<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, Tony Mejia of CBS Sportsline and John Hollinger of ESPN have all but written off the Nets this season, suggesting the loss of Nenad Krstic means they are unlikely to win the Atlantic Division or make the playoffs. All three note the team was in trouble before Krstic tore his ACL, but now they say it's hard to figure how badly the loss of the Serb center will hurt. Hollinger says simply: "Blow it up", declare the season over, trade Vince Carter and send RJ to the surgeon.</div> Source
John Hollinger has been a Nets hater since he was born. I don't put much credit in anything he writes.
Either way you look at it, the Nets still have the most talent in the division. The Knicks aren't really anything to worry about, although they have been stepping up lately, I see them coming back to earth soon. The Celtics are Paul Pierce with a bunch of youngsters. You guys won't have to worry about the Sixers since they suck more than Paris Hilton. The only team that IMO you guys will be competing with is the Toronto Raptors. But even then, the Nets still have more talent. Now obviously talent isn't everything, but I still don't see how a trio of Kidd - Carter - Jefferson can't win the very weak Atlantic Division. Now obviously you guys have problems in the post, but it's not like the other teams in the division have any drastic strengths. I still think that when it's all said and done, the Nets will still be able to win the Atlantic
The issue becomes, is winning the Atlantic good enough anymore? You have an aging Jason Kidd, a soon to be free agent in Vince Carter, and a hobbling Richard Jefferson. Best case scenario the Nets get a top 4 seed and homecourt advantage. A 4th seed would potentially match them up with Chicago, Miami, or Washington in the 1st Round. Without an inside presence New Jersey isn't going to beat any of these teams in a 7 game series.
Hollinger might not like the Nets, but he's right. This team is going nowhere fast. They've been struggling all year, and now this happens. This is the last thing the Nets needed. I really don't foresee them getting past the first round of the playoffs, if they even make the playoffs. They still have a talented trio, but that has proven to be not enough when Krstic was healthy, and I have serious doubts that it'll be enough without him. It's sad when a team with a talented trio like the Nets have can't even compete in the pathetic Eastern conference this year.
I have hated Hollinger alot, but he is right. Without an inside presence we are nothing. Like I have said before, when Jason Collins is your best post scorer you are gonna be in trouble. Right now we need to desperately trade for a big man. If we don't win the Atlantic division it will be a shame.
