Hey everyone i'm now going to make my first big prediction for this group. 

THE PREDICTION: Without Jason Kidd the Nets will be much better and make it to the second round of the playoffs.

HOW IT WILL HAPPEN: The Nets were 23-30 with Kidd.  Not what you would call good.  Without him they are so far 2-1 having won by 11 and by 8.  The backup second year PG Marcus Williams came in to play with Devin Harris still out and Williams has been very good.  In his first game, he led the Nets to a 110-102 win over the Bulls in Chicago.  He scored 28 points in that game to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.  The next game he was quiet but in the Nets third game without J-Kidd Williams had another breakout game notching up a carreer high 13 assists!  Since Kidd has been gone Richard Jefferson has broken out as well as he scored 24 points and 34 points twice.  Vince Carter has also been good since Kidd has been gone getting more than 20 points in each of the 3 games.  Josh Boone had a great game last night getting 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Boone also went 5-5 from the line and before this he was shooting a horrid 39% from the foul line this season.  Could it be that all the Kidd rumors were putting stress on all of the other Nets? Or was Kidd becoming a bad leader?  Well, whatever it was now that Kidd is gone the Nets have been playing much better basketball.  When Devin Harris gets back from his injury, him and Williams will probably platoon at point guard.  If the Nets can get at least a 6 seed in the East they should easily make it to the second round of the playoffs.  They have shown that they can beat Orlando at home and in Orlando.  They have beaten Cleveland and Washington as well this year.  Why should anything be different in the playoffs?  However they have been unable to beat Detroit and Boston this year going a combined 0-5 against them, and those losses were not close even.  Still, if the Nets can avoid Detroit and Boston 'till round 2 of the playoffs then the Nets should blow by round 1!

                                                                 -Da Masta