Fellow hoops fans, we’re in a state of mourning. Lets face it, both of our area teams are horrible. The Nets are rebuilding with what would be the equivalent of rotten wood and the Knicks…urrggh (beating my head against a brick wall).  So, instead of going into a deeper state of depression, let me get a couple things of my chest.

1) Kidd didn’t quit on Nets; he quit on Vince

Before last Saturday’s game against the Nets, the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd denied accusations that he had quit on his former team.  Kidd told Daily News reporter Ohm Youngmisuk that he had taken the franchise as far as he could and that his alleged protest before last season’s playoff loss to Cleveland was unfounded.

“I didn’t quit on the team,” said Kidd, who will face his old team on Saturday in Dallas. “The ride was over. At the end of the day, I gave everything that I could give to the Nets. There were no more rabbits that I could pull out of the hat. There were no more rabbits that Rod (Thorn) could pull out of a hat. That is as far as they could go. I took them as high as I could.”

Kidd is right; he didn’t quit on New Jersey, he just got tired of ex-teammate Vince Carter’s act. Anyone who has ever watched the Nets play since they acquired Carter in 2004, knows that he coasts through games and doesn’t play up to his potential. He settles for wild jumpers and 30 foot bombs behind the arc.

Personal story: after Jersey’s series ending loss to the Cavaliers, Carter was seen partying it up at the 40/40 club in downtown Manhattan (owned by Nets minority owner, Jay-Z).

Kidd just happen to realize before we all did, that the Nets were going nowhere fast with Carter in the fold.

2)Isiah vs. Marbury > Hatfield vs. McCoy

The feud between Isiah Thomas and Stephon Marbury is one of the most ridiculous yet, entertaining feuds the NBA has ever seen.  It’s better than the Lakers vs. Celtics series in the 80’s and Shaq vs Kobe in the 00’s. Here you have two professionals, who haven’t proven the ability to win consistently NBA clashing over…(umm, what are they fighting for exactly?).

Isiah is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer; arguably one of the greatest point guards the league has ever seen.  Yet his record as a coach isn’t something he should be tooting his own horn. It’s mediocre at best.

In the same vein, Marbury is a tremendous talent. Look, anyone who can average roughly 20 points and 8 assists per game throughout their NBA career is a pretty special player. Nevertheless, one will never confuse Marbury as a champion. He’s like basketball’s version of Archie Manning.

The back and forth between these two is embarrassing for the franchise and even worse the city. New York was once the mecca of basketball; now it’s the setting for the world’s most mind numbing soap opera.

3) Isiah’s PLAN D is in effect: Let the young guns play.

Wait! Actually, this plan could actually work. I mean, think about it developing your young talent then adding pieces to a then stable core.  Radical enough, it could be the standard blueprint for all successful franchises. Sarcasm notwithstanding, this is actually a plan that has some sort of direction. With all the pitfalls the Knicks have suffered this season playing time has been ample for young vets such as, Jamal Crawford, David Lee, and Nate Robinson. We all know Crawford is a gunner, but he’s beginning to learn how to play “acceptable” defense, as well as, becoming the team’s  go-to guy in the clutch.  Lee is a double-double waiting to happen, when given the opportunity. Lastly, Robinson is a future sixth-man of the year. Whether he’s starting or coming of the bench, the 2006 slam dunk champion is a boost of energy when he’s in the game. Robinson will become a fan favorite and a reliable scoring option, sort of like Lenandro Barbosa is for the Suns. 

The only problem is, Thomas shouldn’t be allowed in the rebuilding process.  As a matter of fact, his things should be found outside packed up in a box with a note attached: “DONT COME BACK!!”. However, any GM with half a brain should be able to parlay these pieces, along with a top five lottery pick and Marbury’s expiring contract to field a competitive (playoff bound) team.