Are the Brooklyn Nets ready to dethrone New York Knicks? Shaquille O’Neal does not believe so....
Brooklyn Nets will be entering their first ever season in the NBA after the move to the Big Apple and what could have been better then to start off proceedings by taking on the New York Knicks at the Barclays Center in their season
opener.
The Nets have gone on about their business in spectacular fashion over the summer by making some of the biggest moves in the off-season. They re-signed Deron Williams – an All-Star they want to build their franchise around.
However, they did not do it without the help of a deep pocket of their new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov. The Russian billionaire has been stirring things for the Nets organization and bringing back Williams was just one of the steps
taken along the way.
With Gerald Wallace already secured, the Russian went on to trade for Joe Johnson – another All-star calibre player with other additions including the likes of Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries.
So with their latest acquisitions and a definitely stronger roster, are the Nets ready to challenge the Knicks for being the top team in New York.
Well, the aura around the Nets organization does depict that fact as they have even gone to claim that they will change the loyalties of the Knicks fans. Prokhorov has been especially been involved in igniting a rivalry and it
does depict that a competitive environment is being brought back to the Nets as a team. And a similar idea is floating all around the basketball world.
Joining the list of people who believe in the rivalry between these two teams is former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal. But the former big believes that although the situation is looking interesting, a change of guard is not likely
yet;
"The good thing about (New Yorkers) is that they're always excited, they're very competitive," said O'Neal, "(So) I'm looking for the Nets-Knicks rivalry to amp up a little bit more this year."
There is weight in Shaq’s observation. The Knicks might be underachievers but they have been together for two seasons now and have the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, who have the ability to compete with the very
best in NBA.
The Nets also have the potential, but they are new and do not seems as intimidating on paper as the Knicks.
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