The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets rivalry is being pushed strongly by the media and fans alike. With the addition of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets and Andrea Bargnani and Metta World Peace to the Knicks and both teams already having a stacked squad, the question remains who will come out on top next season. Bernard King was asked his take on the situation and said injuries will be the key.
From Marc Berman of the New York Post:
It’s too close to call, says Bernard King.
King, who played for the Knicks and Nets during a Hall-of-Fame career that will be honored this weekend, said injuries will decide which New York team is the better one in 2013-14 but said he believes both are legitimate Eastern Conference title contenders.
“Injuries play such a major factor in how a team will perform,’’ said King, who will be enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday in Springfield, Mass. “It’s going to be competitive every game they face each other. It’s going to be a very interesting and great rivalry. But I think they’ll both be in the mix [for the Eastern Crown]. Miami is the top tier, they’re the team you’re chasing. No reason they [the Knicks and Nets] can’t compete with the other top-tier teams in the conference.’’
Considering the aging stars on both teams and both being hit by the injury bug, it’s no doubt that injuries will play a major role in the outcome. It’s also a safe answer for King who played for both teams and is trying to remain politically correct during his Hall of Fame induction weekend. I guess we’ll leave all the buzzworthy comments up to Gary Payton.
