2002 - 2003
Twice Bitten, Twice Shy (of a Title)
Two seasons of Jason Kidd, two Eastern Conference crowns and two trips to the NBA Finals. But, things once again end in an unsatisfying manner as the Nets drop a six-game series to the Spurs. Read the season summary in our History Pages.


Joe's Final Grades
Jason Kidd: A-
About the only thing he didn't do was bring home the title.

Kenyon Martin: B+
Big improvement as Kidd's #2 marred slightly by last two Finals games.

Jason Collins: B
Steady workhorse was more effective than healthy Dikembe.

Richard Jefferson: B
Proved that VH was holding him back.

Aaron Williams: B
Super-sub always seemed to make the big play.

Lucious Harris: B-
Strong first half; became nearly invisible at times in second half.

Kerry Kittles: B-
Streaky as always, but a miracle he played as many games as he did.

Anthony Johnson: C
Classic overachiever was good fit for the system.

Brian Scalabrine: C
Did some of the little things when briefly replaced Rogers in rotation. Fan fave.

Tamar Slay: C-
Didn't get the chance to show much but rookie inconsistency.

Dikembe Mutombo: C-
Grades out higher than he played all season because of brief playoff flurry and long career (and that's all).

Rodney Rogers: D+
To paraphrase, fat, out-of-shape and unsuccessful is no way to go through a season.

Chris Childs: F
"Chrisco" was rancid even before he got on the shelf.

Brandon Armstrong: F
Two words: who dat?

Donny Marshall: Inc
Even cheerleaders have feelings, Joe.

 2002 - 2003 Game x Game
Was the season really that long? Every Nets game of the 2002 - 2003 season reviewed. When we're feeling down, we like to re-read all the games from the Nets 10-game winning streak back in December and January. . An alternative way to peruse this season's Nets games (including the playoffs) is by clicking through our '02-'03 Calendar.
2003 NBA Playoffs
 Another season, another NBA Finals appearance. Netsfans never knew that June could be so fun. All the playoff action, including the two sweeps of Boston and Detroit, are included in the jam-packed Playoffs pages.
2002 - 2003 Diatribe
 Twenty-four diatribes from Joe to capture the essence of the 2002 - 2003 season. From the first mindless wanderings of the draft to tackling the insanity of the YES Mess to his coming clean about his cable connections, from a preaseason check of the Nets to his final post season ramblings about the Finals loss and the Jason Kidd situation, they're all here...
2002 - 2003 Out Of Bounds
 Finally, a voice of reason amidst all the chaos and calamity that is Joe and Champage. Mike McGann's 10 Out Of Bounds columns point out everything from the Nets' attendance woes, the Mutombo and Kittles injuries, betting on the Nets while in Vegas, the Byron Scott situation and playoff musings, plus a post mortem to the season. It's all here, and it's all good.
2002 - 2003 Specials
 Specials aplenty, from Joe's visits to the ABCD camp and the set of the YES Network's Centerstage, to our annual preseason prediction preview, to Joe's quarterly reports, all here for your reading pleasure...
2002 - 2003 Media
 A very underdeveloped section in 2002 - 2003 - but the five pieces to the puzzle certainly make interesting reading nonetheless. Try out all five sections: 1) Press Clips - where Joe makes his voice heard in the local and national media; 2) Mean Street - the not-so-nice things people said; 3) The Morgue - where interesting Nets and NBA news is stored (it only lasted for the summer); 4) Chuckleheads - need a laugh? Find some here; and 5) Sweet Nothings - get your Nets-love here. Also found here: Links to every NBA team's local papers and team pages and the YES Mess contact page, in case you still feel like ragging on the Dolans.
2002 - 2003 Backlash
 It came in a torrent and it never stopped: 55 eye-popping Backlashes from one and all (and a whole lot of NetsNut). Read all about your thoughts on the Mutombo trade, venting on the YES Mess, knocking the Knicks, the return of the Nut, the Byron backlash, the Kidd-Scott feud, Wannabe NetsNuts, and post-season reflection. So much reading, it could last a full season. Enjoy. It's all right here...
2002 - 2003 Opponents
 Before each regular season game, Joe assessed the matchup. All 82 games from Joe's crystal ball are right here...
2002 - 2003 Heckle
 Your best short, sharp bursts of color, and humor. 47 wise statements from 47 wise-guys. Check them out here...
2002 - 2003 Regular Season Records + Streaks
Nets Regular Season Record: 49 - 33. Atlantic Division Champions and #2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
NBA Standings.
Winning Streak: 10 (Nets' 2nd longest behind 11-game streak in '82-'83).
Losing Streak: 4.
Home Record: 33 - 8
Home Winning Streak: 13 (tie for Nets' longest with '01-'02).
Road Record: 16 - 25
Road Winning Streak: 5 (tie for Nets' longest with '82-'83).
Road Losing Streak: 7.
Division Record: 16 - 8
Conference Record: 34 - 20
"Revenge Game" Record: 11 - 7

Individual Accolades
 Eastern Conference Players of the Week: Jason Kidd, Dec. 23; Lucious Harris, Dec. 30; Richard Jefferson, March 30; Jason Kidd, April 6.
Eastern Conference Player of the Month: Jason Kidd, December.
All-Star Reserve: Jason Kidd.
All-NBA Second Team: Jason Kidd.
All-Defensive Second Team: Jason Kidd.

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© 2002 Shawn Belschwender and Michael Kozlowski

'02 - '03 Roster
 Joe and Champagne's pre-season break-downs on each Nets player weren't always on the money. Here's the final '02-'03 roster. Click a player to see what we wrote (in a few cases, we were way out of line).

1 Brandon Armstrong, G
11 Chris Childs, G **
35 Jason Collins, C
14 Jamie Feick*, F
12 Lucious Harris, G
24 Richard Jefferson, G
8 Anthony Johnson, G
5 Jason Kidd, G
30 Kerry Kittles, G
13 Donny Marshall, F
6 Kenyon Martin, F
55 Dikembe Mutombo, C
54 Rodney Rogers, F
21 Brian Scalabrine, F
8 Tamar Slay, G-F
34 Aaron Williams, C-F


* on injured list most of season; waived
** waived March 7, 2003

Head Coach: Byron Scott
Assistant Coaches:
Eddie Jordan
Mike O'Koren
Lawrence Frank

Strength-and-Conditioning Coach: Rich Dalatri
Trainer: Tim Walsh