You looked at the Nets at the beginning of the season and saw Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. Heartburn, indigestion, posterior pain for any opposing defense.
But it’s gotten worse. Now you must include Nenad Krstic in the mix.
“He’s been a great find for the organization,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “He is playing at a high efficiency level. We know he’s a good player. We certainly didn’t overlook him coming into the series, but he plays very well off of their star perimeter players.”
Krstic exhibited just how well in the Nets’ 97-88 victory Saturday, which tied the series at 2-2 for tomorrow’s Game 5 at the Meadowlands (7 p.m., Ch. 9). Krstic was a force, thriving off penetrations by Carter. He hit three fourth-quarter jumpers that left Indy grimacing.
“I couldn’t miss in the second half. I had rhythm,” Krstic said.
Carter wasn’t kidding late in the season when he said the Nets are a Big Four.
“We all believe in him. He’s comfortable taking that shot,” said Kidd. “Maybe we got to get him more touches. He stepped up and made a lot of jump shots. That’s just going to open up the middle for Vince and RJ.”
Krstic’s past is well-documented. Snatched from the grasp of the Spurs and Kings in the ’02 draft, Krstic stayed in Europe to gain bulk and experience. He came over last year, and necessity forced him into games. Krstic has fit in, both on and off the court.
“I am still learning the culture and food. Right now, my second year, I’m getting used to it,” said Krstic, admitting that last year, “I got homesick. I missed my parents.”
He’s 22, OK? But he’s putting up the numbers of a veteran. Remember last year in the playoffs? The Nets were swept, but Krstic averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 56.3 percent against Shaq and the Heat. This time, against the Pacers, Krstic is averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds, and shooting 54.7 percent. Last year, Jefferson was rusty in the playoffs, returning from four idle months after a wrist surgery. Krstic is getting those numbers with the Big Three intact.
“They have two very good wing players in Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. We try our best to help stop these guys. [Krstic] is doing a good job of stepping up and making shots. He really stretches the defense,” said Indy’s foul-plagued stud, Jermaine O’Neal, who sees the Net center as one big part of the problem for the Pacers.
“We have been in this position before,” O’Neal added. “We got to figure a way to take the game to another level. I think this team is up to the task.”
The Nets, of course, want to keep Krstic going while keeping O’Neal a foul-riddled spectator. O’Neal has averaged just 33.5 minutes over the first four games.
“If we can keep him on the sidelines – whether it’s attacking him, whether it be guys going at him because he’s a shot-blocker or trying to pick up charges on him – we’ve got to continue to do it,” said Cliff Robinson.
So they’ll go at O’Neal. If there’s nothing inside, there’s usually Krstic waiting outside.
“We feel he’s at his best when he’s able to pick and pop and shoot,” Jefferson said of Krstic. “So running pick and rolls allows us to attack the basket, attack their bigs, but also when they collapse, it gives Nenad Krstic open shots,” said Jefferson.
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Nets vs. Pacers
At a glance
All games on WBBR (1130 AM) x-if necessary
Game Date Site Time TV
Game 1 Pacers 90, Nets 88
Game 2 Nets 90, Pacers 75
Game 3 Pacers 107, Nets 95
Game 4 Nets 97, Pacers 88
Game 5 Tomorrow at Nets 7 p.m. Ch. 9
Game 6 Thursday at Pacers TBD TBD
x-Game 7 May 6 at Nets TBD TBD