Nets Are Threat With Added Depth

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 30 (AP) -- Being out of the spotlight in the Eastern Conference is just fine with the New Jersey Nets.

Let the new-look Celtics, the young Bulls, and LeBron James and his Cavaliers have all the attention heading into the season.

The Nets believe that with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and a two-deep rotation at every position, they have more than enough to make the playoffs for a seventh straight season and to challenge for a third trip to the NBA finals since 2002.

With the season opener against Chicago on tap for Wednesday night, Kidd went so far as to say this is the best team that he has played on, other than the U.S. team that qualified for the Olympics this past summer.

His boldness is linked to the combination of talent and ambition -- veterans playing for contracts mixed with young players working hard to earn more minutes.

"There's a lot of pieces that I'm very excited about,'' the eight-time All-Star point guard said. "If we can be consistent throughout the long haul, then hopefully we'll be the team at the top -- and not just the top of the Atlantic, but the top of the Eastern Conference.''

There are some who think the Nets are on the downward cycle after posting a 41-41 record last season and being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by James and company.

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source : NBA.com