--G Devin Harris and F Yi Jianlian spent a good deal of time in China this summer. Yi went home, played for the National team. Harris was doing camps. And he came away stunned at how big Yi is in his homeland. Yi is even pictured on some ice cream bars -- containing corn.
"He's all over some weird stuff. They have an ice cream bar, it has corn in it. It's the weirdest thing but his face is on that, too," Harris offered. "You don't really know how popular he really is until you go over there. That's all they wanted to know. They were excited to see me too, but first question's about me, second question's about Yi." --The Nets have finalized their coaching staff with the addition of assistant John Loyer, who spent nine NBA seasons in various capacities with the Blazers and Sixers.
Coach Lawrence Frank earlier in the summer lost assistant Brian Hill to Detroit and nearly lost Roy Rogers to the collegiate ranks. But Rogers stayed on and returns with Tom Barrise and Doug Overton.
Loyer spent the last four seasons as an assistant with the Sixers. He previously worked as video coordinator, advance scout and assistant coach with the Blazers.
"He's a seasoned coach who's been in the game in some good places," said team president Rod Thorn. "The experience he has gained in both Philadelphia and Portland will be an asset to both the players and coaches."
Loyer also spent 12 seasons on the collegiate level, including 10 as an assistant at Cincinnati where he helped recruit Kenyon Martin. Loyer seems suited for his new post: he has three children, including a daughter named Jersey.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I want to say we can be a good playoff team. I definitely think we can make the playoffs. We have enough talent, enough intelligent guys." -- C Brook Lopez, disputing forecasts insisting the Nets are a lottery team.
