Over Vince

Whenever the Nets play the Raptors, you expect a huge media crush for Vince Carter. But things may be changing.

I did an interview on Raptors' radio last night and Carter's name was not mentioned until maybe the fourth or fifth question. I stopped the interviewer and asked him if that was a sign that Carter playing the Raptors isn't as big of a deal anymore. He said it's been a while so feelings have softened.

I told Vince the same story today, and he just smiled. We'll see what happens when the Nets are in Toronto and Carter is booed mercilessly, especially since his Nets' beat the Raptors in the playoffs last year. But the truth is the deal happened in 2004, people should move on.

At this morning's shootaround, there were no Toronto cameras or reporters there, perhaps another sign that Carter isn't as big, important or hated across the border.

"I had a feeling it would be like that," Carter said of the lack of Canadian presence. "I’ll see them tonight."

It will be worse on Feb. 13 when the Nets are in Toronto.

***

The rivalry question came up today and none of the Big Three think Nets-Raptors is a rivalry, and which I agree.

Rivalries happen when there is ill-will or you meet in the playoffs a few times - like Heat-Pistons, San Antonio-Dallas, San Antonio-Phoenix, Dallas-Phoenix or the biggest in sports Yankees-Red Sox. It's hard to get excited about Nets-Raptors. They're two good teams, who have been overlooked coming into this season, but there has been no war of words or no major pushing and shoving and only one playoff meeting.

"I think the hype behind it right now is it’s my former team or something like t hat," Carter said. "We have a lot of respect for them. They own the (division) title right now but…"

Richard Jefferson said, "How can it be a rivalry? No disrespect to them. We've been in the Eastern Conference mix for six years. They have definitely come up. Their fans dislike us more than they do. So I wouldn't say it's a rivalry to the point where they get up for this game.

"We've played Miami in the playoffs twice," Jefferson continued. "we've played Detroit in the playoffs twice. we've played Boston in the playoffs twice. we have three teams in the Eastern Conference that you could make the statement we have a rivalry. You've got the Knicks right across the water. Do we have five rivalries going on in the Eastern Conference right now? I can't say that. The closest thing could be Boston. if both teams are playing competitive it could revive something that happened a few years ago, and I think it could be fun."

The Nets play the Celtics twice in the next 12 days. Those games should be fun.

***

Carter had his right thumb wrapped a bit at the shoot. He said he banged it opening night. May or may not wear it tonight.

***
Just an update on Nenad Krstic.

He's fine. And he felt fine yesterday, the day after his first real game in more than 10 months and the first time he fell since his left knee surgery. Krstic was called for an offensive foul on the play against Chicago, which was a bad call because he didn't clear out. He's still having trouble planting and lifting, but he's getting better.

Comments

[Fabricio in North Bergen]

As a big fan of yours Al, is it possible to get a link to the interview you did last night for Raptors radio. I'm sure it was very insightful and will be a great preview to tonights game. Please let your admirers know if that will be possible.

[harlemNets]

Hey Al,

thanks for all your good work on the nets. I love reading your stories.

Wondering what you think about the nets going with a smaller lineup against the raptors.

Mags in the middle with Boki/RJ/Antoine at the 4?

I think it will make for exciting basketball with Kidd pushing the ball...

[The Nick]

Yankees / Red Sox..."biggest in sports" ??????

Does your tiny world stop at the beaches of the Atlantic and Pacific ocean? Or are you just showing your ingorance?

I normally like reading your stuff, but comments like that show you to be quite uneducated on the reality of SPORT on this World we live in. Red Sox/Yankee borefests don't rank in the top 25 hottest rivalries on this planet. Maybe they are top in the US, but Sport doesn't only exist in this country.

Spend some time talking to Ives, buddy....get an education...

[claude]

dude, nobody cares about your soccer game rivalries....get real or move back to Europe!!!!

regards, Boki Nachbar

[A.S.]

Heh. Arsenal-ManU this weekend, baby. Better than Red Sox-Yanks.

[The Nick]

Actually, idiot, you're wrong. In reality. billions more people care about "my soccer game" than any basketball, baseball, football, hockey game combined.

And idiot....I wasn't only referring to soccer either.

Go on youtube and check out some hot rivalries in the european leagues. You'll see what real passion is.

I love basketball, soccer, football, and THE UNITED STATES. I am just aware of global sport as opposed to small local leagues like NBA, MLB, NHL, etc