NBA BASKETBALL
Huge Net Gains in New Jersey
<December 3, 2001>

By Ken Black

A quick review of the NBA standings finds the Los Angeles Lakers on top of the Pacific Division, the Milwaukee Bucks controlling the Central, and the Minnesota Timberwolves battling the San Antonio Spurs for the lead in the Midwest. All of this, more or less, was expected. Now glance at the Atlantic Division. Guess who's in first place? Philadelphia? Nope. Orlando? No, they're 7-9 and holding on by Grant Hill's tender ankles. Miami? I guess you really haven't been paying attention! Try that team across the river from Gotham. Yes, New Jersey!

The Nets are 10-5. Keith Van Horn, Kenyon Martin, and Kerry Kittles have played in and started all of the 15 games so far and haven't been injured. Is it any wonder the Northeast has been enjoying 55-60 degree temperatures so late in the year? Their talent has never been questioned. Their health over the course of their respective careers hasn’t allowed them to display it often. Van Horn, New Jersey's leading scorer at 17.3 points per game, is second on the team in rebounds at 7.7, and is draining three's at a 37.7% clip. The wondrously athletic Martin, coming off an impressive showing at the Goodwill Games as a member of the U.S. team, is averaging 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and leads the team in blocked shots with 2.13 rejections per game. Kittles, a Eucharistic Minister in the Roman Catholic Church, is progressing nicely after missing last season due to injury. He's averaging 10.1 points and is burying the three point shot 38.7% of the time.

Perhaps the two biggest reasons in the Nets' resurgence lies in the acquisitions of 7-0 center Todd MacCulloch, and point guard Jason Kidd. MacColloch, the Canadian who last year was in a 76er uniform backing up Dikembe Mutombo, has given the Nets an inside presence they haven't had in years. Granted, the 10.9 points and team-leading 8.4 rebounds he's averaging aren't Shaq-like, but he is keeping defenses honest by shooting 51.2% from the floor. He's also showing he can play some defense as well, swatting away 1.87 shots a game. If the league's MVP award were given solely to a guy who does the most for his team, then Kidd would win the award going away. Acquired in a trade for Stephon Marbury, this former Phoenix point guard is averaging 13.3 points, 9.6 assists, a most impressive 7.6 rebounds (remember, he's a 6-4 point guard), and 1.8 steals. He also leads the team in putting smiles on his teammates faces because he PASSES the ball on fast breaks rather than look to SHOOT the ball in such situations. The Nets know if they work to get open, Jason will get them the ball. He's the primary reason why the Nets are winning.

Other reasons why New Jersey is winning can be found in these facts: 5 players are averaging double figures in scoring, they are out-rebounding their opponents by 3.2 a game, they are holding their opponents to 41.2% field goal shooting, and the defense is only allowing 90.5 points a game. Also throw in the fact the Nets are blocking shots at a rate of 7.5 per game and one can begin to see why they are on top of the Atlantic. Coach Byron Scott has also received valuable contributions off the bench from Richard Jefferson, Lucious Harris, and Aaron Williams. Rookie Jason Collins has also shown flashes of great potential.

This is a team that was 6-9 after their first 15 games last year and didn't win their 10th game until January 2, 2001 on their way to a 26-56 season. If they can stay relatively free of injury and improve upon their 42.5% shooting from the floor, the Nets will be in the playoffs and just might finish among the top four seeds. The 2001-2002 Atlantic Division championship banner just might very well be flying in Continental Airlines Arena.