Tuesday, October 02, 2007 BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO Star-Ledger Staff The first thing he was asked pertained to his summer, and Jason Kidd's immediate reaction was "not long enough." Uh-oh, you automatically think. He's tired, weary, burned out, feeling every one of his 34 years after playing 3,417 minutes over 92 games last year. Nah, false alarm. The whole truth: The Nets' captain is feeling as well as can be expected, and if his attitude during media day yesterday was any indication, he is as enthusiastic about 2007-08 as he was about any of the six previous versions. Not even the six-week stint with Team USA dampened his vigor. "I feel great," Kidd said. "With the Olympic team, that was a great experience. I played with some very talented guys, learned a lot, and I had some fun. That was great. And now physically and mentally I'm ready to start the season, and hopefully we can get off to a faster start than we have the past couple of years." Indeed, Kidd's pre-camp demeanor is often a reflection of how much talent he has to work with, so he prefaced most of his remarks with a reminder that Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic are back from injuries, that the frontline grew another 83 inches with the addition of Jamaal Magloire, and that familiarity is more beneficial than roster-juggling. "There's going to be a lot of talk about the Celtics, just because of the changes they made," he conceded. "But this team has been together for a while. We feel that we can compete with the best. There are a lot of high expectations here. Being a veteran ballclub, we accept that and look forward to that challenge. "I don't think this team cares if we're the underdog. This team is concentrating on being consistent. If you're consistent, you win championships. When you become a roller coaster, it's hit or miss. If we can take something from the Spurs, it's being consistent. They're the ones always standing with the trophies. So why not look at why? Health and consistency are the two things that stick out, besides talent." It doesn't hurt, either, to be well-rested, but that has been crossed off Kidd's wish list. The loss of Marcus Williams, who broke his foot last week, means that Kidd will probably be extended more than he would like for the next six weeks. But then, Olympians don't complain. "We'll try and keep my minutes down in the preseason," he said. "Then when the regular season comes, whatever coach needs me to do I can do. If that's playing more minutes, then it's playing more minutes. During the summer, I believe I got stronger." Still, the Nets are shopping for a backup, and contrary to reports, Darrell Armstrong isn't out of the picture. After being cut by the Pacers yesterday, Armstrong told the Indianapolis Star that he will decide between the Nets and Dallas, admitting that his close relationship with Avery Johnson is a factor. According to a Nets official, who cannot disclose his identity because he is not authorized to divulge the team's plan, the Nets are still mulling whether to offer the 39-year-old point guard a one-year guaranteed contract of $755,000 after he clears waivers tomorrow. Notes: Allan Houston is awaiting the birth of his third child (they'll induce by tomorrow), and then he'll call his agent Bill Strickland to discuss whether he'll be a Knicks or Nets camper by week's end. "Right after the birth, he'll make a decision," Strickland said. ... Williams' surgery is tomorrow. "They'll (have) me in a cast for nine or 10 days, then a boot, and then probably 2 1/2 weeks in, I get in a pool or light bike," he said. Jefferson, on the right ankle that required surgery last January: "It's a non-issue. I'm excited to be back to normal." ... Nets luxury-tax victim Hassan Adams has surfaced at Cleveland camp. Dave D'Alessandro may be reached at [email protected] 来源:http://0rz.tw/9837g -- 内有胖子 视觉系乡民勿入!!! 发春用BLOG http://chanyoyo.blogspot.com/ --

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