Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Nets

"I can see why they traded Stephon Marbury for Jason Kidd . Marbury's an unbelievable player, but he's only 24, and right now he's not as tuned in to involving his teammates and winning games as Kidd is....

Kidd is going to help Kenyon Martin , Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles be more creative, but I don't buy into this idea that he's going to turn Martin into the second coming of Shawn Marion . Kidd 's success with Marion had a lot to do with Marion 's explosiveness; I don't think Martin is as good an athlete. The jury is still out on his jump shot, and he seems in between positions—not quick enough to guard small forwards, too small to handle bigger forwards....

Van Horn isn't a true power forward either, so maybe between them they can make a decent frontcourt—if they can stay healthy....

Like a lot of people I questioned the contract the Nets gave Todd MacCulloch . He was able to score with his back to the basket last year, but that was because Philly had other guys you had to worry about. I don't know if he can succeed as your starting center. He's not a big rebounder and neither is Van Horn , which means other guys—especially Martin—will have to help on the boards....

Kittles looks like he's recovered from his knee problems. When he's healthy, he stretches the defense. If he could give them 10 to 15 points a game, that would be huge....

Richard Jefferson is going to be good. He's definitely an NBA athlete....

As bad as they were with all their injuries, I never saw them quit, so at least Byron Scott has got them playing hard."