almost immediately. He'll help with energy and the ability to hit open shots."

House joins his seventh team in six years, so obviously something's amiss. He averaged a career-high 9.3 points last season for Phoenix, playing mostly point guard. The Suns made a lesser offer after obtaining Marcus Banks.

"I don't think it's anything I did," House said. "I can't put my finger on it, I haven't found right spot."

I love Rod Thorn, I think hes probably the best executive in the NBA. Glad to see he thinks the Knicks are a talented bunch but we all know that. The Knicks have talent, the Knicks have had talent, the question is will the Knicks play like a team and play on both ends of the floor. Talent is a great thing to have but if you don't play together and you don't play defense then your not going to win too many games.

Bernard: I think it's good to hear things like this from a obviously knowledgeable source but I'm not sure he said anything ground breaking. I think someone that read a 1 paragraph synopsis of the Knicks last year and this offseason could come up with similar things to say.

Posted by nyballer:

i don't really get this signing for the nets... house gets hot and is a good scorer but not the consistent shooter thorn seems to want. And i think more than aynthing they need some big bodies, they are terrible at the 4/5 outside of krstic, especially with boone out for a while. not to mention they have marcus williams at backup PG and antoine wright who was a mid 1st round pick with lottery talent. and these are the guys that backup possibly the best 3-guard lineup in the game.

3 point shooting was not the best for the Nets last year. With Carter, RJ, and Krstic taking lots of attention and requiring double teams. House should be free to do what he does--Shoot 3's. Kidd will find him. Williams will find him though house might not find his laptop after he takes a shower with his locker open.

I think it improves the Nets because it rounds them out. Not a huge improvement though.

By the way, I believe Krstic will get strong consideration for an all-star berth this year.

oohah

Thorn is telling NY fans what they want to hear. A nets-Knicks Rivalry sells tickets in both buildings.

Its good business, nothing more.

Nothing less either.

It will get settled on the court, not on paper