A Riches to Rags to Riches Story?

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What is it about this 2013-14 Brooklyn Nets team that makes them so likable?

In all of my years following them, there is only one other team that captured my heart the way this team has – the 2001-02 squad. Surely you remember that team. It was the year that Jason Kidd first arrived in East Rutherford and led the transformation from perennial losers to league contenders. They were the ultimate “rags to riches” story, as the team doubled their win total from 26 the year prior.

Not exactly a team of superstars.

Everything about that season was magical, as the Nets got off to a 7-1 start and never looked back. Whether it was the overtime victory in Utah, the 34 home win against Sacramento, or beating the Spurs in San Antonio, the regular season was highlighted by signature wins that Nets fans weren’t accustomed to seeing. For the first time in a long time, the Nets proved that they could compete with the likes of Karl Malone, Chris Webber, and Tim Duncan led teams.

Although Kidd was a superstar player, the rest of the roster was comprised of players that never really tasted success at the NBA level. What made this team so special was that Kidd was able to maximize everyone’s potential and put them in a position to be successful. For this reason, any given night could feature a different star of the game. Over time it wasn’t much of a surprise to see unlikely heroes in Aaron Williams, Todd MacCulloch, or Lucious Harris leading the way to victory.

The Nets of that 2001-02 season played a brand of basketball that was fun and exciting. They got out and ran the fast break better than anyone. The unselfish play of Kidd grew contagious, as players went out of their way to make the extra pass. They epitomized what “team basketball” was all about.

As the Nets entered the postseason with a 52-30 record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference, some critics doubted their ability to advance deep into the playoffs. I recall some pundits predicting that the 8^th seeded Pacers would eliminate them. Those prognostications seemed to be on their way to becoming true, when Indiana stole the home court advantage in Game 1.

How many teams would have overcome this kick to the nuts?

A resilient bunch evened the series on the road to force a decisive Game 5 (yes, the opening round was a best of five series back then) in the Meadowlands. A heart pounding game from start to finish saw regulation end on a Reggie Miller miracle three pointer to force overtime. The Nets survived that blow and ultimately prevailed in double overtime, 120-109.

After once again losing the home court edge in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics, the Nets found themselves with a 21 point cushion entering the fourth quarter and an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the series. In one of the greatest meltdowns in playoff history, Boston outscored New Jersey by 25 and stole the victory. Left for dead by all in the sports world, the Nets showed their true character by winning the next three games, two of which were on the road, to advance to the NBA Finals.

Unfortunately the clock struck midnight on the Nets when they met the two-time defending champion Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Nets had no answer for either Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O’Neal, as Los Angeles swept them in convincing fashion. Although it was a disappointing end to the season, the year as a whole was something Nets fan wouldn’t trade for anything.

Back to the 2013-14 Nets – not exactly the “rags to riches” story, but maybe they are.

No, I haven’t been drinking! Think about how this season started. When all of the prized acquisitions were made by Billy King, everyone (including myself) was envisioning total domination once the chemistry formed. Forget 50, this super team was destined for 60 wins. How could it not? So what if Miami had a “Big Three”, no one had ever seen what a “Big Five” was capable of doing.

What they were capable of doing throughout the first 31 games of the regular season was embarrass themselves in epic fashion. A noncompetitive spirit, resulting in routine lopsided losses, reached its lowest moment when Brook Lopez broke his foot during a humiliating loss to the lowly Sixers. With the season spiraling out of control, disgruntled fans called for the dismantling of the team’s roster and the firing of Kidd.

What appeared to be the knockout blow.

When you spend over 180 million dollars on payroll and taxes, no one is eager to offer sympathy when you’re in turmoil. In fact many cherished watching the most expensive team in NBA history sink towards the bottom of the Atlantic Division. For a team that was too talented to fail, they resembled something along the lines of the Titanic.

A funny thing happened as the Nets resurrected their season – they became a group that’s perhaps as likable as that Kidd-led team. Think about it for a second. Who has been the group of players that have helped fuel the turnaround? It certainly wasn’t our sole representative from last season’s All-Star Game, and it definitely hasn’t been our franchise point guard. Our intense Hall of Fame center has played a part of it, but for most of the season, he has either been hurt or working a part-time schedule.

The group that I am talking about are the six players who earn just over ten million dollars. Ask yourself this – would the Nets have salvaged their season without the development and contributions of Shaun Livingston, Andrei Kirilenko, Mason Plumlee, Mirza Teletovic, Andray Blatche, and Alan Anderson? Clearly Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce have been the focal points on offense, but these players have done a tremendous job filling various roles that make a team successful.

Fans haven’t seen this type of energy above the rim since that Bad Ass Yellow Boy.

Although cynics will sneer at the inflated payroll that Mikhail Prokhorov has to pay, this group has given us an underdog feel – just like that 2001-02 Nets team. Both Livingston and Kirilenko are the types who seem to greatly impact a game without putting up gaudy statistics. Sound familiar? If it does, then you clearly remember how Kidd, the player, could dominate a game with a stat line of 5 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Plumlee is that exciting, high-flyer that we haven’t seen don a Nets’ uniform since Kenyon Martin. Written off as a bust, Teletovic has carved out a role with his ability to stretch the floor from the power forward position, just like that kid from the University of Utah who wore the geeky, high socks. Although he is often times underappreciated, Anderson does provide solid defense and bench scoring, like Harris.

Looking at the balance sheet doesn’t tell the entire story of these Nets.  You cannot deny how much this modern day team has overcome. They were left for dead by everyone after that dreadful 31 game start, and here they stand now with a chance to make some noise in these playoffs.

Considering how they looked before it all began, to where they were going, to where they are headed now, they just may be a “riches to rags to riches” story.

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