Nets Are Scorching

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Sebastian, Mark, Devin, and myself will answer questions regarding the L.

1) Who makes it to the NBA Finals? Who wins?

Sebastian:
I still think it is going to end up being the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers (after Ron Artest’s dagger last night). The Orlando Magic have too much to overcome to win four in a row, and I think they will have a stretch of bad three-point shooting that will cost them. I think the Lakers will win for the same reasons they have been winning these entire playoffs, Kobe is really good and they are bigger than everyone.

Mark:
Well, both the Phoenix Suns and the Magic are making their respective series interesting, but I can’t see Phoenix knocking off the Lakers and the Celtics, despite the fact that I thought they were an inherently flawed team entering the postseason; they can’t possibly lose four in a row to the Magic… can they? I mean, wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants for the city of Boston? With that said, I say the Lakers beat the Celtics 4-2 for the outgoing Phil Jackson, who will have vodka with Mikhail Prokhorov and tease New Jersey Nets fans for a few weeks before retiring.

Devin:
Are you kidding? First I pick Phoenix-Orlando, and the teams go down 0-2 and 0-3. Then I say Orlando has the best chance of coming back, and Phoenix pulls a high school zone out of nowhere and ties the series. Clearly I have no idea what’s going on, and anything I say gets completely flipped like we’re living in Bizarro World. Honestly though, put a gun to my head and I’d say it’s looking like another LA-Boston matchup (although it would be an awesome matchup if the two underdogs pulled it out – Orlando especially, for historical reasons). In a seven-game series between LA and Boston, I think it’d come down to HCA, and because of that I think the Lakers pull it out and Kobe fans get to wax more poetic about how amazing he is and how amazing LeBron isn’t. Sigh.

DV:
Before the postseason, I was saying it would be a repeat of last year’s NBA Finals and I still believe that.  Thanks to some instant goat-to-hero antics by Ron Artest, the Lakers find themselves up 3-2 in their series with the Suns and I believe they close them out in Game Six, riding the momentum.  I believe the Magic will also ride the momentum and make some history, coming back from 0-3 and take their series with the Celtics.  In the finals, it’s Kobe time once again as the Lakers repeat and the Artest detractors keep quiet. Read more…

Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general.  So, every week, Sebastian, Mark, Devin, and myself will answer questions regarding the L.

Please note that Mark was not able to answer the inaugural questions because he decided to take a more active role and is SEARCHING for Godot.  Yeah, NAS writers are smart and cultured like that, able to throw in literary references with the greatest of ease.  SWAGGER!

1) If The Washington Wizards keep the first overall pick and draft John Wall, would Wall and Gilbert Arenas be able to co-exist?  Or do the Wizards have a chance of moving Arenas and his big contract?

Sebastian:
I think the Wizards are going to be keeping the first pick and draft John Wall.  As for Wall playing together with Gilbert Arenas, I think it is possible.  In my opinion, both Wall and Gilbert have the size to be a 2-guard in this league, but I think Gilbert will be the one moved while Wall stays at point.  Gilbert Arenas has always been more of a scoring point guard, and sliding him to SG will allow the Wizards to to get Arenas the ball in scoring areas easier.  Plus now Arenas won’t have to chase around opposing point guards, and that is a good thing considering all the damage done to his knees in recent years.

Devin:
Unfortunately for us, absolutely. Arenas and Wall are both great scorers and distributors, and Wall is long enough that he’d be able to guard twos on the defensive end. Arenas gives Wall someone with a good outside shot and team-running skills to defer to, and Wall gives Arenas an exciting slasher with some of the best court vision we’ve ever seen at the college level. However, if the Wizards have a chance to move Arenas, I don’t think they pass it up solely because of financial reasons. They’d still take Wall though. I don’t see how they pass on him.

DV:
The Wizards will probably do all they can to trade Arenas, not strictly for financial reasons, although that plays a big part, but for the sake of image.  When Arenas got in trouble for his firearm shenanigans, the Wizards immediately took down every image or mention of Arenas in their building. Wall is a refreshing start in every sense and I can see the organization not wanting it tainted in any way.  However, moving the contract will be difficult, so the question becomes, can both enigmatic and charismatic point guards with the ability to score be able to work together?  No question.  Arenas won’t mind the attention taken away from him because of Wall, partly because the road to redemption for Arenas meets the road to stardom for Wall.  If Arenas and Wall succeed as a backcourt, for the most part, people will point finger guns in true jest and not a symbol of disrespect to the Association, but most of all to a career. Read more…