When Jason Kidd came to the Nets back in 2001, he wasted little time throwing down the gauntlet and hoisting the rivalry with the Knicks to fever pitch by proclaiming the New Jersey bunch would not be
No. 2 in the area for long. He was right.
Now another star has arrived for the Nets and though not nearly as brash, Joe Johnson was just as confident the heart of the city game would beat foremost in Brooklyn. The backcourt of Johnson, a 17.8-point career scorer and six-time All-Star, plus Deron Williams, a three-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, is one big reason why the new Net picks his team to reign in New York.
“I honestly feel that way,” Johnson told The Post before throwing out the first pitch — a perfect if not Sabathia-speed strike — at Yankee Stadium last night. “But everything is done and proven out on the court. I feel we have great pieces with myself and Deron at the one and two and Brook Lopez at the center spot. Those are three great pieces and then with Gerald Wallace, we’ve got a pretty good team to compete in the East.”
And rule New York, if that really matters. To Avery Johnson, who led the Bleacher Creatures’ roll call at the Yanks game, the rivalry will be fun but it is only a blot on the blueprint.
“I like it but again, we are trying to become an NBA champion and to become an NBA champion right now you’ve got to beat the Heat, but before you get to the Heat you’ve got to beat the rest of the competition,” the Nets head coach said — with his right hand in a splint after surgery to repair a playing-days injury to his right pinkie. “Building up the local rivalry is good, but our focus is not just on the local rivalry, it’s more on the national rivalry.”
Yeah, but it’s not nearly as much fun. Jay-Z and Spike Lee can square off and throw season tickets at each other from 50 paces. Radio talk shows could go on for minutes with insightful and vulgar banter. And the Nets of Brooklyn will make their claim as the city’s best over their Manhattan brethren with a backcourt that could be the best in the East. Is there a better Eastern Conference backcourt?
“I don’t see one,” Joe Johnson said, stressing he is thrilled to play in a city where half will love him, half will hate him. “I think the sky’s the limit for us. I’m going by the credentials me and Deron have and knowing there’s a lot riding on us right now.
“It’s going to be fun. I’ve never had the chance to experience the big city, bright lights — I mean not just coming here and visiting — but as far as making it home. It’s going to be different, but it’s a challenge I’m ready for,” the Arkansas-born Johnson said. “Atlanta was great, don’t get me wrong, but we didn’t have a rival. When you look at the Knicks even when they weren’t as good as they are now, they still sold out every game. We’re going to bring so much to Brooklyn, I can see us doing the same.”
fred.kerber@nypost.com