NETS GET FIRST LOOK AT ARMSTRONG

October 6, 2007 -- Darrell Armstrong kept pondering his decision in the shower Wednesday night - five, 10, finally 20 minutes. The veteran guard walked into his bathroom all but a Maverick, but walked out a Net - and they say they're a better team for it, better for having one of the most infectious leaders in the NBA.

Armstrong cleared waivers Wednesday and signed with the Nets, practicing for the first time yesterday. He reached the 2005-06 NBA Finals with Dallas and came to the Nets because he's convinced he can help them go one step further.

"I fell like this team's very close. This team is a contender. This team has a lot of weapons. If I can bring my leadership off the bench while Jason [Kidd] is not on the floor it can help big," Armstrong said. "Every year I'm here to win a championship. I know I can play, so I felt New Jersey could be a great fit.

"To be honest, about 7 o'clock I was in the shower. . . . I was already leaning toward Dallas. Just kept thinking, water running over me, just thinking. I just kept thinking about New Jersey, and made up my mind, told my wife when I came out of the shower that I'm going to New Jersey."
He knew the Mavericks wanted him back, but Marcus Williams' broken foot created immediate playing time in New Jersey.

"He can still play. He's one of the best leaders in the NBA. The injury to Marcus Williams and the opportunity to come in and play right away (swayed him)," said agent Glenn Schwartzman, who got Armstrong a one-year, $1.2 million deal, ostensibly to compete with Mateen Cleaves and Eddie Gill.

"He's extremely high-energy, very, competitive," said Lawrence Frank. "Those traits carry over. That's why he's been so effective for so long."

Though the 39-year-old was the NBA's third-oldest player last year and his only offseason exercise is golf, he says he'll be ready by the opener.

"I can get 10-14 points, get stops, get pressure, and change the game," Armstrong said. "That's my job, put pressure on the ball, get the tempo changed if it's not already in our favor. That's what I've done my whole career."

source : nypost.com