This is the biggest Nets’ game since Michael Jordan was still a Bull. Five years ago, Jordan’s Bulls crushed the up-and-coming Nets and they haven’t returned to the playoffs until today. Now, Jordan is a Washington Wizard, while Jason Kidd is regular season wizard.
Kidd’s game is most often compared to Magic’s, but, although Kidd should be the regular season MVP, his post-season skills still must be questioned. Why?
He is at his best as he pictured here, dribbling the ball, looking to find a teammate. His jumpers are like his teams’ in the second round – usually off.
Kidd’s Suns lost four of its five first round series. In 22 post-season games, he’s shot 37.8 percent. Look for the Pacers to make Kidd beat them with Js. He won’t do it.
The Pacers may be young, but they have the best and most experienced clutch shooter in the post-season. Reggie Miller’s tortured one Metro team for years is back with his shot at the other. The Nets might take Game 1, but the Pacers can win this series.
Tomorrow tips off the final NBA on NBC playoffs. NBC served the NBA by incessantly promoting the league. In turn, the NBA showed its loyalty by chasing the extra cash offered by ABC.
Over the length of NBC’s deal, Ahmad Rashad’s been most loyal to Michael Jordan, never asking his Airness any tough questions. It should be pointed out that many reporters get stories by kissing butt.
The problem with Rashad’s smooching of His Airness is Rashad never breaks anything, except a lot of bread with MJ.
If Rashad is so close with Jordan, where was he when Jordan decided to return? Where is he now when Jordan considers his future? Rashad should be ahead of the field on Jordan’s thoughts on playing next season.
SAT., NFL Draft, 12 p.m., ESPN
After the Texans take Fresno’s David Carr, the questions begin. University of Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey is allegedly the man for the Giants. Until Mel Kiper Jr. tells us it is a good pick, we’ll withhold judgment.
ESPN is at its best at this event with their intense coverage, which would be comical if it weren’t so much fun. From the “War Rooms,” to “reaches” to “good value at that pick” the whole thing is ridiculous and great. There is one star. No, not Chris Berman.
Unlike many of the other self promoters at ESPN, Kiper’s act ages well. He loves this weekend as much as all the draftniks. His reactions are as good as the crowds; especially if there is a shocker instead of a Shockey at the Jints’ or Jets’ pick.
SAT., Islanders at Maple Leafs, 3 p.m., ABC
Playoff hockey is the most passionate of the four major sports post-seasons. There is an intensity that the other majors come close to, but do not match completely.
One must only remember Toronto’s Lanny McDonald’s OT goal against the Islanders in Game 7 of the ’78 playoffs to feel the greatness of hockey’s post-season.
Speaking of greatness, Doc Emrick delivers the play-by-play. Emrick is a critics’ favorite, because he doesn’t promote himself. This makes him easy to like. He realizes the game is the first story. He is secondary.
This will be an ESPN Production as hockey will dominate its airwaves the next few weeks.
SAT. Fire at MetroStars, 7:30 p.m., MSG
With the Yankees’ gone, MSG is trying to fill the holes. Soccer is one of the ways they are doing this, giving extended coverage to New York/New Jersey’s teams.
MSG has a 30-minute pre-game show. Soccer usually doesn’t receive this much air-play. Stars fans are responding as its .5 rating is better than both the Islanders’ (.31) and Devils’ (.18) numbers.
Although soccer is a tremendous sport to those who understand its intricacies, it is not at its best on TV, the same way baseball isn’t made-for-TV. Baseball, although it receives pretty good local ratings, is more of a radio and newspaper sport. Football, the American version, is the best TV sport, because of the constant action.
SUN., Blue Jays at Yankees, 1 p.m., YES
Roger Clemens will be on the mound, but YES host Fred Hickman won’t be in the ballpark. Those who get YES wonder why Hickman is holed up in Connecticut and not in some Stadium suite with the ability to have sitdowns with Yankees. Memo to YES, your owner owns the building, bring Hickman closer to the action to improve the endless pre- and post-game shows.
Clemens bulled through his last start. He may reach 300 wins before the nearly 3 million Cablevision homes see him on YES.
SUN., Hurricanes at Devils, 3 p.m., FSN
The Hurricanes have the best shot blockers in Carolina since Rasheed Wallace left Chapel Hill early. Now, the Devils must hold serve on their home ice.
Things are good at the Meadowlands as the Devils and Nets are both in the playoffs. For the Devils this is no surprise. Along with the Yankees, they have been the most consistently strong local franchise in recent years. They don’t receive the pub as their partners, because style sometimes beat substance when it comes to newspaper ink and highlight reel time.
TUE., Cardinals at Mets, 7 p.m., MSG
Hate Giambi? Don’t have YES? Here’s the game for you. A Met game the Yankee fan can enjoy – sort of. Seeing Tino Martinez in a Cardinal uniform will make Bomber fans see red, literally and figuratively.
And with the Mets and Cards on the field, it will cause everyone to see – warning, clichT coming – “a possible playoff preview.”
Keith Hernandez, working as analyst, shows off the same skills he did as a first baseman. He has a slick style and seems to know his position. We are against the term “we” by broadcasters. If we stays away from that, he’ll continue to be one of the better local listens.
TUE., Yankees at Athletics, 10 p.m., YES
The boos never end for Jason Giambi. The A’s fans are expected to drop more heckles on Giambi than he’s heard in The Bronx.
After fleeing as a free agent before last year, Alex Rodriguez said he felt frightened because of the venom he received upon his return to his former home.
Giambi doesn’t appear as if he scares easily. It will be interesting to see how bad things get. Remember many A’s fans also root for the Raiders so a vile scene should be expected. The other night, they cheered when Seattle third base coach Dave Myers took a foul ball off his back.
THU., Baseball Tonight, 10 p.m. ESPN
Ex-Yankee manager Buck Showalter rules on this show, which runs daily. Showalter dares to be critical. Earlier in the year, he said he didn’t have faith that Billy Koch can do the job as the A’s closer.
“I think of it is as more of a critiquing,” Showalter told NYPTVSports yesterday. “The one thing I want to bring at all times is accuracy. Unless I have personal experience with it, I’m not going to say it.”
Showalter, who usually works the weekend shift, still wants to manage, but he is not putting that desire above his current work. He talks with people around the majors to develop his opinions. Could his opinions hurt him in getting another job? It could, but it probably won’t.
*** Lakers at Blazers, ***, ****
The Lakers should win the NBA title, but if they do slip up this will be the series. Portland should’ve beat the Lakers Game 7 of the 2000 Western Finals. At the Forum, they blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead.
Portland owns the deepest roster this side of Oceans 11. They can bring player after player, which is a must when facing Shaq. He must be forced to beat teams at the line. The Blazers have enough guys to eliminate the problem of foul trouble. They return (CHECK) to the home-court for this one, hoping to do what so many Hollywood couples have done – split in LA.