Sportswriters blame Nets' 0-13 start mostly on Ratner

Blame Bruce (mostly), say sportswriters assessing the New Jersey Nets' 0-13 start, which has been exacerbated by injuries to key players.

The Record's Al Iannazzone offers 13 reasons:

1. Bruce Ratner: Nice man, but his interests were in real estate opportunities and buildings, not building a championship team. He bought a contender and kept cutting payroll instead of letting [Nets president] Rod Thorn add quality pieces that could Nets over the top.

The Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro is less charitable, writing:

Because if Thorn is honest about why they’re in this ditch, he’ll admit that it’s ownership – not the coach – who has ordered him to sit on his wallet and dump his best players for inferior or less durable talents.

It’s ownership – not the coach – that has this team entombed in a cement slab on the side of a highway rather than a vibrant, state-of-the-sport facility that could actually generate some excitement.

Of course, those taking the long view suggest that the Nets, assuming a new owner, a new arena, and a free agent signing to add to a reasonable core of players (when healthy), could turn around in a couple of years.