I think the Nets are very underrated this playoff "season", (against the West anyways) I certainly don't believe they will be swept out this year. Could they actually win four games against the Spurs? I know raw athletic talent can only get you so far, but they definitely have some exciting players. I think Stern is probable cringing at this match-up... Nets vs the Spurs who would have thought this was possible? This series might make for a good bet out in Vegas though... Go Nets
I really think the Nets will win it this year. Their team is so much different than the Spurs, and you know their defense is better. I predict Nets in 5 or 6. 2 Olympians are better than 1.
We know the nets' defense is better? sure, better than the mavs. who do the nets have at the bucket to block shots? K-Mart? frankly, i dont know if the nets could score over 80 points against the spurs in a halfcourt game.
The Spurs can go big and have an advantage or they can run and have the upper hand... but I just get that New England Pat vs. St. Louis feel about this one, I need to check the lines again... Spurs 6.5 favs in game 1 hmmmm.
Let's break down the starting lineup: ----Nets-------------------Spurs---- Jason Kidd.........PG........Tony Parker ADVANTAGE: Nets Kerry Kittles.......SG......Stephen Jackson ADVANTAGE: Nets (just barely) Kenyon Martin....PF...Tim Duncan ADVANTAGE: Spurs Richard Jefferson...SF...Bruce Bowen ADVANTAGE: Nets (imo) Jason Collins*......C......David Robinson ADVANTAGE: Welllll, neither, but you could argue for both ways. * - It is possible that Dikembe Mutumbo would play, and he could be a factor. Besides height, there's really nothing else he can offer while still somewhat injured. Benches are a toss up, while the Spurs have more energy and shooting skills, the Nets might have more power.
C'mon Duncan is a big advantage...BUT he will have to show up, Steve Kerr can only bail the Spurs out so many times. Dikembe Mutumbo would be a HUGE help to the Nets (if for nothing else to go in and throw elbows with Willis) because they are going to be worn down with the Spurs big fellas. Point guard big time advantage to the Nets obviously, especially if Tony Parker eats some more Creme Brule', but that just means more Kerr who would OWN Kidd ...
I hope the Nets win so the Spurs will look like the laughing stock of the league after everyone saying all year long how the west is superior to the east. Especially with people saying the Nets have no chance against the Spurs, but had a chance against the Mavs. Nets would be 5th seed in the west or worse since they weren't even 1st in the east.
mooch, you could also line up Dallas' starters next to the spurs starters and come up with the same conclusion. bottom line, the spurs have a legitimate post up game while the nets have.......a point guard.
Thre is no chance for Nets to beat the Spurs. It's simply a mismatch of talents. Spurs have to much talent.
They have a shot. If they would have Drew, Dallas, Sac-town, or LA they would have been swept mabye win a game. But they matchup well with the Spurs. New Jersey has been hitting on all cylinders and to me the Spurs were not that impressive against Dallas. So they have a shot. Defintely a better shot than what Philly and the nets last year had against the Lakers. But I dont expect them to win. I say it goes 6 maybe 7. Phoenix also matched up well against the Spurs and they nearly pulled off the upset. So the nets do have a shot
I think the Nets can win, just have to contatin Duncan, they arent going to shut down Duncan, but if they can contain him they have a very good chance.
Listen, the Nets dominated against Detroit and Celtics, but are they really that good? 1. Detroit - almost lost to the Magic 2. Celtics - powerforward is a 3 point specialist. 3. Bucks - given more time to adjust, Payton would have made this series more competitive. <B>Anyone who thinks Nets have any chance to win this series is crazy.</B> There are 4 teams, not including the Spurs, in the West who could beat the Nets with their eyes closed (Lakers, Kings, Mavs, Portland). Spurs are better than these 4 teams this year. One is going to make an argument about match ups. Well lets look at it: <B>FRONT COURT</B> 5. Robinson vs Collins (Advantage Robinson) Robinson simply is stronger/taller than Collins. Mutombo might get more playing time to account for Robinsons height. Overall, the combination of [Robinson/Rose/Willis] out matches the combination of [Mutombo/Collins/Williams]. 4. Duncan vs Martin (Advantage Duncan) No comment needed <B>SWING MAN</B> 3. Bowen vs Jefferson (Even) Jefferson is more athletic and a scoring threat. If Bowen can defend Kobe, he should also be able to stop Jefferson. I believe Jefferson is going to be a non-factor in this series cause of Bowens defense. <B>BACK COURT</B> 2. Jackson vs Kittles (Slight Advantage Jackson) Simply the combination of [Jackson/Ginobili] is better than [Kittles/Harris]. 1. Parker vs Kidd (Advantage Kidd) No comment needed Conclusion: Nets have no chance of winning. Here are the reason why 1. <B>Nets are going to have a difficult time scoring.</B> Nets rely on the offensive production, 35 points per game in the playoffs, of Martin and Jefferson. Martin will be contained by Duncan (all defensive team) and Jefferson will be contained by Bowen (stopped Kobe who is much better offfensive player than Jefferson). This leaves Kidd as the primary scorer than, not what you want if you are the Nets. 2. <B>Mismatch on the front court</B>. The team with the better front court usually wins. In this case, it's a total mismatch in the front court. 3. <B>Easier Shots</B> Players like Jackson/Ginobili/Parker/Bowen are going to have an easy time scoring against Nets because so much attention will be placed on Duncan. How in the world does anyone see Nets winning this series? Nets might win 1 or 2 games, Spurs lack of aggression and over confidence, but don't be fooled, Nets have no chance.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2003/story?id=1561336 Mutombo, "I know I got hurt. But I'm not hurt no more." ...However, Scott can't deny Mutombo's role in the Nets' 91-82 home win over the Spurs last Nov. 13. Starting at center, Mutombo scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 22 minutes as Duncan and Robinson shot a combined 10-for-29 (34.5 percent). In a 92-78 road loss at San Antonio on March 6 -- without Mutombo -- Duncan and Robinson shot a collective 9-for-19 (47.4 percent). I can't imagine that Mutombo won't see some time against all of SA's big men. Jefferson is a major x-factor in this series, but does it really matter? The more I look at this the more i'm starting to think 4-1 Spurs. Especially with all the time the Nets have been sitting around watching the Western Conference finals, they will be cold. I think that 6.5 line will be covered in game 1 (ya i'm really going out on a limb there).
I dislike the Spurs, but it seems that the media and some fans aren't giving them as much credit as they should. They did survive the WC gauntlet.
Reminds me of another team from the West that didn't (and still doesn't) get alot of respect from their championships after surviving the WC gauntlet. Nets --- 49-33 in the East, that is pretty weak they have obviously come together and started playing better, but they don't have a chance. I still dislike the Spurs, but you have to respect 60 wins and the WC championship. If the Rockets were in the East this year we could have had an all Texas final----
