• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
ROBERT SABO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Nets-Knicks Preview by: Bobby O’Hara

   The excitement is high in Brooklyn as the Nets clinched a spot in the playoffs after beating the Houston Rockets Tuesday night 105-96. Over in Manhattan however,the feeling isn’t the same. The Nets have salvaged an ugly start to their season by making the playoffs, but Knick fans are still waiting to see if their team can do the same. The Knicks remain one game out of the final playoff spot,currently held by the Atlanta Hawks, but things could change with a win at home against the Nets.

Brooklyn on the other hand has really turned their season around going 12-4 in the month of March and winning a franchise record of 14 straight at home. Head coach Jason Kidd won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March and joins only Tom Thibodeau for the only coaches to win two Coaches of the Month awards in their rookie season. What has been more impressive has been the fact that Brooklyn has been playing at such a high level without their two big defensive players, Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the late success of both these teams is the stiff defense. Both teams have shown they are able to slow down West Coast teams. The Knicks held both Utah and Golden State under 100 in their last two games and the Nets held Houston to 38% shooting from the field Tuesday night at the Barclays Center. With both teams going 7-3 in their last 10 and playing at a high level on the defensive side of the ball this could turn out to be a great game for fans of both sides of the city.

Meanwhile as the Nets head into Madison Square Garden Wednesday night to face off with their city rival Knicks hoping to claim another win, the Hawks will be playing Chicago Wednesday, a big game for both the Knicks and the Nets. If Atlanta loses the Knicks have a chance to tie them for the 8th seed. If Chicago loses the Nets can become closer to home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Nets know better to downplay this one and also know that even though their in, they still have to play for more than 5th seed.

“Man, it’s definitely gonna be heated,” guard Shaun Livingston said. “It’s gonna be a fight. They have a lot at stake and we’re still fighting . . . Obviously, the game is gonna have a lot of hype. We don’t want to blow it out of proportion, but you know what it is.” It will be just what everyone expects from a Knicks- Nets game, but if Brooklyn wants to win they need to continue to run the best play they have…Iso Joe.

“We want to win,” guard Joe Johnson said. “Let’s make no mistake about it. We’re gonna do whatever we can to go into their building and walk away with a win.”

As much as many Nets players aren’t willing to bash their rivals there is always that one that will give you the truth on the game coming up.

“Truthfully,” Paul Pierce said, “we could care less about the Knicks.”

The teams have split six games since the Nets relocated to Brooklyn before the start of last season. The rivalry continues tonight @ 7 in Madison Square Garden. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.

PuresportsNY: Bobby O’Hara

By Bobby O'Hara

Bobby is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting where he studied TV, Radio, and Journalism. Growing up in New Jersey, he is a hometown guy who loves the local fans’ passion for the game. Bobby currently covers football for PureSportsNY. Graduating with awards in both audio and video production, Bobby also produces video and graphics.

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