Matt Rivers



For Wednesday take the Nets at home.

This is far, very far, from being the Lock of my Life as we are backing the pretty poor and inferior New Jersey Nets and not gettting anything back for it but there are some factors on our side and enough to make a tiny play on the boys from the Meadowlands.

For one, the Pistons have not exactly been very good of late. Ever since acquiring Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups things have been fairly dreadful. Yes there is still a lot of talent there with Hamilton, Prince, Wallace, Stuckey and a few others but it's not like these guys are brimming with confidence right now.

Detroit also is playing on a back-to-back tonight after tangling with LeBron and the Cavs in Cleveland last night. Certainly fresh as a daisy will not really describe tonight's visitors. Also the road is never the greatest or easiest place to play and the Nets at least were off yesterday giving Devin Harris another day of rest from the recent injury and old man Vince Carter some spring in his legs as well.

Motivation is always a huge factor in any sport and after New Jersey getting thoroughly embarassed on Sunday night at home against Richard Jefferson and the Bucks a rebound effort more than likely is on the docket. That was an absolutely pathetic display and more times than not professional athletes will be focused and come out with some fight the next time out.

New Jersey is more than likely all done in terms of the playoffs but they are not fully eliminated and all in all I will take my chances with Lawrence Frank's squad tonight.