Nets Making Serious Push Towards Playoffs

After tonight's games, the Nets record is now at 35-38 while the 76ers are at 35-37.

Tomorrow the Nets play the Magic at home, another team that is fighting for the eigth and final playoff spot.

From what I heard recently, Chris Webber is out for 7-10 games, a huge blow for the Sixers.

The Magic also just recently lost Jameer Nelson, not as big of a blow as the 76ers took but he was the Magic's starting PG.

Though the Nets seem to be riding Vince Carter into the playoffs they have recently been playing strong defense and other players have began to step up when needed.

These are the remaining schedules for the Nets and Sixers:

New Jersey Nets Schedule:
Orlando Magic (Home)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Away)
New York Knicks (Home)
Boston Celtics (Home)
Indianda Pacers (Away)
Toronto Raptors (Away)
Philadelphia 76ers (Home)
Washington Wizards (Home)
Boston Celtics (Away)

With the way the Nets roster looks many would think New Jersey couldn't beat any of these teams, but since acquiring Vince Carter you could say they have been overachieving. That may not be the best word for it but winning 7 of 9 with what has gone on in New Jersey this year is good enough for me. I am also confident the Nets could and should go at the very least 6-3 in these finals 9 games finishing with a record of 41-41.

Philadelphia 76ers Schedule:
Boston Celtics (Away)
Charlotte Bobcats (Home)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Home)
Washington Wizards (Away)
Boston Celtics (Home)
Miami Heat (Home)
Indiana Pacers (Away)
New Jersey (Away)
Miluakee Bucks (Home)
Atlanta Hawks (Home)

The 76ers get a little bit of luck in their final 10 games going up against Charlotte, Miluakee and Atlanta which should be easy wins. I don't really know what to say except that I hope the Sixers really blow these last 10 games.

I havn't talked too much about the Orlando Magic...But screw them, this is a thread for the Nets

Anyways, during the offseason I practically cried when I heard what was going on in New Jersey. A team that made the finals two years in a row being dismantled like they couldn't accomplish anything. But still, I stuck with my team, even though I had my doubts about making the playoffs even with Jason Kidd running the point with Jefferson at his wing.

When I heard about the Vince Carter trade you would think I would be ecstatic, but again, I had my doubts. I knew Vince could give New Jersey 20 points every night but would he still complain and not give it his all? AT first I though we would be better off with Eric and Aaron Williams. They may not have been anywhere near the skill of Vince but they were professionals, and they came to play the right way every night.

But Vince began tearing it up in New Jersey and I was beginning to smile again. With a back court of Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson right along side them, I knew we were heading in the right direction. But again, the Nets took a huge blow when they lost Richard Jefferson for the rest of the season, and just as quickly as that smile came upon my face it turned into a frown.

Little did I know that Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and the rest of the New Jersey Nets would be enough to make the serious push towards the playoffs they are making right now, and I wish them all the best.

And even if they don't make the playoffs I know they are heading in the right direction. As long as we can keep our fragile back court of Kidd and Carter on the court, have Richard Jefferson continue to grow and learn from some of the best, give time to our developing rookie Nenad Krstic and get help from the rest of the supporting cast, expect the Nets to be making a push not only towards the playoffs, but be right back in the NBA Championship Game trying again to win what they have come so close to winning for two straight years.

-|NN|-[pF]-

You are 100% about them being headed in the right direction, but they won't make the playoffs. I see the nets winning 3 or 4 TOPS 5 of their last games. I would actually love to see the nets make the playoffs, because i think they would have a better chance of knocking off miami then philly or orlando.

wow, i was just about to make thread about this too lol, man Nets have come way bak up

didnt read any of that, but i dont know if you mentioned possibly Jefferson might be coming back for Nets if they make the playoffs....ouch! that'd make it tougher for Miami over 7 games.

just to clarify.. webber is out for 7 to 10 days not games.. which would effect 4 to 5 of their remaining 9 games..

gogo nets... I think they have a strong chance to make the 8.. but they'll get decimated by Miami in the first round.. ne news on jefferson's recovery?

they're definitely looking better since the arrival of VC...but i don't think they'll make it either

Good luck to the Nets then. Wonder what will happen to them this offseason.. anyone seeing Kidd leaving?

Kidd leaving?

It's a bit up in the air I guess.. the Nets have a reasonable future ahead of them.. especially if they get lucky with the lottery with the LAC draft pick (which is unprotected if the Clippers don't make the playoffs).. If they can manage to pick up a decent PF then suddenly a Krtic, Top 10 pick PF, Jefferson, Carter, Kidd line up doesnt look so bad at all and I think that'd be enough for him to want to stay.. the other issue ofcourse is the size of his contract, his age, and his knees.. I'm not sure whether there'd be many teams willing to trade more than fodder for him

They're very close to Philly right now, and Webber is also out, I think it's very possible. It will definately help the Raptors as we have Philly's pick, and the higher it is, the better.

How much longer is Kidd's contract, I know it's not expiring, so even if Kidd is to push to leave, they will get compensated back, and really they'd have no obliation to move him.

Next year: Kidd-Vince-Jefferson-Kristic, look to sign Stromile Swift, and then they have a lottery or right outside of lottery draft pick, they'll be Eastern contenders barring no injury.

They're very close to Philly right now, and Webber is also out, I think it's very possible. It will definately help the Raptors as we have Philly's pick, and the higher it is, the better.

How much longer is Kidd's contract, I know it's not expiring, so even if Kidd is to push to leave, they will get compensated back, and really they'd have no obliation to move him.

Next year: Kidd-Vince-Jefferson-Kristic, look to sign Stromile Swift, and then they have a lottery or right outside of lottery draft pick, they'll be Eastern contenders barring no injury.

I'd rather they try and sign Samuel Dalembert and move Krstic to PF. Then they could pick up a PF/C in the draft to come off the bench and like you said, barring no injury they should be contenders in the East.

Good idea too, though Dalmbert might be harder to get, but I was just thinking the team would need a little more inside scoring, as Kristic is the only inside scoring option on the team.

Dalmbert can work though as he's real fast and can run the break well, and he's always there to catch an alley-oop. His defesne would also help, but who knows. Shareef is also in the market.

I had no idea they came so close...I'm scared for Philly...

VC is absolutely sick right now.. honestly I didn't a trade would rejuvenate his career this much. he's averaging 11 points more than he was in toronto in the first half of the season.. pretty much i think philly is out of contention with webber out (not that he was a big factor anyways) as much as i want the magic to be the 8th seed, they've been playing like absolute shit lately.. i think the nets will make it

New Jersey Nets Schedule:
Orlando Magic (Home)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Away)
New York Knicks (Home)
Boston Celtics (Home)
Indianda Pacers (Away)
Toronto Raptors (Away)
Philadelphia 76ers (Home)
Washington Wizards (Home)
Boston Celtics (Away)

No way am I going to miss this game, even if my life depended on it.

VC is absolutely sick right now.. honestly I didn't a trade would rejuvenate his career this much. he's averaging 11 points more than he was in toronto in the first half of the season.. pretty much i think philly is out of contention with webber out (not that he was a big factor anyways) as much as i want the magic to be the 8th seed, they've been playing like absolute shit lately.. i think the nets will make it

i dont think the trade rejuvenated his career at all, he was just playing half assed bball so he would get traded. i hope the nets dont make it simply cause i dont wanna see vince do good. it kinda sickens me to see players cry baby thier way out of a city then suddenly they play good again and everyone loves them all over again.

his treatment in a return to toronto will probably be BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs cause they see how he slacked off just to get out of toronto

his treatment in a return to toronto will probably be BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs cause they see how he slacked off just to get out of toronto

It will be boos. And I hope they give it to him hard.

I agree with Sauru that it sickens me to see how players play half assed on one team then play hard for another, just because they were crying.

New Jersey lost to Orlando...the Magic are now 9th in the East and half a game behind Philadelphia for the final play-off spot while New Jersey is 10th and a whole game behind Philly now...

yeah i know... by one ffs point.. vaugn injured two minutes into the game... bloody andre barrett.. god.. so close to the eight I can taste it.. bit of a set back but we're still in it... I'd love to see stro with the nets.. same kind of intesity player as kmart..

Dam, tough loss.

If they want to make a run for the eighth spot they're going to have to win these close games.

On the plus side, Krstic scored 28 and grabbed 11 boards.

What will happen to Jason Collins?

What will happen to Jason Collins?

You mean if they sign Stromile Swift or Samuel Dalembert?

There's a place for people like Jason Collins...It's called a bench
I'm just kidding, Collins is a pretty inteligent C, but if they do sign a new C he would obviously come off the bench because he is just not a threat in the post.

Yeh you are right, Nenad gets a lot more points than Collins, but I want him to get good, I bought a card with his signature on it and i want it to be worth some money! .His got a really long comtract anyway so we'll see what happens

Collins is also not the best rebounder or shot blocker...

Yeh you are right but hes better than his brother and thats what we all dream for