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Game 63 - Nets vs. Knicks - Wednesday, April 18, 7:30

By Net Income Updated
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It's Nets vs. Knicks for the last time as a New Jersey vs. New York rivalry. Next time, six months from now, it'll still be a cross river rivalry. Just the river will be different. Historically, the Knicks hold a two-game edge, but acceptance of the Nets as a standard for mediocrity must always be resisted. That's the Knicks' role. The Knicks haven't won a playoff game in a decade while the Nets have won more than 40. They haven't been to the Finals since 1999. The Nets have been there twice since. They haven't won a championship of any kind in 40 years. That's before the Nets won their two ABA titles. Jason Kidd owned them.

Of course, Knicks are riding high right now. They won the Carmelo Anthony Sweepstakes last year. On Tuesday, with Melo in command, they hammered the Celtics with a barrage of three pointers. Their hold on a playoff spot is getting close to a lock. And they're doing it without Amare Stoudemire or Jeremy Lin, which may or may not be a good thing.

The Nets could be a spoiler. Their next three opponents are the three teams battling for the last two playoff spots in the East: New York, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. The Nets are wounded. If Shelden Williams and Gerald Wallace can't play, the Nets will have nine healthy bodies. However, two of them will be MarShon Brooks and Gerald Green, who have been carrying the team lately despite their youth. In the last six games, Green has averaged 17 points, Brooks 17.2. Both are shooting better than 45% over that stretch, with Green hitting 46.8% of his threes ... all at a combined cost of $1,545,888. See there is hope. The game will be broadcast on My9 and MSG.

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