Can Kidd be the man again? In order for Jason Kidd (17.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 8.3 apg, 3.67 TO, .350 FG%) to be productive, the Nets have to find a way to get the running game going, and this means they need to rebound and play better defense. You get the transition game going by rebounding off of stops, not by taking the ball out of the basket after made shots. That being said, Tony Parker (21.0 ppg, 5.3 apg, .462 FG%) has probably outplayed Kidd in Games 1 and 3. Contrary to what Tony says publicly about not caring about the speculation that the Spurs want to sign Kidd, I do think it's a personal thing for him. As an athlete, that competitiveness comes out at a time like this and fortunately for the Spurs, it's been great for his play. I'd equate it to being a coach when you face your former team. If you've been fired from that team and you face that team, you say it's just another game, but it's never just another game. How do you help K-Mart against TD? If there's one guy who's had a coming-out party in the Finals, it's Kenyon Martin (19.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg). I think he's more than held his own against arguably the best player in the league, Tim Duncan (24.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 4.3 bpg). Fouls are the only problem for Martin. But it's a big problem. The problem is that if you guard Duncan over a long period of time in a game, you're going to end up in foul trouble. Either that or Duncan will have a big game. TD is so composed that you can stop him three straight times, but on the fourth or fifth time, he'll show you better footwork and another way to score. The Nets should double Duncan and help K-Mart stay out of foul trouble. You have to keep K-Mart in the game, and you have to keep his fouls down so he can play aggressively. Do missed free throws mean as much to the Spurs as people say? The Spurs are shooting just 63.6 percent (56-for-88) from the charity stripe, but the bigger thing than simply missing your free throws is that your opponent has to be close enough to you to make those misses count. If you have a five-, six- or seven-point lead late in the game, then those misses don't count as much. In a one- or two-point game, they do. I don't think a team can do anything to improve its free-throw shooting. I don't think coach Gregg Popovich spends much time thinking about it. For the Spurs, the bigger issue is cutting down on turnovers. Having 5-6 turnovers in the first quarter and 20 for the game is not what championship basketball is all about. Should Deke play more and Jefferson less? I think Nets coach Byron Scott is facing a kind of catch-22 with Dikembe Mutombo (2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.33 bpg). Defensively, Mutombo has done some pretty good things, but even with him in the game you still have to double-team Duncan. Offensively, Deke slows the Nets' offense down. So if the Nets have to double-team Duncan anyway, they may as well use guys who keep up their offensive flow. Byron's done a good job of using Deke, but I don't think you can use him for 25-30 minutes in a game. As for Richard Jefferson (9.7 ppg, .355 FG%), coming into the series, I said that he was the X-factor for New Jersey. Yes, he's been struggling, but you just have to give credit to the Spurs' defense. Guys like Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili and Stephen Jackson have done a great job of guarding him and not letting him have a big game. Whenever Jefferson has a big game, the Nets rarely lose, and the Spurs know this. Predictions: Who's going to win it all, and who's the MVP? I think it's going to be a long series. I don't think that the Spurs have the Nets' backs against the wall. The one thing about this series is I wouldn't be surprised to see three or four of the games won on the opposing team's court. I think these teams are great defensively. Both can struggle offensively and still find a way to win, as New Jersey did in Game 2 and the Spurs did in Game 3. Bottom line, I think the Spurs will win this series in six or seven games. But I don't think this is the last we've heard of the Nets, though. They'll make it tough for San Antonio. As for MVP, after three games it'd have to be Tim Duncan. Tony Parker would be a close second, but let's not kid ourselves. If you take Duncan off the Spurs, they're a completely different team.
great analysis all of his points are valid. maybe the nets can try something creative and let scalabrine get some minutes. he's a decent scorer around the basket and might be able to draw some cheap fouls on duncan or the admiral. i also still think RJ should come off the bench and let lucious start in his place. their starting lineup should be... kidd lucious kittles kmart collins it's very small, but the spurs have problems with small ball and it gives the nets better outside shooting and more quickness on the court. their current attack is not working and they need to mix it up.
Good points but i think hes overestimating the nets a bit. especilally kenyon martin. hes clearly been outdone in every facet by duncan. he just fouls a lot. spurs in 5 (especially if they win tonight)
yeah and if kenyon martin makes the all-star team and averages a double-double you will still doubt his ability. and even if jason kidd is on a new team and kenyon continues to improve, you will some how attribute it to jason kidd, eventhough they are no longer teammates.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "shapecity":</div><div class="quote_post">yeah and if kenyon martin makes the all-star team and averages a double-double you will still doubt his ability. and even if jason kidd is on a new team and kenyon continues to improve, you will some how attribute it to jason kidd, eventhough they are no longer teammates.</div> Too true....
no. i wouldnt, but its irrelevant cause they wont. how could i possibly attribute his performance to a player who isnt on the team anymore. give me a LITTLE more goddam credit than that shape
lol hey now...you can't argue w/o me in this debate...if the Nets gave Scalabrine some minutes...I think they'd have a better chance at winning but the thing is...i beleive he is a PF and would quickly get in foul trouble guarding Duncan so if he got the minutes it'd have to be the 2nd quarter 2nd string group during the Finals....
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">lol hey now...you can't argue w/o me in this debate...if the Nets gave Scalabrine some minutes...I think they'd have a better chance at winning but the thing is</div> I can't tell if you are joking or not with this comment? i think martin has proved this playoffs and mainly in this series he can play and hold his own against the best player in the league
kmart is good. olskool u definetely don't give him enough respect. i'm not saying he's a future hof or anything, he's just a good solid maybe allstar in the future player. i think that that was a good analysis.
I have yet to see you give credit to martin.....who has played duncan as well as anyone in these playoffs. in the words of bill walton give credit..one time..please
haha, i love it when they argue. usually it's when bill says something totally wrong. he's always gotta talk so dramatic. to him, everything has something to do with the HISTORY of the nba
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "allnet":</div><div class="quote_post">I have yet to see you give credit to martin.....who has played duncan as well as anyone in these playoffs. in the words of bill walton give credit..one time..please </div> I just said i gave credit to martin. he hasnt been duncans greatest challenge and the nets havent been the spurs greatest challenge
