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I think the Martin-Krstic combo could have become something special, and it's our loss that we didn't get to see it. Krstic already has a tough streak. Imagine if he could have had Martin as a mentor. Imagine the old Nets defense, anchored by Kidd, Kittles and Martin, with a shotblocker like Krstic.
truth and 7M3 make important points. Just switching Martin and Carter doesn't cover all the changes to the team. Just the fact the Kidd that Martin played with isn't the current Kidd makes a huge difference. The old Kidd permeated the team so thoroughly that the effect of any drop-off in his game was magnified in the team. Kidd is still the driver, but at least for now, he can't be the engine, too. That means a different kind of team.
Kittles, too. Nobody, including Carter, could sprint out on a fastbreak like Kittles, but Carter is the far better scorer in the half-court offense. Kittles' defense, however, is sorely missed. Watching the current Nets guards, including Carter, I appreciate Kittles' defense more now than when he was here.
Both Carter and Martin are brittle, Martin less so, and neither has played well through injury in their careers, so that evens out. I think the biggest loss with Martin is the attitude and aggressiveness he brought onto the court. An intangible, perhaps, but it won more than a few big games for the Nets. When the Nets are engaged in contests of will against the top teams, like the Pistons, I don't know if Carter can replace Martin's leadership.
Ask this question in another month or two. The old Nets, such as they were, knew their identity and how to play with each other. This season's team reinvented itself before the season and now twice (Kidd returns, Carter trade) in-season. They're going through a protracted training camp, and they're still figuring out who they are and what they do. We don't know yet if Carter will meld his game with the Nets system. I think he will, but it'll take time before we know.
Last edited by NYCbballFan : 12-29-2004 at 06:44 PM.
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