ESPN’s Bobby Marks sees likenesses between a New Jersey Nets crew he was utilized by in the mid-2000s and the 2020-21 variant of the Phoenix Suns.
It’s the absence of season finisher experience between the current year’s Suns group and the 2002 Nets groups that draw correlations, and it is anything but a negative one.
Those New Jersey group, all things considered, went to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. After a year, they got back to tumble to the San Antonio Spurs.
“I’ve discussed it inside with individuals at ESPN … ‘What group do I like to come out West?’ and it’s been Phoenix,” Marks disclosed to Arizona Sports’, Bickley and Marotta, on Monday. “I’m not terrified on the off chance that they lose Game 1 or 2 at home, (if) there are a couple of nerves there and you must go out and about and take a Game 3 or Game 4 — perhaps pre-COVID, however, I don’t think the home court is as enthusiastic about the street of a factor.
“Perhaps when you come into Phoenix, conceivably here (it is)? This Phoenix group helps me a great deal to remember that group in New Jersey in 2002, with Jason Kidd and a ton of these more youthful players. That group grew up lovely fast.”
Indeed, that Nets crew likewise had recently added a veteran point monitor in Kidd, who was exchanged to New Jersey in June 2001 in a bundle that sent point watch Stephon Marbury to Phoenix.
Sounds like the Suns gaining Chris Paul before this year to jump into the No. 2 seed making a beeline for the postseason, isn’t that right?
The Nets, in Kidd’s first season there, looked like the Suns in that they inclined toward adolescents around their All-NBA floor general to dive deep into the postseason.
Freshmen Richard Jefferson (21 years of age) and Jason Collins (23) were toss into the fire that first season, while second-year ace Kenyon Martin (24) likewise showed up in 2002.
There are matches between those players and the Suns’ Devin Booker (24), Mikal Bridges (24), and Deandre Ayton (22), however, they’ve played more NBA seasons than the Nets threesome from 2002.
Imprints accept that Paul and veteran Jae Crowder will help the young people keep their heads from one game to another.
“You grow up powerful rapidly at these end of the season games,” Marks said, referring to those Nets groups he considered first-to be as a lesser individual from the front office.
Presently, the NBA investigator said the Suns are one of seven authentic competitors.
Regardless of whether Phoenix draws a feasible supported Lakers group in the first round after the current week’s play-in competition, Marks accepts the Suns can arrive at the NBA Finals.
“I’ve been in the conviction that in case you will confront this (Lakers) group, get them now. I truly do,” Marks said. “I don’t think LeBron (James) is sound. I think he’ll be superior to most players. You got (Dennis) Schroder who just returned, A.D. is as yet nursing his wounds here.
“In case you will confront a group like the Lakers who are still presumably the group to beat, get them in the first round and not the Western Conference Finals when they’ve gotten a couple of arrangement as of now.”
