Nets vow to bounce back

SAN ANTONIO–The chips didn’t fall for the New Jersey Nets in Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) best-of-7 Finals at the SBC Center here Wednesday night.

They came off a 10-day respite but seemed more rusty than fresh. Their guns badly needed cleaning. The ammunition was stale. The Nets just weren’t up to the task.

In contrast, the San Antonio Spurs were in razor-sharp form–their confidence boosted after wiping out serious contenders Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Dallas in succession.

But after losing a 101-89 decision in Game 1, New Jersey isn’t worried. Coach Byron Scott blamed the layoff for the loss, implying that the Spurs caught the Nets on a bad night. He meant that in terms of fundamentals, there was no cause for concern. The subtle implication was on a good night, the Nets will give the Spurs a run for their money–home or away.

"I think that had a lot to do with the layoff," he said. "You’re going to be a little rusty. Your timing is going to be a little off."

Clearly, the sense of urgency was missing as the Nets lost control in the third period. It looked like Scott surrendered too early, probably realizing the futility of playing against the odds.

The big test for the Nets is Game 2 this morning (Manila). The Spurs are determined to take a 2-0 cushion to New Jersey. If the Nets steal a win here, they’ll be in a solid position to put pressure on San Antonio because Scott’s charges host the next three games. A win for the Nets will take away the Spurs’ homecourt advantage.

Nets forward Kenyon Martin held Tim Duncan to eight points on 3-of-7 from the field in the first half of Game 1. K-Mart half-fronted Duncan, repeatedly denied the entry pass, and physically bore down on the 7-1 two-time MVP. Martin’s straight-up defense worked until he picked up his fourth foul with 2:28 in the third. When Martin checked back in, time down to 6:56 in the fourth, the Spurs were comfortably on top by 16.

Martin, who fouled out with 1:11 to go, refused to comment on the officiating after the contest which saw the Nets pick up 26 personals and the Spurs, 20. He said he didn’t want to get fined.

The Nets didn’t play with the focus that characterized their series sweeps over Boston and Detroit. They led, 21-18, at the end of the first quarter, mainly due to a 7-1 edge in transition offense but could score only seven more fastbreak points the rest of the way.

Scott desperately looked for perimeter points late in the third period and gambled on a three-guard formation to attack the Spurs’ zone. But that only accentuated the Spurs’ advantage in size which Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, and Lucious Harris couldn’t offset with their quickness. Dikembe Mutombo played a cameo role, logging six minutes in the second period. The 7-2 veteran had two rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot, and a daring dive that saved a loose ball. He could’ve and should’ve played longer.

What to do in Game 2? Scott has a variety of options. First, all five Nets on the floor must play physical defense–not just Martin. They’ve got to bang Parker before he throws the entry pass to Duncan or David Robinson. They’ve got to muscle in on Stephen Jackson and stop his slash. Second, double Duncan at the start without Martin, Preserve K-Mart for offense and put him on Duncan in the late going when the game is on the line. The idea is also to keep Martin from foul trouble. Third, Kidd must work harder on offense–he’s got to score on jumpers, on post-ups off Parker, on penetrations. If the Spurs defense is concentrated on Kidd, it will open a lot of opportunities for his teammates to score. Kidd’s the leader of the pack, the barometer of how the Nets play. If he’s in the flow, the Nets are, too. Fourth, play Mutombo a lot more. Never mind the offcourt bickering. The title is at stake and Scott can’t afford to let animosity ruin team chemistry. And fifth, Richard Jefferson must assert his athleticism–he’s a lot more talented than Jackson but it didn’t really show in Game 1. Kidd and Jefferson must spearhead the Nets’ running attack which has to be in high gear to keep the Spurs from setting up in the halfcourt.

Defense was the key to San Antonio’s win in the opener. Duncan and the Admiral combined for 11 blocked shots as the Spurs obliterated the Nets’ inside offense, turning the jump shot into their live-or-die weapon.

The other key was the unexpected contribution of Robinson who played like his old self, the spring back in his legs, the bounce back in his stride. The Admiral, 37, kept Kevin Willis glued on the bench. Robinson, in his farewell campaign, collected 14 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and an assist in 27 scintillating minutes. And Parker was so spectacular that Steve Kerr didn’t get a chance to check in.

Popovich liked what he saw last Wednesday. But he’s not discounting a Nets comeback in Game 2. The war is far from over. A New Jersey win today will dramatically change the complexion of the series.

In this season’s unpredictable playoffs, four Game 1 winners eventually wound up biting the dust–Orlando, Sacramento, Phoenix and Dallas. The Spurs are aware of the scary trend.

The Nets are a dangerous team–Popovich would be crazy to count them out this early.