Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Nets' Kidd confident, angry, entering Game 5
The Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New Jersey Nets didn't need long to get over the worst playoff giveaway in NBA history. They evened the best-of-seven series with a victory in Game 4 and are again confident about beating the Boston Celtics and reaching the NBA Finals.
They have something else working for them entering Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at home Wednesday night: Jason Kidd is angry.
The star point guard said Tuesday he feared for the safety of his wife and 3-year-old son because of drunken fans who taunted them Monday at the FleetCenter.
“That's just Boston,” Kidd said Tuesday. “I think that's the way Boston has always been. They call it the jungle. The fans don't bother me. I don't hear them half the time. It's more or less my family and their safety after the game.”
Kidd did not say specifically what caused him to fear for his family's safety. But he felt a few fans went too far, and he wasn't talking about the booing every time he touched the ball.
Kidd, who has rarely shown emotion this season in turning the Nets from an also-ran into a contender, cursed at some in the crowd after the Nets evened the series at 2-2 with a 94-92 win.
“I'm glad he did show emotion, sometimes you have to let it out,” Nets coach Byron Scott said. “You hold it in and hold it in and try to be a nice guy and you hear all these people saying these things. It's good to let it out.”
Scott thinks the conduct by the Boston fans will spur Kidd and the Nets.
“I think the game is personal for him anyway,” Scott said. “What the fans in Boston have done is give him a little extra motivation, added motivation to what he wants to achieve. That's a dangerous thing.”
That's just one thing the Celtics have to worry about. They also have to guard against a letdown.
After rallying from a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to win Game 3 on Saturday, Boston overcame a double-digit deficit to tie Game 4 with less than 30 seconds to play.
However, they didn't finish the job.
Two free throws by Lucious Harris gave the Nets the lead with 6.6 seconds to play. Paul Pierce, the star of Game 3, cost his team the game by missing the first of two free throws with 1.1 seconds to play.
A desperation put-back by Tony Battie also missed, reducing the series to a best-of-three, with New Jersey again having home-court advantage.
No doubt, Pierce will be the target of the fans at Continental Airlines Arena for Game 5.
“When you go into a town where nobody likes you, people are going to say things to try to get into your head,” Pierce said Tuesday. “But you've got to understand, that's playoff basketball.”
Kerry Kittles, one of several Nets who went back to the hotel admittedly stunned after Game 3, said Game 4 immediately restored New Jersey's confidence.
“We know we can beat these guys,” Kittles said. “We feel pretty good about ourselves. We can definitely win the series if we play our game and we stick to what we have been doing well.”
Except for the fourth quarter Saturday, the Nets controlled the two games in Boston. In both contests, they jumped to big leads and forced the Celtics to catch up.
If New Jersey can do that again, the Celtics will be fighting for survival in Game 6 in Boston on Friday.
Kidd doesn't plan to ask authorities in Boston for extra protection for his family. He would like the rowdies to try to show a little class, or at least remember they have children, too.
“It's nothing personal,” Kidd said. “They have the right to cheer and boo, that's what their job is to do. There is also a fine line. You don't jeopardize anybody's family and friends in doing something ridiculous. That's my worry more than anything.”
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Nets' Kidd confident, angry, entering Game 5 
