With games against three of the NBA's top five times in the next eight days, the Nets are facing the most telling stretch of the season. Do well against Detroit, Phoenix and Miami and they will have to be seen as a title contender. Do poorly against those teams--and Memphis--and they will be seen as an interesting, but ultimately undeserving squad. Lawrence Frank knows this and hopes for best, not just from the Big Three, but from a resurgent Nenad Krstic and yes, Zoran Planinic.
- Nets confident of competing with best - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Nets Deal with Three of an Unkind - Fred Kerber - New York Post