Mano a mano
Kidd, Nets must answer bell with best stuff in Game 2
Posted: Thursday June 05, 2003 8:26 PM
Updated: Thursday June 05, 2003 8:26 PM
Tim Duncan or Jason Kidd?
It's been part of the MVP debate for the past two seasons. With both players leading their respective teams to this year's NBA Finals, it's a delicious subplot to the series.
Duncan clearly took Round 1 with 32 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, seven blocks and three steals in Wednesday night's Game 1 victory. Kidd, meanwhile, missed 13 of 17 shots and finished with just 10 points to go with eight rebounds and 10 assists.
Now Kidd must find a way to bounce back Friday night in Game 2. If he doesn't lead the Nets to victory, any MVP debate (if there still is one) will be all but over -- along with New Jersey's chances of winning the 2003 NBA title.
|
|
|---|
New Jersey Nets at San Antonio Spurs
Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC
|
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Series Snapshot |
|---|
| Game 1 |
 |
101 |
 |
89 |
|
The past ...
After looking somewhat jittery en route to a 42-42 halftime tie,
the Spurs suddenly came to life in the third quarter of Game 1. Duncan scored 13 points and Tony Parker added nine as the Spurs outscored the Nets 32-17 to turn the game into a laugher. With San Antonio also getting major contributions from David Robinson (14 points), Stephen Jackson (12) and Malik Rose (12), it was more than enough. The 37-year-old Robinson added six rebounds and four blocks in 27 minutes. With Robinson and Duncan down low, the Nets had trouble finding easy baskets inside and wound up shooting just 37.1 percent from the floor. The Spurs also did a great job getting back on defense, never letting New Jersey get its vaunted transition game going.
| |
Jason Kidd
AP |
The present ...
The Nets feel they'll get a better shooting performance from
Kidd in Game 2. Their main concern is getting their transition game back into
gear. The Nets managed just 17 fast break points in Game 1, thanks in part to
some sloppy passing early. They also must do a better job slowing Duncan, since
it's hard to run when you're taking the ball out of the net. Look for the Nets
to double Duncan more aggressively in Game 2 in an effort to force the ball
out of his hands more. They also might give more time to Dikembe Mutombo, who
was effective defensively in a brief stint off the bench. As for the Spurs,
they need no adjustments. As long as they get back on defense as well as they
did in the first game, they should be OK.
The future ... Hate to call this a must-win for the Nets, but let's face it: If they fall behind 2-0, their chances are all but history. We're guessing a desperate Kidd finds a way to pull this one out for New Jersey.
Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
|
