Nets still a contender for The Raptors??

[raptor21_85]

As you know, Nets are in their worst lose streak of the season, but do you think they could make the playoffs and even more take the 2nd seed in the Atlantic??

[Quiet-Storm]

No they wont challenge us for second in atlantic. But there is still a very good chance they would beat us in a playoff series again.

[Pchu]

The Nets won't be any better, but they could still make the playoffs; there aren't too many teams that's good enough to win the 8th spot convincingly.

[thecc]

They will sneak into the playoffs. They always play better the last 30 or so games of the season. They will lose in the first round, but so will we, so we won't know who would win a playoff series this year. The only chance we would have to find out is if we finished 3rd and 6th again, but that's not happening.

[Indiana Jones]

they played with no desire or intensity last year, but destroyed us when they decided to actually play hard. they can catch us if they want to, but why work hard now when they can cruise into the playoffs and smack us around later, just to spite all of our stupid fans that want to continually face them...ugh...

ps-sorry i know this post makes me sound like a jerk, but i am still bitter about last year...jason kidd can't hit a jumper for his life, until he faces us in the playoffs...grrrr...but i do like kidd, especially his original shoe from back in his mavs days, that is one of the sweetest sneakers ever. okay off topic, i'm out...

[booyah_child]

I wouldn't completely write them off yet. The Nets always seem to play better in the second half of the season. And of course they still have their big 3

[Schad]

In a word, no. The Nets have lost seven in a row, including losses to the Knicks, Bobcats, and Kings, and they might have the most difficult March/April of any NBA team:

vs. Spurs, @ Spurs, @ Grizzlies, @ Hornets, @ Mavs, @ Rockets, vs. Cavs, vs. Jazz, @ Bulls, vs. Hawks, vs. Nuggets, @ Sixers, @ Knicks, vs. Pacers, @ Pacers, vs. Suns, vs. Sixers, @ Pistons, vs. Raps, @ Cavs, @ Raps, @ Bucks, vs. Bobcats, @ Boston.

24 games, 14 of which are extremely tough. We're already five games clear of the Nets, and with a much easier schedule. For them to close the gap, a 28-12 finish is probably the worst they can do. I just don't see that happening...the 8th seed is up for grabs, though.

[DIEHARD_005]

The Raps won't be facing the Nets in the playoffs anyway, barring any ridiculous Nets Winning/Raptors Losing streak (Knock on Wood). It's tough to compare the two teams because the Raps have only played NJN once so far this season and that was early in the year.

[dagger]

In a word, no. The Nets have lost seven in a row, including losses to the Knicks, Bobcats, and Kings, and they might have the most difficult March/April of any NBA team:

vs. Spurs, @ Spurs, @ Grizzlies, @ Hornets, @ Mavs, @ Rockets, vs. Cavs, vs. Jazz, @ Bulls, vs. Hawks, vs. Nuggets, @ Sixers, @ Knicks, vs. Pacers, @ Pacers, vs. Suns, vs. Sixers, @ Pistons, vs. Raps, @ Cavs, @ Raps, @ Bucks, vs. Bobcats, @ Boston.

24 games, 14 of which are extremely tough. We're already five games clear of the Nets, and with a much easier schedule. For them to close the gap, a 28-12 finish is probably the worst they can do. I just don't see that happening...the 8th seed is up for grabs, though.

That's pretty much what I was thinking. They will probably lose tonight, and while Feb might be a wash for them, March/April looks like a sub. 500 period, so while they might get as high as seventh given lamentable competition, the first six spots in the East look pretty much determined except for the order of finish for teams 3-6. We'd have to have a collapse - stay healthy Jose and get healthy TJ - to fall out of the race for third seed.

[ldnk]

Yes...if Carter decided he wanted to be the next Jordan again. He could single-handedly win them enough games...the problem with that is that he hasn't played that hard for more than a 5 game stretch since he rimmed out against Philadelphia in Game 7.

Either that or if Kidd learns how to shoot and stops just trying to chase triple-doubles.

I don't think the Nets could beat the Raptors in a 7 game series again. Kidd, while still putting up stats, doesn't look half as dangerous as he did in the Raptors series. He was playing like that all year prior to that point, but he certainly hasn't been this year.

[bigjabroni]

With half the season remaining it's still early, but it's starting to look as though the Raps are locked into 2nd in the Atlantic and 4-6 in the East, with perhaps an outside shot at 3rd.

[Jer15Jer]

The Nets aren't done just yet. They're the same team that crushed us 8 months ago.

[El Presidente]

No they wont challenge us for second in atlantic. But there is still a very good chance they would beat us in a playoff series again.

Yup, I was having a debate with a guy about this exact same thing. Teams play with so much more intensity and focus in the playoffs that the regular season is usually an inadequate barometer for measuring who might beat who in the playoffs. The Nets still have three huge talents on the floor who can take over games while we must rely on teamwork and CB4 carrying us.

If anybody disagrees about the Nets having the upper hand in the playoffs, all you need to look at is last year's series. I don't think we've improved that much and I don't think they've gotten worse. They're just playing bad right now.

[Slam Dunk!]

They're still a threat, but they actually lost a pretty big asset in Mikki Moore, as much as I hate to admit it. That guy was playing on an extremely high level last year, hitting midrangers like they were layups and hustling for rebounds, and was a big factor in their victories against us. Boone has shown potential, but lacks consistency. I see the Nets giving us a challenge in the playoffs, but the added season of experience, our off-season acquisitions, and perseverance with injuries put us on top. I'd love to see Jamario defend Vince.

[Meursault]

if the Nets make the playoffs and match up against the Raptors, my money is probably still on Kidd and company to prevail; this is especially so if TJ isn't 100% and Bustnani continues his bustnani ways. fortunately, this is a huge "if", since it doesn't seem like they'll make it with the way they've been playing lately. give me the hawks or bulls over the nets; any team with Kidd in the playoffs is a dangerous one

[chuckerz]

If Kristic comes back and becomes the low post scorer the nets need, than yes, the nets can make a run into the playoffs. But right now they depend on two young bigs in Boone and Williams who barely have an offense besides wide open dunks and layups.

[PopAGat]

Laugh Out Loud. No there not. Even if Kristic comes back...there still is no defense. That team is no where near the level they were at last year. The Raptors can easily take out the Nets. The only thing we have to worry about is Richard Jefferson.

[J Dilla]

The Nets have the big 3, and when they decide that they want to play, they are unstoppable. Vince, RJ, and Jason Kidd were a huge pain for the Raptors in the playoffs including Bostjan Nachbar. They were attacking the basket with ease, while the Raptors were just passing it around the 3 point line because nobody could break down the defence except TJ.

The Raptors needed a zone breaker, and BC did a great job by addressing that weakness by signing Jason Kapono.

Parker needs to play like he did in his Mccabi days.

If the Nets don`t make it to the playoffs, they should be embarassed. How can you not make it to the playoffs with RJ, Jason, and VC in one team

[Darrick Martin]

The Nets always start slow and will probably pick it up in the second half. Whereas Orlando is the complete opposite.

[James699]

Of course the nets are a threat. When a team has a duo of Jefferson, Carter and Kidd that is pretty deadly if you ask me. Vince alone can drag that team. If you guys recall, it was Vince that made the Raptors go far in the playoffs. Nobody on that team did nothing, except for Vince. While everyone else stood there and bringing nothing to the game (missing shots), Vince single handendly changed it. Everyone on that team was lazy except my boy Vince Carter. Alvin Williams, JYD, Antonio Davis, Charles Okaley, Dell Curry, Morris Peterson and the rest did not do nothing . What I m saying is, even if their bench is not as deep as ours, just Vince can bring that team far and make it a threat.