Saturday, May 18, 2002
Nets must stop Pierce; he says they can't
By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP Basketball Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — No matter who makes it out of the East, one thing is certain in the Nets-Celtics series: One of the teams will accomplish something for the first time in the NBA since 1978.
It's has been 14 years since a team, in just one season, went from failing to make the playoffs to qualifying for the NBA Finals.
“It should be exciting. Both teams like to explode and get easy baskets when the situation presents itself,” Nets guard Jason Kidd said.
Boston's Paul Pierce proclaimed the Nets can't stop him, a boast even New Jersey admits might be true.
His Celtics co-star, Antoine Walker, has feuded with New Jersey coach Byron Scott, whose distaste for Boston dates to his playing days.
Kenny Anderson has closed the book on his formative NBA years in New Jersey, saying he is no longer the self-centered player who entered the league 11 years ago as one of the Nets' potential saviors.
The East finals might not have the glamour and star power of its all-California counterpart in the West. But there is a history between the teams, along with some running of the mouths, that could help make it almost as interesting as the Kings-Lakers matchup billed by some as the true NBA championship series.
“They had a great season like us. They had a big turnaround, too,” Scott said. “They've done a fantastic job to get to this point. It's going to be a war.”
No team has had a bigger about-face than the Nets, who went from 26-56 last season to 52-30 this season to earn the No. 1 seeding in the East.
About the only team whose turnaround compares is Boston, which also missed the playoffs last season while enduring Rick Pitino's departure.
Game 1 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. EDT.
Pierce, the league's third-leading scorer, believes he's the main reason the Celtics will eliminate the Nets.
“I don't think they have anybody that can really defend me,” Pierce said.
Replied Scott: “The numbers right now would support that. He has been able to score on us, no doubt about that. He has had some terrific games, but that's regular season. The regular season is over with. This is the playoffs. If he can do it again in the playoffs, all we can do is take our hats off to him.”
Pierce averaged 37 points in four games against New Jersey this season, with Boston winning three of them. That includes a 46-point outburst in the second half and overtime of a Dec. 1 game.
Pierce had 30 when the Celtics came into the Meadowlands on April 7 and defeated the Nets 102-90, temporarily preventing New Jersey from clinching the best record on the East.
“They are going to make it a little more difficult on me,” Pierce said. “I would hope they would try, being I had success against them in the regular season.”
The Nets will use Kidd, Kerry Kittles and Kenyon Martin as some of the defenders on Pierce. Scott said he has no plans to double-team Pierce, thereby leaving someone open on the perimeter.
No team still playing shoots as many 3-pointers as the Celtics, who can get points there from Pierce, Walker, Rodney Rogers, Tony Delk and Erick Strickland.
Pierce shot 21-for-28 from 3-point range against the Nets.
Scott walked onto the court during a fracas in a Nets-Celtics game earlier this season and was yelled at by Walker. The outspoken Scott later said Walker “hasn't done anything in this league” and could not tell him what to do.
“I still feel the same way about them as I did when I played. It hasn't changed that much,” said Scott, whose personal history against the Celtics includes the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson era, when he was a member of the Lakers. “That green and white still doesn't sit that well with me.”
The matchup difficulties go both ways, and Boston might have a hard time stopping the Nets at some spots. The most obvious is point guard, where Kidd will try to use his edge in talent over Anderson to get the Nets clicking.
New Jersey also has an edge at center, where Todd MacCulloch has a height advantage over Tony Battie and is a more efficient offensive player.
New Jersey struggles in a slowdown style but thrives when Kidd is able to push the pace. He is surrounded by players capable of finishing on the fast break and hitting open jumpers.
These teams have a recent history of playing close games. None of their meetings this season was decided by more than 12 points, and the Nets' lore of misfortune includes the memorable moment when Milt Palacio beat them with a prayer.
On Dec. 28, 2000, the Nets needed only to inbound the ball toward their own basket with 1.8 seconds left to seal a two-point win. But Lucious Harris threw a pass to Aaron Williams near midcourt that was picked off by Palacio, who was sent to Phoenix earlier this season in the trade for Rogers and Delk. Palacio threw up a 30-footer as he fell, and the miracle shot went in to give Boston the unlikeliest of one-point victories.
Sports Stories
Cards 3, Reds 1
Reds box, runs
Final series tickets on sale
Inside pitch beans Rijo right in wallet
Kile breaks through for Cards
Dodger pioneer dies
Fan injured when bat flies into stands
Selig warns of foldings
Surgery to sideline O's Segui 10-12 weeks
Astros 7, Pirates 4
Giambi hits walk-off grand slam
Mets turn triple play against Padres
NL roundup
AL roundup
Fenwick senior unbeaten but has unfinished business
Coach suspended over allegations he hit sleeping students
Preps schedule
Tristate preps results
Nets must stop Pierce; he says they can't
