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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Sayson: Seeing seven games
By Homer Sayson
Second overtime
CHICAGO – If you are a Nets fan, you have to be thrilled with the way New Jersey plowed through what was alleged to be a loaded Eastern Conference field. The Nets barely sweated in the mere 14 games they needed to reach the NBA Finals for the second straight year, sweeping both Boston and top-seeded Detroit.
Most championship teams are anchored on a center-guard duo. Not New Jersey. The Nets lived and died with Jason Kidd at point, and Kenyon Martin at power forward. In this post-season the spectacular Jason is averaging 20.3 points, 8.4 assists, and 6.3 rebounds a game. K-mart, on the other hand, has been a demon on both ends of the floor with 20.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.36 blocks.
As the 2003 NBA Finals opens tomorrow at the SBC Center in San Antonio, I have greater faith on these Nets, unlike last year, when they were decimated by the Lakers who went on to score a boring four-game rout.
I can’t tell you enough about how I like the Nets, what with its Lakers connection in coach Byron Scott, who tandemed with Magic Johnson in an LA backcourt that won titles in 1985, 1987 and 1988. Then there’s Kidd’s wife Joumana, her voluptuous figure and pretty face could knock any man’s socks off.
Although I might be cheering for the underdog Nets, I have no doubt that when this series is over San Antonio will win its second Larry O’Brien trophy since 1999.
I’ve been poring over the post-season stats list the past few days. The urge to overanalyze is tempting, what with the key match-ups at frontcourt, backcourt and the pivot. But there is only one factor that will truly determine the outcome of these Finals – Tim Duncan.
The reigning MVP leads the Spurs in scoring (24.9), rebounding (14.8), assists (5.3), shot blocks (2.6) and shooting percentage (54 percent). Where Duncan goes, so do the Spurs.
Nets coach Byron Scott insists that he will put Martin straight up one-on-one against the 27-year-old Duncan. So far no team has had success dealing with the 7-foot, 265-pound Duncan via single coverage, and it will be interesting if Scott borrows a page of the Dallas playbook and through a collapsing zone against Tiny Tim.
Regardless of how New Jersey tries to stop Duncan, this will be an exciting championship round, one where the purist will relish the display of sound fundamental basketball. If New Jersey wants to smell the championship roses and score a monumental upset, they must win one of the first two games in San Antonio.
Games 1 and 2 is where the Spurs are most vulnerable for two reasons: 1) they are still fatigued from the chaotic, helter-skelter Dallas series, and 2) key players Manu Ginobli, Steven Jackson, Bruce Bowen and Tony Parker have never been to the NBA Finals and could be feeling the jitters.
Games 3, 4 and 5 shift to the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey and the Nets can’t afford to be down 0-2 because holding serve three straight times at home is as rare as a total eclipse.
This is going to be fun. Spurs in seven.
P.S. Thanks to Dr. Armand Tabotabo and his brother and chess patron Dr. Darcy Tabotabo of Kentucky for helping me with my trip to the NBA Finals.
(Questions may be sent to homsay@hotmail.com)
(June 4, 2003 issue)
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