Nets Looking to Force Game 7 [David Stefanini]

The New Jersey Nets are going to playing at home tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers looking to extend the series to a deciding Game 7. After losing Game 4 and falling down 3 games to 1 in the series, things looked very bad for the Nets. They had to go into Cleveland and beat LeBron and co. which nobody had done this postseason. But that's exactly what they did. Now they have the momentum in the series and are going to be playing playing on their home court.

The Cavs must be having visions of last years collapse against the Detroit Pistons in their minds. Last season they were up 3-2 playing at home with a chance to eliminate the Pistons. They could not close the deal and eventually lost the series in 7 games. The situation was similar in this years playoffs. They had a chance to close out the series at home but could not do it. Hopefully this trend will continue for the Cavs this season.

The Nets were my pre-season pick to go to the NBA Finals. I will admit it does not look like they are going to be able to get there, but it is not impossible. The Nets should come out very loose and firing; all the pressure is going to be on the Cavs to close this series out. They should be able to beat the Cavs at home and anything can happen in a Game 7. This should be a closely contested game, but I would look for the veteran Nets to find a way to pull off the upset at home.

NBA Playoff Update 4.27.07 [David Stefanini]

There are only three words to say about last nights action in the NBA Playoffs. Those words are: upset, upset, upset.

The New Jersey Nets beat the Toronto Raptors, 102-89 to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Chicago Bulls beat the Miami Heat 104-96, to take a 3-0 series lead.

The Golden State Warriors, yes the Warriors, beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-91, to take a 2-1 series lead.

I can not begin to write in words what I feel about the Warriors game. They looked like a much better, more talented, and hungrier team. The Dallas Mavericks are going to be in very big trouble if they can not find someone on this planet to guard Baron Davis. This series should be a great one and has all the makings of a seven game series.

One final thought on last nights action. The Nets are showing they are a team to be reckon with. With the Miami Heat falling down 0-3 in their series they Eastern Conference just opened up that much more. The Nets have a good shot at getting out of the East. Hopefully they can and go on to the Finals. However, something tells me the Pistons are going to have a lot to say about that, after they sweep the Magic later today.

After you watch the first 10 picks on the NFL Draft, switch over to TNT and watch the NBA Playoffs. The games today should be worth while to watch. Then again, every time LeBron James steps on the court it is worth while to watch.

NBA Playoff Update: 4.24.2007 [David Stefanini]

Last night three games were played. The defending champions tried to fight off the possibility of an 0-2 deficit, as Kobe and the Lakers did the same. The New Jersey Nets, who were playing with the 'houses money', tried to go up 2-0. After all the games, only one series was tied at 1 game a piece.

The Toronto Raptors evened up their series with a win last night over the Nets. The Raptors showed poise and control down the stretch, a complete turn around from Game 1. This loss should not bother the Nets at all. They went on the road and took 1 out of 2 games, that is all you can ask for when you are the underdog.

The Phoenix Suns proved to be to much for the Lakers to handle. Kobe wasn't looking to dominate the game and the Lakers could not slow down the un-ending attack of the Suns. The Lakers need to win the next two games to have any shot at a series win. To get those two victories; Kobe has to turn into the old Kobe. He must take 30-40 shots and look to score 60+ points. If that doesn't happen the Lakers will get blown out again.

Finally, the Miami Heat become the third team in history to fall down 0-2 in the first round after winning the title the previous year. Dwyane Wade does not look like himself, and the Bulls are running. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng are playing like super-stars who have been in this league a very long time. Look for a Heat bounce back performance in Game 3, but the Bulls to still win this series in 6 games.

Kidd, Carter Get Triple Double in Same Game [David Stefanini]

This from ESPN.com:

"Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are now in the same category with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, at least when it comes to triple-doubles.

Carter and Kidd became the first teammates with triple-doubles in the same game since Jordan and Pippen in 1989, leading the New Jersey Nets to a 120-114 overtime victory over the injury-ravaged Washington Wizards on Saturday Night.

"You can't beat that one," Carter said of the comparison to the two former Chicago Bulls greats. "That's nice company.""

Comments:
It is so hard to truly comprehend what happened here tonight. Two players, on the same team, recorded a triple double. For Carter and Kidd to accomplish something that Jordan and Pippen has done is truly remarkable. The Nets have been subject to injuries all season and never got the chance to live up to their potential. However coming down the stretch they are getting their players healthy and their two all-stars are putting up huge numbers. They don't have a chance to come out of the East, but they should be able to make the first round of the playoffs interesting to watch.

Jason Kidd Headed West? [David Stefanini]

Rumors have been going around the league that a potential trade between the Lakers and Nets would send All-Star Jason Kidd to LA. The Nets and Lakers only have until Thursday to get this deal done.

There is speculation, the Lakers want to involve Portland in on the trade. The Nets would receive Jamal Magloire, the Blazers would get Kwame Brown and Jordan Farmar, and the Lakers would get Kidd. This is the deal the Lakers would love to make, however the Blazers are not committed to this deal and the Nets want Andrew Bynum, which is something the Lakers are not willing to do. They are dealing with a lot of injuries at the Forward and Center positions, they can not trade away a future All-Star for a point guard, no matter how great the guard is.

Jason Kidd has told people close to him he is more than happy to go to LA and team up with Kobe Bryant. If this deal goes through the struggling Lakers can turn their season around and make a deep run in the playoffs.

Super Bowl XLI Prep at the Nets Game? [J. Mark English]

This from Yahoo News:

The New Jersey Nets dance team wears NFL uniform jerseys of Super Bowl quarterbacks Rex Grossman of the Chicago Bears (8) and Peyton Manning (18) of the Indianapolis Colts during a time out in the Nets' NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Vince Carter Scores 40, Leading Nets to Victory [David Stefanini]

The New Jersey Nets finally snapped out of there 3-game losing streak with a win over the Denver Nuggets in Denver. The Nets have looked good over the past few weeks and seemed like they broke out their early season slumps, however three heart-breaking loses, all by one-point, could have broke this teams heart and set them on a path for the cellar of the Eastern Conference. Vince Carter was not going to let that happen on this night. He scored 20 of his game high 40 points in the 4th quarter.

The Nets are now 21-23 on the season and are half a game back of the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division. They are going to have to forget about those three loses and focus on the positives, like tonight's game against the Nuggets. If they can string together 4 or 5 wins they should be able to take command of their pathetic division.

A New Home in Brooklyn [J. Mark English]

Once a tree just grew in Brooklyn. Now there will be a brand spanking new sports facility growing out of the borough. Ladies and gentlemen: The Barclays Center. This will be the new home to the New Jersey Nets.

Jason Kidd Gets Fined for Blaming Refs [David Stefanini]

The NBA today announced they are fining Mr. Triple Double, Jason Kidd $20,000 for his rant after last night's lost to the Pistons. Last night Kidd said such things as the "three-blind mice" were running the game. Kidd also said it's hard to show up to play a game when your battling the crowd, the Pistons, and the refs.

I think Kidd is completely correct. I watched most of the game last night and I thought the refs were pathetic. The last play of the game summed up what happened throughout the game. Vince Carter would blow past his defender, a Piston player would knock him off-balance, the refs would allow it, and the Nets would turn the ball over.

I am never one to say the refs can cost you a game. The players on the court decide who win the game. If the refs get under your skin and alter your play, that is the players fault. However I can understand the frustration and anger in Jason Kidd. The last play of the game should have been Carter shooting two free-throws to tie and win the game.

If David Stern is going to make a change in 2007, it should not be going back to the old ball, it should be taking all the officials back to school and teaching them how to call a game evenly. The officiating this season is the worst I have ever seen. Fouls are called to quickly and other times hard fouls aren't even called a foul. Something needs to be done in 2007 or the players are going to be giving a lot of money to the NBA.