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Nets think they're ready for title run
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-04 10:26

A year ago, a series of injuries followed by dissension over roster moves sent the New Jersey Nets into a tailspin that took most of the season to correct.


New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter poses for an NBA photographer Monday, Oct. 3, 2005 during media day at their practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J. [AP]

With a healthy Richard Jefferson and with Vince Carter available from opening day to form a power trio with guard Jason Kidd, there was a distinct air of optimism as the team assembled Monday to begin training camp.

"There are about five or six teams that realistically have a chance of winning a championship," Jefferson said. "I definitely think we're one of them."

Those are bold words to describe a team that finished 42-40 last season and was swept out of the playoffs in the first round by Miami — until all the circumstances are examined.

Kidd missed the beginning of the season while recovering from knee surgery, and the Nets, the defending Eastern Conference champions, stumbled to a 12-24 record. Players were openly critical of the team's decision not to match Denver's offer to forward Kenyon Martin and to not re-sign Kerry Kittles and Lucious Harris.

"We had a lot of question marks at this time last year," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "When Kenyon left, that really hurt, and there was a question as to what was going to transpire with Jason."

By the time Kidd was back in form, Jefferson had gone down with a wrist injury and would miss more than 50 games. The December trade that brought Carter to New Jersey energized the team, and they won 15 of 19 games in the final five weeks to scrape into the playoffs.

The mood Monday was almost giddy compared to a year ago.

"One-hundred-and-eighty degrees," coach Lawrence Frank characterized it. "The atmosphere is positive, upbeat."

Despite missing out on signing free agent forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim after he failed a physical — he was later signed by Sacramento — the Nets addressed their two most glaring needs, rebounding and shooting, with the offseason additions of forwards Lamond Murray and Scott Padgett, center-forward Marc Jackson and guard Jeff McInnis.

Jackson, who averaged 12 points and five rebounds for Philadelphia last season, and Padgett add depth to a front line that was the team's weak link, though Nenad Krstic and Jason Collins showed improvement. Murray has averaged just under 12 points per game in 10 NBA seasons and shot 44 percent from 3-point range for Toronto last season.

McInnis could be the most valuable addition, as he can score (12.8 points last season), distribute (5.1 assists) and will be able to give Kidd a rest as well as play at the two spot.

"We're definitely more experienced and more athletic," said Carter. "And, we have guys who can shoot the ball. Now it's going to make teams have to make a decision because we have guys one through five who can shoot."

The new faces notwithstanding, the Nets will live and die with their three stars on the perimeter. Having greater depth than last season should make their jobs easier.

"All three of us bring something different to the table," said Kidd. "Hopefully we can start the season healthy and remain healthy. The key for us will be our depth, being able to be fresh. Having Jeff and Marc and Lamond and all those guys coming off the bench, there's not a dropoff."



Guo Jingjing taking gold in National Games
Federica Ridolfi
Selected Reuters sports pictures for September 27
 
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