The New Jersey Nets are angry and encouraged. The are angry at the way they started Game One of the NBA Finals. They are encouraged at the way they finished. Liz Robins of the New York Times reports that the Nets know they can play better in Game 2 Friday night at the Staples Center. The thing is, so do the Lakers.

"We know how good they are, we know what they're made of," Kerry Kittles said today, "but we know what we're made of, too."

The Nets started horribly in Game One staking the Lakers to a 29-14 lead. Over the final 3 quarters, the Nets turned things around and outscored the Lakers 80-70. The Nets are determined to improve the aspects of the game that led to the early Laker lead: defending Shaquille O'Neal, rebounding, free-throw shooting and opening-tip attitude.

The Nets will most likely mix up their defenses, with more double-teaming of O'Neal, who scored 36 points. "I saw Sacramento put four guys around him; he had 41 points, so I don't know if I want to put five guys on him and leave Robert and Fisher and Fox and especially Kobe wide open," Nets Coach Byron Scott said.

New Jersey forward Keith Van Horn said the Nets were as stagnant on offense as they were in Game 1 of their opening-round series against Indiana, an 89-83 Nets loss.

"Our biggest adjustment is going to be our mind-set coming into the first quarter," Van Horn said. "Also, we need to rebound the ball so we can get the ball in Jason's hands. We really underestimated their aggressiveness on the boards."

As embarrassed as the Nets were by watching the Lakers seize a 23-point lead 17 minutes into the game, the Lakers were just as displeased to let the lead slip to 3 points in the fourth quarter.

"We're disappointed in ourselves," Fox said. "We're not going to let that happen again. We recognize that we can play better, we will play better and the opportunity to win another championship is right in front of us."

The Nets know they may never have another opportunity. "We haven't thought about being down, 2-0," Kidd said. "We don't have anything to lose. All the pressure's on L.A. to sweep or win this series."