Am I crazy

for thinking the Nets can beat either the Mavs or the Spurs?


This is one tough team. They can score, fast break, hit threes, just live the Mavs.

They can rebound, defend, block shots, just like the Spurs.

K-Mart is playing like a mini-Duncan, and Kidd would destroy Nash like he does everyone.

 

they can- but i dont think they will simply due to their perimeter players and their inconsistency. kittles, harris and kidd can stroke the three, but they are very streaky. the key for new jersey is their, as you have mentioned, versatile frontline- the dimension of jefferson, martin, collins, rodney rodgers and aaron williams along with a token dikembe mutombo would matchup well with the spurs- i'd love to see kmart and duncan go head to head. they'd dominate the mavs on the glass and martin can defend nowitzki along the whole court- something the spurs cant do. couple that with jason kidd making steve nash/tony parker play defense all night- the series could be interesting; but i still say the perimeter players have to shoot 40%+ for the nets to win.

 

Jumpshots come and go though, lj, with every team at some point. I'm impressed by the fact that this fast break, 3 point shooting team can win when those shots are not falling. There's a toughness about them that reminds me of championship teams. I don't see that same toughness in either of the Western Conference teams right now.

Kittles and Harris haven't found their range, part of that is Detroit getting them off their game early and out of rhythem. But they are playing well at the other end. What I found most impressive about New Jersey is not only are they beating Detroit with their break, they have beaten them at Detroits own game. Martin has kept Wallace in check, they have been the more physical, quicker, defensive team.

I've thought the Nets would be the team from the East all along, but now I think they will win. Particuarly if Martin continues to play like a superstar. With his emotions under control, I see him as bringing a lot of what the mailman brought. And he's already more of a defensive presence than the mailman. He just needs to get more consistent with that jump shot, it comes and goes with him.

And even when Kidd doesn't have the jumper working, he's still a guy who will find ways to contribute. New Jersey just needs to poney up the money already, he's getting more expensive by the day.

And then you add in all that depth to a two superstar team, that has no real weakness.

 

you make good points about NJ adapting to adversity- something the mavs shown they cant do (unless its a high scoring game), and the spurs (letting 4th quarter leads dwindle and FT shooting). i havent paid too much attention to the eastern playoffs as i have the west- but from the stat line, NJ is doing great on the boards and that is a great testament to their grit along the front line and the backcourt (17 rebs in backcourt for nets, 6 for the pistons). this is key. the mavs do not rebound well from the backcourt, and neither do the spurs. that will be key for the nets in dictating the pace of the game- its obvious now that they can play pound it out ball or run and gun.

if the nets play the spurs- they'll have to contend with 1) frontline foul trouble, 2) iso-ing on duncan. if KMart can "handle" (handle meaning keeping him under 25/12), the nets can afford to play man up along the perimter and collapse only if duncan gets deep position. i have faith that martin will fare better than most defenders if duncan faces up on him. i'm not concerned about robinson- collins or williams should be able to handle him. i see kidd giving parker all sorts of trouble- the size and knowledge that kidd has are just too much for parker to handle, and he cant just outhustle kidd- no one does. so the key for that series is simply duncan v martin- if martin can contain duncan, the nets could very well win the series.

the mavs series would be a basketball fans dream- 2 exciting teams with excellent guard play and great athletes. the nets seem to match up well against the mavs, except for van exel- with nash and van exel on the court, who will the nets use? anthony johnson will need to step up big.

 

Kidd's ability to rebound and start the break is the big key I see. Nobody on either squad has anybody I see that can contain that, and once Kidd is in the open court and running, you've already lost. Nobody plays under control with the ball faster than he does. The Nets know that as soon as he has the ball, run as fast as you can.

Van Exel is an X factor, he can just go nuts at any point. I don't know if the Nets have to go 3 guard to match 3 guard, Findley can be matched up by Jefferson, put Kidd on Nick if you have to, and let Harris take Nash. This is a good defensive ball club, and they will break on the Mavs when those 3's aren't falling.

 

Strangely enough I think they'd have a better chance against the Spurs. Dallas is gonna score on anyone so I think they'd shoot the low scoring Nets out of that series before NJ knew what hit em. I think they can maybe keep some games close with the Spurs though. I see the Spurs taking it though.

 

If Kerry Kittles could shoot a lick in the playoffs, even closes to what he does during the regulard season, I think the Nets would have a great chance.

Don't write-off Mutombo as an "X" factor yet. Lou L got him for one reason - to battle the size of the west if the Nets returned to the finals. Dikembe gave Shaq more trouble than most two years ago with the Sixers. Not sure how healthy that African 50 year old is, but - if he can run the court, put him in when Duncan and Robinson are on the floor. Martin as primary on Duncan, with Dikembe there to help if Timmy takes it to the rack. Gives them more fouls, size, and a physical presence against anyone. Will slow them down on the break - but - leave him back, let the reverse break come to him.

If it's the Mavs, I don't think Dikembe is needed near as much.

I'd like to see Kidd win a championship. He doesn't show-boat, he focuses on the game and busts his ass when he's in there.

When they ask him what he's going to do after he wins the championship, instead of saying "going to Disneyworld", he can say "smack the tar out of Bob Ryan"...

 

good point PR- but i havent seen mutombo in action AT ALL this season to even throw him a bone (or an elbow ). watching parts of the SA-DAL game right now, the mavs dont rebound, they have no desire most of the times. its sad actually- van exel looks more thirsty for boards than nowitzki/lafrentz at times. problem is, SA doesnt have good wing players that can cash-in on a fast break opportunity like the mavs or kings do. the nets have shown they can play the 74-72 game, the 125-121 game (MIL), and have shown abilities to rally. that trifect right there is something the spurs or mavs have not shown througout the playoffs.. however, we are talking about a net team whose playing detroit.