By FRED KERBER
That Carter guy could stick as a starter.
“I think he’s got the talent to start,” Boki Nachbar deadpanned.
So Vince Carter is back in the first five for Memphis and its high octane offense. Lawrence Frank wanted to stay with a small lineup so he’s going with Kidd, Carter, Wright, Jefferson and Collins.
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Update on Marcus Williams. Really, no update. Went for the MRI yesterday, a “clean” report which is good news. They’ve adjusted his orthodics and he’ll go to the next step which is doing what he has been doing – running, cutting, etc – on a daily basis. So far it’s been every other day. Still no determination when he’ll start.
“Just a little soreness,” said Williams who reminded the surgery was “eight weeks ago tomorrow.”
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Nets were due to hear from the NBA on Thursday about general life issues, including security measures. Takes on a whole new meaning and importance in light of the Sean Taylor tragedy.
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Nice scene pre-game. A lot of kids and teenagers held over from a high school game. Richard Jefferson spent time flinging a football into the stands and taking passes back. Kids ate it up. Finally, Jefferson hurled one into the upper deck. Was he a high school QB?
“Nah, they wouldn’t let me play football. I was 180 pounds,” Jefferson recalled. “Personally, I would have been good. That’s part of my cockiness.”
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Darrell Armstrong still 1-2 weeks away from practicing. Had a really nasty thigh contusion.
“It’s feeling good, I got a lot of the blood out,” said Armstrong. “I’m still rehabbing, do what I have to do…It could be another week, another two weeks. You don’t want to push it.”
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In honor of seeing North Bergen Al from Yes again:
Movie Quote of the Day: Joe Pesci (Vincent LaGuardia Gambini) – “Lisa, I don’t need this. I swear to God, I do not need this right now, okay? I’ve got a judge that’s just aching to throw me in jail. An idiot who wants to fight me for two hundred dollars. Slaughtered pigs. Giant loud whistles. I ain’t slept in five days. I got no money, a dress code problem and a little murder case which, in the balance, holds the lives of two innocent kids. Not to mention your (stomps foot three times) biological clock.” – “My Cousin Vinny”