[cjg11582]

So am I the only one who has The Nets in six? It is bold but I think warranted, this Heat team just isn't what it was last year due to a serious lack of defense. Either way it goes I am going to follow this one closely. Who all is seeing it playing out differently?

[ThePundit]

pI think this is a 7 game series. Kidd was really exposed defensively in the last series. After watching the early series, I'll take the Heat in 7. Although I picked the Nets to go the championship originally , I'll switch to the Heat. Now I can be right either way.

[MJHMarc]

And to think that this year's Heat team was suppose to be better than last year's which their key acquistions in the off-season. Anyway the season is over, and I think they may get stopped in their tracks by the Nets. Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter have all united to become a powerful and in some ways an unstoppable team. As you may have read in last week's ESPN Magazine with the three on the cover, perhaps two or all of the NBA analysts projected the Nets to be in the East Championship Series.

[legend]

I need to see Shaq stopped before I lean towards the Heat.In the past, he has run wild over the Nets.
Wade's health is an issue though.

[pete_b]

cjg I just wanna know where you are coming from when you call the Heat in six..I mean do you think that the Nets are gonna play as good as the Bulls did against the Heat or do you just think that the Heat doesn't have what it takes. Shed some light if you would.

[Lefty Noob]

Nets in 6 or 7 sounds about right to me. Miami isn't as good as advertised, I'm afraid.

[cjg11582]

My reasoning behind the Nets in six pick is three fold. One I think Miami is significantly worse from last year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. If they stumbled against Nacioni, Hinrich and Gordon, what are Kidd, Carter and Jefferson going to do to them? In addition Shaq does not have the capacity to dominate every game, and I have no idea who is going to guard Kristic, the center for the Nets with a precision jump shot.
Secondly, The Nets were 3-1 against Miami this season and New Jersey has only exponentially improved, while Miami has fluctuated in level of play. Some might even agree that they have digressed in the playoffs.
Third of all, Miami is mentally vulnerable right now. This team is loaded with egos, some which dwelled in the mid-90's and have not learned to play a role position (i.e. Antoine Walker and Gary Payton). Combine those two with the actual statistical leaders on the team and Pat Riley, it can be devastating to the outcome of a series.
Really I cannot think of a justification to pick Te Heat except, "They have Shaq and Wade". Which seems flaccid. Unless you think Wade's offense can compensate for all three preimeter players on The Nets. In short, Miami is more defensively susceptible on the perimeter than New Jersey is in the post.

[MJHMarc]

Here is a quick update for the first game of the series:
________
NETS|84|
HEAT|64|
End 3RD|
-----------
New Jersey Nets
Vince Carter=21
Jason Kidd=20
Richard Jefferson=20

Miami Heat
Dwayne Wade=25
Jason Williams=12
Shaquille O' Neal=8



Check out the current boxscore (updated every 30-60 seconds) at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas..._boxscore.html

[ThePundit]

I was surprised how easily the Nets handled the Heat. Look for Shaq to have a monster game Wednesday.

[cjg11582]

Possibly, if The Nets lose it will be a culmination of over-confidence and the loss of Richard Jefferson (whom I have never been a fan of, but The Heat cannot cover him). It will be a situaton of The Nets losing it rather than Miami winning it.
Jason Collins, quietly as kept is one of the leagues best post defenders (though this is by default, because the league is virtually absent of solid post defenders) and can contain a much slower, lazier, Shaq than what he had to guard (to no avail) in the 2002 finals.

[ThePundit]

Without Richard Jefferson playing, the Heat better win tonight or they're in HUGE trouble.

[cjg11582]

No kidding, even if he was playing going down 0-2 with home court advantage is never a good sign.

[MJHMarc]

Here is the matchup for tonight's game.
==================
Nets Heat
J.Kidd | J.Williams
V.Carter | D.Wade
R.Jefferson | J.Posey
J.Collins | U.Haslem
N.Krstic | S.O'Neal
--------------------------
Who do you think will perform better in tonight's game: Vince Carter or Dwayne Wade?

[Lefty Noob]

Wow, good question. I'll venture Wade has the better game, but the Nets win.

[Grozny]

The Heat are pasting the Nets tonight. New Jersey looks disinterested in playing. It'll take a miracle to bring the Nets back in this game.