The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Sports

In the early nineties, the Nets were lovable losers of the National Basketball Association. Things began to change when the team hired Byron Scott and later replaced him with Lawrence Frank. The Nets look for their sixth consecutive winning season this year, a feat that has never been done in franchise history.
Coming off last years' 49-33 record and another Atlantic Division title, the Nets looked for a few things in the off-season. One was another big man to team up with rising star Nenad Kristic and another was to improve a bench that struggled last season.
The Nets did just that in drafting Josh Boone and Marcus Williams out of the University of Connecticut. New Jersey thought they had the big man they needed and the bench player they needed. However Boone suffered an injury in the off-season, and he may not be back until January.
The Nets had some quick thinking to do, and they signed free agent and former Net Mikki Moore. Not the move Nets fan were hoping for as Moore has yet to prove himself in the NBA. The Nets also hoped that giving former Duke star and Plainfield native Jay Williams an invite to training camp would earn him a spot. Williams was cut however just before the preseason ended, and his attempt at an NBA comeback after a devastating motorcycle injury appear to be derailed as well.
The Nets also signed veterans Darvin Ham and Eddie House. House has already been bothered by nagging preseason injuries, and there is no guarantee Darvin Ham will even make the Nets roster.
The Eastern Conference is a lot stronger this season. Of course you have the defending champion Miami Heat, who always play the Nets well. Secondly, you have the Detriot Pistons who are always strong. Sure they lost "Big" Ben Wallace but replaced him with another big man, Nazr Mohammed, who should provide a spark. Another team on the rise is the Chicago Bulls, a young team that played well the second half of last year and made the playoffs. They improved their roster in the summer by signing Wallace away from the Pistons. This signing should only make the Bulls stronger and provides them with the veteran that they need.
The Nets have a fairly easy schedule to kick things off as they only play four teams who were above .500 last season. This includes two of the first four games against the Heat, and after that things should get even easier. The Nets need to finish the first month well over .500, as the previous few years they have hovered around .500 and it took a big winning streak to atone for this. The team cannot depend on a big winning streak, as they don't have as much depth as in previous years.
Jason Kidd is getting older, Vince Carter is looking for a new contract, Richard Jefferson needs to stay healthy and Jason Collins has yet to prove himself in the NBA. These are a lot of question marks for the Nets. The team needs to improve right now and fast if they are going to make a run at teams such as the Detroit Pistons, and the defending champion Miami Heat.


My predictions:

Eastern Conference Finals:

Heat over Bulls


Western Confernce Finals:

Spurs over Mavs

NBA Finals

Heat over Spurs

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