few more hours now
BTW
we might have some nets fans around, please treat them with respect, as we treat our fellow laker fans. that means no trashtalking, no useless insults, no bashing. We'll just have to focus on the game, aight?
Game Preview:
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The cross-river rivalry between the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks begins Saturday in Game One of an Eastern Conference first-round series.
New Jersey survived injuries to Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin to compile 47 wins and earn a third straight Atlantic Division title. Kidd and Martin's health will be a major issue on Saturday.
The game will also be a homecoming for former Net Stephon Marbury, the player New Jersey traded away to obtain Kidd. Marbury has never won a playoff series.
New York is back in the playoffs after a two-year absence. The Knicks last postseason appearance ended in a five-game first-round loss to Toronto in 2001.
MEANINGFUL MATCHUP: Jason Kidd vs. Stephon Marbury. These two point guards were traded for each other on July 18, 2001 in a deal that sent Kidd to New Jersey and Marbury to Phoenix. Marbury is living out a dream by playing with the Knicks, the team he wanted to play for since he was a child. Kidd feels this matchup will allow him to demonstrate that he is the league's best point guard.
WHO'S HOT: Knicks: G Stephon Marbury averaged 19.3 points and 6.7 assists vs. Nets this season. ... C Nazr Mohammed has collected 18 points and 14 rebounds over his last two games. Nets: G Richard Jefferson averaged 24 points per game in March and 16.5 in four games against the Knicks. ... G Lucious Harris shot over 40 percent in March and April after failing to do so the three previous months.
WHO'S NOT: Knicks: G Shandon Anderson has started for injured G Allan Houston in each of the last 14 games and is averaging just 8.4 points per game. Nets: C Jason Collins played all but four games this season, but only posted three double-doubles.
STREAKS: New Jersey lost 10 of its last 16 games while nursing injuries to Kidd and Martin. ... New York is 10-6 in its last 16 games.
SEASON SERIES & HISTORY: New Jersey is 10-2 against New York since Kidd joined the team.
The Nets have won seven straight at home vs. the Knicks.
INJURIES: Knicks: G Allan Houston (knee) has missed 13 of the last 14 games. ... Nets: F Kenyon Martin (knee) missed last two games.
It's playoff time again,
Let's Go Knicks!!