Nets/spurs Preview NETS VS SPURS TONIGHT 8pm, ESPN Coming Into to tonights game Nets: The Nets come into to nights game in the middle of a major struggle. They have lost 3 out of 5 games since Kenyon Martin was lost to injury. The Nets have recent losses to Houston, the Pistons,& Pacers. The Piston & Pacer losses hurt the most because these are the teams the Nets will have to battle for the #1 seed in the east come playoff time. Every loss to these teams can come back an hurt the Nets in April. The Nets come into tonights game with a record of 3-4. The Nets sit at the bottom half of what has so far been an extremely competive Eastern Conference. One good thing the Nets have to look forward to tonight is the return of Kenyon Martin who has missed 5 games due to injury.But the Nets a desprate for a win they need to rebuild confidence and a winning concept. Spurs:The defending champion Spurs, are in a similar situation as the team they faced in the 2003 finals. The Spurs have been hurt by injury to key players like Duncan & Parker. The Spurs have suffered crushing losses to Western Conference rivals the lakers & Dallas. And they find themselves at the .500 mark with a record of 4-4. 4-4 isnt that bad in the west right now because all of the west conference powerhouses have suffered from key injuries & lack of chemistry. But with Duncan&Parker back(both made there return on Mon.in a 87-78 Spurs victory over Utah)the Spurs look to go on a major winning streak to gain some sepration from the other Western Conference powerhouses. MATCHUPS PG- Tony Parker vs Kidd Advantage:KIDD SG- Manu Ginobili vs Kerry Kittles Matchup is a tie SF- Bruce Bowen vs Richard Jefferson Advantage: Jefferson PF- T.Duncan vs Kenyon Martin Advantage: Duncan C- RASHO vs J Collins Advantage: RASHO KEYS TO THE GAME NETS - the Nets key to the game starts & finishes with J.Kidd. Kidd has to push the ball against the Spurs. The Nets have a hard time scoring against the Spurs in a Half court set(As proven by last years NBA finals). Nets have to cause turn overs & get out on the fastbreak. Nets also have to step up post defense. Tim Duncan kills the Nets post defense especially when K-MART isnt in the game. And the Spurs have added a new weapon to their post since the finals RASHo. He is an excellent offensive Center. K-MART, Zo,J.C & A.Will really have to step it up defensivily to night. SPURS-Tim Duncan. Everything the Spurs do tonight will have to go thru Duncan. The Nets really have no match for Duncan especially with a weak Kenyon Martin. Also Tony Parker(who has only playing in his 2nd game of the season) is not really in game shape. So he will have a hard time keeping up with Kidd. KEY NETS ADVANTAGE -lack of Spur chemistry. The Spurs 2 best players have missed quite a few games. Duncan missed 3 games & Parker 7 games. That coupled with the new faces(Mercer,Rasho,Turkalu,Horry)still adjusting shold crate alot of chemistry problems tonight llike Missed defesive assignments by the Spurs & a stagnet Spurs offense. The Nets have to take advantage of the Spurs problems when they occur. Plus Parker really isnt use to running the Spurs offense were guys like Ginobili & turkalu take alot of shots. He probably wont be able to get them the ball in there right scoring spot. And he will havw his fair amount of turnovers because of that factor, Expect the Nets to take Advantage. SPURS -Nets weak post. Keyon Martin isnt 100%,Rodney Rodgers is on IL, Zo cant play many minutes. Duncan will spend alot of time being guarded by Jason Collins & Arron Williams. Expect Duncan to take Advantage of these mismatches. X-FACTOR -Benches. the Nets bench is suffering from major injuries to Louious Harris & Rodney Rodgers. While the Sups kry bench players (turkalu,Horry,Rose) are all healty. X-FACtOR Advantage- Spurs Please feel free to talk about the keys to the game, injuries, Key matchups. We need to get some Nets conversation going on NET FANS PLEASE DISCUSS
it will be just like last year's Finals...K-Mart will do well defending TD during the first half..then pick up some fouls and must go to the bench...this is where the Nets problem comes in... Then this is where J-Kidd bails them out...he'll definitely try to run...hopefully, the minutes that he's been playing during the past games wouldn't affect his stamina...Im expecting Kittles to burn the Spurs with his three point bombs...and Jefferson on the receiving end of some nifty passes from Kidd...the big three should stay out of foul trouble...or else they'll lose the game... Nets win by less than 10 points...i hope i'm not wrong...
Two reason Spurs should win this game Tim Duncan Bench Depth The bench is one of the best in the league..The Nets is very weak when you compare them.Hedo,Rose,Horry,Hart can all come in and produce... Spurs by 7
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Two reason Spurs should win this game Tim Duncan Bench Depth The bench is one of the best in the league..The Nets is very weak when you compare them.Hedo,Rose,Horry,Hart can all come in and produce... Spurs by 7</div> that's why the Nets' big three (Kidd, R-Jeff, K-Mart) should really produce...as long as KMart stays out of foul trouble, they'll be ok...im almost seeing a triple double (or a near one) by Kidd...
Big 3? the only big time player on the Nets is Kidd...Basically If Spurs stop Nets fast break Jefferson is a non-factor.K-mart is still TD's mitch (take out the M put in B :mrgreen: ) EDIT Nets 33 Spurs 49 HT Nice way to end the half by Malik. Duncan 17 and 6 at HT Kidd 5,5 and 6 Also I may add in the preview..The Kittles v Manu match-up is not a tie..Manu is the much better all-round player...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Big 3? the only big time player on the Nets is Kidd...Basically If Spurs stop Nets fast break Jefferson is a non-factor.K-mart is still TD's mitch (take out the M put in B :mrgreen: ) EDIT Nets 33 Spurs 49 HT Nice way to end the half by Malik. Duncan 17 and 6 at HT Kidd 5,5 and 6 Also I may add in the preview..The Kittles v Manu match-up is not a tie..Manu is the much better all-round player...</div> well they are the Nets' biggest three right? so it's just right to call them the Nets' Big Three... anyway...Nets lost...i was correct that Kidd's gonna get a triple double...KMart did a fairly good job considering that he's coming from an injury...oh well...
Those 3 are important but you made it sound like the Mavs big 3 of last season.Kidd is the only big time player on the Nets...Although he needs Martin to get assists because of the alley-oop's e.t.c Anyways good win for S.A,Duncan played very well and is getting better with that injury as is Parker.Both not 100% just yet but that will come.Great game from Rasho 11 rebounds and 6 blocks
