Doc Rivers: Nets Could Knock Off Miami

The Nets have made major moves this off-season which has brought enough attention to be considered a top three seed in the Eastern Conference. The talent constructed makes the conversation fun but this team has yet to play together yet. The two vital pieces the Nets acquired are Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett who are definitely close to the end of their careers and this upcoming season will require solid production .

While many people look at the Nets as championship contenders, there still people who believe that the Nets will still lose if they face Miami and Pierce and Garnett's physical abilities may have left them. Doc Rivers has spoken about them and the new look Nets.

"I think obviously Paul's younger and in tune to play more minutes than Kevin," Rivers said. "But I think they're still at the top of their games. I think Paul is still one of those guys who can go off for big nights and still have big scoring nights. Kevin is a culture change. He won't play but 20 to 25 minutes a night and there'll probably be nights when he doesn't play but his presence there alone will absolutely change the culture of Brooklyn. There's no doubt about it. I think for some of the young guys, even some of the veteran stars, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, will learn and understand what a winner is and looks like and professionalism and being prepared.

"That's what I was most impressed with Kevin, how every game he prepared himself for games. That's what I told our young guys that I just wanted them to watch him prepare for games. It was why he was so consistent. I thought it was that important."

Rivers also talked about facing the Nets and his former players.

"I hadn't thought about the Brooklyn part of it," Rivers said when asked his feeling about facing the Nets with Pierce and Garnett on the opposite team. "That's the first time I've been asked that question. I don't know, that's going to be strange. I get very emotional whenever I talk about Kevin and Paul. To see them somewhere else, our business sometimes it's tough. I leave (Boston) and people get upset at me and I don't think there's a lot of difference in their case but it was obvious the Celtics decided to move on.
"So Paul and Kevin had to go and that's a tough part of the business. But that will be strange for me, I want them to do well. For a lot of reasons I want them to do well, they could knock off Miami. But it will be interesting. It will be a while different feeling.

My concern with this team is more with the coaches than the players. If the players sacrifice like Garnett preached at the press conference, the only thing to worry about would be Jason Kidd . Rivers talked about this as well and how it was tough telling Garnett to rest but also said that should not be an issue.

"I think Jason will be fantastic in that because he probably when through that a little bit himself last year," Rivers said. "He'll be able to relate to that 100 percent. I think Lawrence Frank will be so important for Jason as well. You think about Lawrence, he worked with (the Celtics) staff, so he's worked with Kevin and he's knows Kevin as well as anybody. So I think that combination will be great for Kevin."


Source- Boston.com
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