AleksandarN
Starter
I wonder if we could off load KT contract on them?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-ira01jan01,0,4908526.column
Jersey says it can net a title with three stars
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Published January 1, 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]The Nets thought they made enough of a statement a week ago at AmericanAirlines Arena, when Vince Carter scored 51 points and helped New Jersey overcome a 15-point deficit against the Heat. But for those who haven't been paying attention to what has grown into an eight-game winning streak, guard Jason Kidd said perhaps it's time the Nets start talking title.
"Why not?" he asked last week. "Why not? Why not try to be like Detroit or San Antonio or one of the elite teams, like Miami? We set our goals high.
"Why not try to be like those guys? Those guys have had success and we are trying to get there. Why not set [the bar] high?"
Why not? Because recent history does not offer encouragement.
Just as they are now, behind the play of Kidd, Carter and Richard Jefferson, the Nets surged to a 15-4 finish last season behind a perimeter-oriented offense.
They then were swept in four games in the first round by the Heat.
Granted, Jefferson was just returning from injury at the time and hardly was the factor he stands as today. But for all the Nets offer outside of the paint, the power rotation still comes down to Jason Collins, Nenad Krstic and Clifford Robinson.
Such a perimeter approach hardly worked wonders for last season's Wizards or Celtics.
In fact, it has been four seasons since a team advanced to the conference finals without a quality big man (remember, last season's run-and-gun Suns also had Amare Stoudemire).
That was in 2002, when the Paul Pierce-Antoine Walker-Kenny Anderson Celtics went down in the East finals to the Nets, who had the big-muscle game of Kenyon Martin and the surprisingly efficient contribution of center Todd MacCulloch.
Still, this is the Eastern Conference, where the Pacers are reeling, the Pistons hardly are post driven, and the Heat is an injury or conditioning issue away from an unproductive Shaquille O'Neal.
"There's not many who have a better or more talented [trio]," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
For now, even amid the success, the Nets continue to scour the possibilities of size. Among those drawing consideration are Clippers forward Chris Wilcox, Bobcats center Melvin Ely, Bucks center Dan Gadzuric and several other big men.
But even if it's just Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and the current mix of big men, the recent surge has coach Lawrence Frank in tune with his point guard.
"I think we've shown it's possible," Frank said of moving into the class of the Pistons and Heat. "That's the bar. You don't lower it, you raise it.
"I don't think it's unrealistic to think that we can get contributions from everyone on the floor."
Considering the power rotation, that's probably hyperbole.
But the best of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson should be more than enough to win on most nights.
"You've got guys on this team that could average 25 or 30 points a night," Kidd said. "Call their number every night."
The way it looks, it is difficult to bet against the Nets winning the Atlantic Division, receiving a top-three playoff seed, opening the postseason at home.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-ira01jan01,0,4908526.column
Jersey says it can net a title with three stars
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Published January 1, 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]The Nets thought they made enough of a statement a week ago at AmericanAirlines Arena, when Vince Carter scored 51 points and helped New Jersey overcome a 15-point deficit against the Heat. But for those who haven't been paying attention to what has grown into an eight-game winning streak, guard Jason Kidd said perhaps it's time the Nets start talking title.
"Why not?" he asked last week. "Why not? Why not try to be like Detroit or San Antonio or one of the elite teams, like Miami? We set our goals high.
"Why not try to be like those guys? Those guys have had success and we are trying to get there. Why not set [the bar] high?"
Why not? Because recent history does not offer encouragement.
Just as they are now, behind the play of Kidd, Carter and Richard Jefferson, the Nets surged to a 15-4 finish last season behind a perimeter-oriented offense.
They then were swept in four games in the first round by the Heat.
Granted, Jefferson was just returning from injury at the time and hardly was the factor he stands as today. But for all the Nets offer outside of the paint, the power rotation still comes down to Jason Collins, Nenad Krstic and Clifford Robinson.
Such a perimeter approach hardly worked wonders for last season's Wizards or Celtics.
In fact, it has been four seasons since a team advanced to the conference finals without a quality big man (remember, last season's run-and-gun Suns also had Amare Stoudemire).
That was in 2002, when the Paul Pierce-Antoine Walker-Kenny Anderson Celtics went down in the East finals to the Nets, who had the big-muscle game of Kenyon Martin and the surprisingly efficient contribution of center Todd MacCulloch.
Still, this is the Eastern Conference, where the Pacers are reeling, the Pistons hardly are post driven, and the Heat is an injury or conditioning issue away from an unproductive Shaquille O'Neal.
"There's not many who have a better or more talented [trio]," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
For now, even amid the success, the Nets continue to scour the possibilities of size. Among those drawing consideration are Clippers forward Chris Wilcox, Bobcats center Melvin Ely, Bucks center Dan Gadzuric and several other big men.
But even if it's just Kidd, Carter, Jefferson and the current mix of big men, the recent surge has coach Lawrence Frank in tune with his point guard.
"I think we've shown it's possible," Frank said of moving into the class of the Pistons and Heat. "That's the bar. You don't lower it, you raise it.
"I don't think it's unrealistic to think that we can get contributions from everyone on the floor."
Considering the power rotation, that's probably hyperbole.
But the best of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson should be more than enough to win on most nights.
"You've got guys on this team that could average 25 or 30 points a night," Kidd said. "Call their number every night."
The way it looks, it is difficult to bet against the Nets winning the Atlantic Division, receiving a top-three playoff seed, opening the postseason at home.
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