New Jersey Nets ~ The Final Days

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS:  Bid New Jersey Farewell Boys.  Monday
Will be the Last Game in the Garden State.  Fugheddaboudit!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - marked the last time the New York Knicks would ever cross the Hudson River to play the Nets in New Jersey.



New York Knick fans have long packed The Rock, or the old Brendan Byrne Arena to see the Knicks take on the New Jersey Nets.  Last Wednesday was no different in that regard.  That the Rock resoundingly gave the Knicks the feel of a home game was expected.  The fact that the Newark crowd booed their home team vociferously was just a shame.  The reason was largely due to the abundance of Knicks fans in the building.  But then, where were the Nets fans?

I assure you, such comfort levels will not be achieved in Brooklyn; not by invading Knicks fans anyway.  Fans of the Knickerbockers will no doubt flood into Barclays Center.  But playing the Nets will never ever feel like a home game on the road for the Knicks ever again.  Not in Brooklyn!

Times are changing folks.

Monday, April 23, 2012 - Tonight's game against Philadelphia will be the last time the Nets Basketball Club will ever play as a home team representing the State of New Jersey.

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

Philadelphia 76ers

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

From

The Rock

I wonder if the League planned this particular game on purpose.  After all, it was to the Philadelphia 76ers the Nets wound up selling Julius Erving; or more commonly referred to as Dr. J; back in 1977.  Many former Nets players will be on hand tonight for a half-time ceremony.  Over the last thirty five years, I guess my favorite edition of the Nets was the team with Otis Birdsong, Buck Williams, and Darryl Dawkins.  My favorite Net player in all the New Jersey years wound up being Kenyon Martin.  I was not at all pleased when new owner Bruce Ratner came on board and decided the Nets would not be resigning him as a free agent after the 2003-2004 season.  I believe letting Kenyon Martin leave for the Denver Nuggets precipitated the Nets premature break-up of the mid-2000's team that went to back-to-back NBA Finals.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 - will be the last game the New Jersey Nets ever play, period.  Their 2011-2012 season, and thirty-five year run of NBA Basketball in the Garden State will come to an end in Toronto.

THE FINAL GAME as THE NEW JERSEY NETS

NEW JERSEY NETS

vs.

Toronto Raptors

Beginning Monday, April 30, 2012 - this organization and the team will officially be recognized as "THE BROOKLYN NETS BASKETBALL CLUB"

BARCLAYS CENTER

~March 2010~

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

BARCLAYSCENTER.com

APRIL 2012

Mike.BTB