ducks
10-03-2003, 07:18 PM
Kidd: We haven't done anything yet
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ Jason Kidd wants to be clear: The New Jersey Nets haven't accomplished anything yet.
``All we've done is win the Eastern Conference,'' he said. ``The big thing is not to be satisfied with the success we've had.''
The Nets have been to the NBA Finals the past two years, coming within two victories of a championship. And they are a strong candidate to reach the finals again.
Kidd was at practice Friday, his first since signing a six-year, $103 million contract to stay with Jersey.
He returns to a team with big expectations, particularly if newly signed center Alonzo Mourning can contribute a productive 20 minutes a game, taking some of the scoring pressure off Kidd. Of course, that's a big if, considering kidney disease caused him to miss all of last season.
Kidd and Mourning will team with young stars Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson to give the Nets the kind of scoring they'll need for a title.
Indeed, winning the title is the theme of training camp. Coach Byron Scott and his assistants all wore gray T-shirts with the words ``One Goal'' scrawled above a drawing of the championship trophy.
``That's our goal, not just to be back, but to win it,'' Kidd said. ``That's what today's practice is all about.''
But Kidd, who spurned a lucrative offer from San Antonio to stay in the Meadowlands, said the Nets start the season as an underdog. Again.
``L.A., San Antonio, Sacramento _ those guys are probably the favorites,'' Kidd said. ``But we want to compete with the likes of those elite teams. It seems like year after year we have to prove ourselves. You're never promised to get back.''
Scott played down Kidd's first day in camp; the point guard was excused from Thursday's media day for personal reasons.
``He walked in and we talked about the season and our goals,'' Scott said. ``It wasn't like, `Yay, J-Kidd's here!' I did that three months ago.''
Scott said he played golf with Kidd during the summer and went to dinner with him. He would not discuss what they talked about.
Scott did say he'd like to shave a few minutes off the 37 to 40 Kidd averaged last year to keep him fresher for the playoffs.
``It was a trying season on him last year,'' the coach said. ``Hopefully 'Zo can take some of the pressure off of him.''
Kidd said he's fully recovered from an ankle injury that slowed him, and acknowledged that not having to worry about free agency and a contract will be a relief.
``I'm sleeping great now,'' he said. link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24275343)
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) _ Jason Kidd wants to be clear: The New Jersey Nets haven't accomplished anything yet.
``All we've done is win the Eastern Conference,'' he said. ``The big thing is not to be satisfied with the success we've had.''
The Nets have been to the NBA Finals the past two years, coming within two victories of a championship. And they are a strong candidate to reach the finals again.
Kidd was at practice Friday, his first since signing a six-year, $103 million contract to stay with Jersey.
He returns to a team with big expectations, particularly if newly signed center Alonzo Mourning can contribute a productive 20 minutes a game, taking some of the scoring pressure off Kidd. Of course, that's a big if, considering kidney disease caused him to miss all of last season.
Kidd and Mourning will team with young stars Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson to give the Nets the kind of scoring they'll need for a title.
Indeed, winning the title is the theme of training camp. Coach Byron Scott and his assistants all wore gray T-shirts with the words ``One Goal'' scrawled above a drawing of the championship trophy.
``That's our goal, not just to be back, but to win it,'' Kidd said. ``That's what today's practice is all about.''
But Kidd, who spurned a lucrative offer from San Antonio to stay in the Meadowlands, said the Nets start the season as an underdog. Again.
``L.A., San Antonio, Sacramento _ those guys are probably the favorites,'' Kidd said. ``But we want to compete with the likes of those elite teams. It seems like year after year we have to prove ourselves. You're never promised to get back.''
Scott played down Kidd's first day in camp; the point guard was excused from Thursday's media day for personal reasons.
``He walked in and we talked about the season and our goals,'' Scott said. ``It wasn't like, `Yay, J-Kidd's here!' I did that three months ago.''
Scott said he played golf with Kidd during the summer and went to dinner with him. He would not discuss what they talked about.
Scott did say he'd like to shave a few minutes off the 37 to 40 Kidd averaged last year to keep him fresher for the playoffs.
``It was a trying season on him last year,'' the coach said. ``Hopefully 'Zo can take some of the pressure off of him.''
Kidd said he's fully recovered from an ankle injury that slowed him, and acknowledged that not having to worry about free agency and a contract will be a relief.
``I'm sleeping great now,'' he said. link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24275343)