Just a fascinating game to watch from a Nets standpoint.  Disappointing that they lost the game, but when you watch Shaq at his absolute unstoppable-ness (this was the game where A-Train fouled out in a record 7 minutes) and Kobe's ridiculous shotmaking, you see why.  However, some amazing observations from this game, nearly 10 years later:

1.The Mavs may have been lauded for their use of the zone to stifle Miami in this year's finals, but take a peek at this game.  The Nets zone was inpenetrable at times.  With Kidd, Kittles and Lucious scrambling around the perimiter, with K-Mart jumping out on switches, they completely shut down LA's penetration. Now, granted, they eventually pounded the ball into Shaq and he destroyed poor McCulloch, Twin and A-Train, but still, an impressive sight to behold.

2. Kidd and K-Mart absolutely killing it.  And not just on alley-oops and cuts, but each of them doing things we may not associate with them.  First, Kidd coming off screens at the free throw line and draining shot after midrange shot.  He was everywhere back then, hitting floaters over Shaq, pushing the ball at every opportunity.  And K-Mart abusing guys like Rick Fox and Robert Horry on the block.  I don't think of post moves when I think of KMart's glory days,but he was lightning quick and just jump hooked over all of those guys.

3. The motion/Princeton offense is poetry.  When run correctly, there were 2-3 cutters flashing down the lane on every post up, even Collins and McCulloch diving into the paint.  Kidd orchestrated beautifully.  It really stands out in this day of constant iso's and slow, deliberate sets.  Eddie Jordan's offense (as we later learned) was truly something to behold.

4. CAA packed and rocking.  Enough said about this, but with 8 straight years of apathetic and half empty crowds since, it was nice to see.

I'm not a "those were the good old days" kind of guy, I firmly believe in the future of this team with D-Will, Avery and Brooklyn (and whomever else dwight come along...),but as a LOOOOOOOONG suffering Nets fan, it was a great trip down memory lane to a time when the Nets surprised everyone and made us feel pride in our team for the first time in a long time.  Here's to those days coming back to us very soon!

Duck

P.S. KVH had a sweet stroke, I'll give him that!