New Jersey Nets Tickets

The New Jersey Nets aren't really built to win this year, but they are still hanging strong in the playoff race at the midway point of the season.

The biggest reason for the team's ability to hang around in the postseason race comes from a move that the Nets made last year.

The team opted to move veteran point guard Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks for youngster Devin Harris.

Harris has become a monster this season, averaging 21.5 points and 6.5 assists per game. He is heading to the All-Star game.

It's also helped that shooting guard Vince Carter has decided he actually cares to play this year and play hard at that. Carter is averaging over 20 points per game and has avoided the usual injuries that plague him.

The team traded for Yi Jianlian in the offseason but have been without him for four weeks because of a broken pinkie finger. It was an unfortunate injury as the sophomore forward was finally starting to come into this own, averaging 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Center Brook Lopez, the team's first round draft pick, has seen immediate playing time and made the most of it. He is averaging 12 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Where the Nets have struggled is finding consistent play from role players off of the bench. Keyon Dooling and Jarvis Hayes have both been solid contributors, but there have been disappontments as well.

Chris-Douglas Roberts hasn't shown much so far in his rookie season, and Sean Williams hasn't become the player they thought he would be. I really loved Williams coming out of Boston College, but he rarely sees playing time.

The Nets still have a decent shot at sneaking into the playoffs, but don't fool yourself into thinking they are going anywhere. If they even reached the postseason, a quick elimination would follow at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics.