Fred Gonzalez: Good afternoon everyone. After what seemed like a month, the NBA Finals begin tonight, so let's get to your questions.

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Somewhere, USA: Someone said on TV that this is the worst Finals in a long time in terms of the attractiveness of the teams. Do you agree?

Fred Gonzalez: I would not agree. While the markets aren't the greatest for TV ratings, I think this match-up is better than say Rockets-Magic back in 1995 when Houston swept Shaq and Penny Hardaway, or the pair of finals between Seattle and Washington to close out the 1970s. It's no Lakers vs Celtics, but what is? You have what could be great battles at point guard between Jason Kidd and Tony Parker, and inside between Tim Duncan and Kenyon Martin. Occasional NBA viewers will remember the Nets from last year, and the Spurs were the last team to win the title since the Lakers went on their run of three straight. It should be pretty entertaining. Besides, what do people on TV know?

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Arlington, Va.: Dikembe Mutombo seems to have fallen off the radar screen. Just a couple of years ago he was covering Shaq in the NBA Finals. What is his status for this year's Finals? Is he still injured? Have his skills diminished much? Do you expect him to play? Thanks.

Fred Gonzalez: Mutombo is not injured and could see some time in the finals helping out against the Spurs Tim Duncan and David Robinson. But I believe his skills have diminished, and he actually hurts the Nets when he's in the game. If you recall, at the start of the season the Nets could not run their transition game effectively. But when Deke got injured, the Nets flourished, so they really never wanted to get him back in the rotation. Plus, I think the emergence of Jason Collins, the second-year center out of Stanford, has made Deke obsolete. Collins is averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds in the playoffs and is more mobile at the center position. He's quicker off the rebounds and getting the fast break started. So look for Mutombo to come off the bench and only when someone is in serious foul trouble inside for New Jersey.

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Washington, D.C.: For his age, Tony Parker seems to be one of the great young talents, perhaps even better than Kobe was at the same age, because Point Guards have more responsibility. How does he compare to other young players who've reached the finals?

I think only Magic has had such early success?

Fred Gonzalez: Parker is a very talented player, but also very inconsistent. Against the Lakers he dissapeared in a couple games then had a monster performance in the deciding game of the series. Magic may be one of the few point guards to reach the finals early in his career, but I would not compare Parker to Magic. To me, Parker is more like a young Isiah Thomas, and this match-up at point guard has a lot of the same qualities from those Magic-Isiah meetings in 1988 and 1989, with Kidd playing the role of Magic.

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washingtonpost.com: Just how good is Tony Parker?

Fred Gonzalez: I think Parker, when it's all said and done, will be one of the Top 20 point guards to play in the NBA. Again, he reminds me of Isiah Thomas and as long as he sticks with Tim Duncan, they will make each other better, and perhaps win a string of titles. He just needs to develop his confidence, and I think that will come in due time. He's shown flashes of what he can do, he just needs to develop consistency.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Do you think that NBA (city for city) has done enough for David Robinson's swan song? I realize that Michael Jordan didn't get the farewell tour, but he was given one anyway. NBA Commissioner David Stern has been a visible spokesman for the game, and has given Robinson his due and named an award after him, but city for city there didn't seem to be any fanfare. I'm especially disappointed in Washington's lack of celebration for Robinson seeing as how he grew up 30 minutes away. Then again, I'm never shocked at how the Washington franchise treats NBA icons.

Fred Gonzalez: David Robinson probably wouldn't have wanted it any other way, so I think he got enough of a send off. (Besides, he's in the finals - can't think of a better way to go out.) He's not that kind of guy who seeks the farewell gifts and accolades. If every retiring player went on a farewell tour it would be ridiculous. (Should Reggie Miller and Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen have farewell tours??) Besides, what did Robinson do on the court that made him worthy of a massive farewell? He concentrated his efforts where he could make a mark off the court, with various charities. As for Washington's lack of celebration for Robinson, I believe the last Wizards home game at MCI this season says it all.

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Bristow, Va.: Will Steve Kerr finally get some playing time for the Spurs, after his great performance during the last game of the Western Conference Finals?

Fred Gonzalez: No. He will still come off the bench and deliver killer 3-pointers in the clutch. However, Popovich may go to him sooner than later in this series if the Spurs are in need of a momentum change. But remember, what Kerr provides on offense, he gives up just as much on defense, and could get caught looking when Kidd and the Nets go on transition.

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Rockville, Md.: Where did Kenyon Martin play in college? How effective would you say he has been in the NBA thus far?

Fred Gonzalez: Martin, who played his college ball at Cincinnati, was the first selection in the 2000 NBA Draft by New Jersey. If you recall, his senior year in college he was the player of the year and had the Bearcats in the NCAA tournament with a No. 1 seed, but he broke his leg just before the tournament. Many doubted he could make an impact after the injury, but the Nets gamble sure has paid off. He has improved statistically every season, and is one of the leaders of the Nets along with Jason Kidd. It won't be long until he is voted a starter for the All-Star game on a consistent basis.

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washingtonpost.com: How worried is the NBA about this matchup in the Finals? It's hard to see it drawing much in the ratings.

Fred Gonzalez: I don't think the NBA is worried about the ratings. They already banked all that cash from ABC and TNT. Regardless, without the Lakers in the mix, the games will have to be close and dramatic for people outside of those die-hard NBA fans to tune in. And this series could have some of that.

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Arlington, Va.: Who has more to worry about? The Spurs, that they can't run with New Jersey or New Jersey being unable to matchup inside?

Fred Gonzalez: I think New Jersey has a bigger issue dealing with San Antonio's inside game. Look at the last series in which Dallas showed it could run against the Spurs, but when Nowitzki went out, the Spurs dominated inside. If Kenyon Martin, Jason Collins and super-sub Mutombo can't handle Duncan and the Spurs inside game, it won't matter how much the Nets run, San Antonio will win this series much like the Lakers did last year against the Nets with Shaq tearing up the paint.

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Arlington, Va. (formerly of New Jersey): Hi,
I think that New Jersey has a very strong shot to win the title. Why are so many people saying that San Antonio is a better team? Pound of pound New Jersey has more charisma and more talent. One could even argue that K Martin will in a few years be more of an impact player than Tim Duncan. Thoughts?

Fred Gonzalez: New Jersey has a strong chance to win, but San Antonio plays much better on defense, and that ultimately wins championships. As for Martin being more of an impact player than Duncan in a few years, I don't ever see that happening. Duncan is a much more polished player and doesn't rely on power dunks as much as Martin does.

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washingtonpost.com: Will Jason Kidd stay in New Jersey? Doesn't he become a free agent after this season?

Fred Gonzalez: Kidd does become a free agent after this season, and he will be the No. 1 target of many teams, including the two in the finals. Many think he will bolt for San Antonio to play with Duncan, but if the Nets stay close in this series or even win it, I can't see him leaving New Jersey. Especially if Kidd's wife replaces Melissa Stark on ABC's Monday Night Football, which is a possibility. Staying in that NY-NJ market would be big.

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Washington, D.C.: Two questions: Do you think that the Nets will develop a sophisticated enough double team pattern to be able to cause some problems for the San Antonio offense? While they have great speed and athleticism, do you really see them being great rotaters, after not having to double anyone in the post throughout the playoffs?

Secondly -- I don't think free throw shooting will be a major problem in this series. With the exception of Bowen and maybe Robinson, the Spurs CAN hit them when it counts. The huge problem is going to be, how do they effectively minimize turnovers? With a guy like J. Kidd, he'll kill you on those. Thanks

Fred Gonzalez: Two good points. The Nets don't plan on using the double-team against Duncan, going instead with Kenyon Martin on Duncan, one-on-one. That's what they've said all along, and we'll see tonight if that works. As for the free throw shooting, the Spurs can make them, but turnovers, especially late in close games, will be the difference. If the games are close in the final quarter, keep track of those turnovers and I would bet if the Spurs blow a large lead late, Kidd and Richard Jeffrson will have their hands on several steals and forced errors.

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Bristow, Va.: Will Ginobili be the next James Worthy or a Byron Scott? He seems to play well with the offense flowing through either Duncan or Parker.

Fred Gonzalez: Ginobili is the X-factor in this series. If he plays well, as he showed in the Dallas series, then the Spurs will be tough. Your comparison to Byron Scott is a fair one, because he is effective from the outside or driving the lane. And he's got great court awareness. All of Argentina is going crazy over Manu, and his matchup with Richard Jefferson could provide plenty of highlights.

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Laurel, Md.: Since the Nets team boasts of so many athletes, how do you think the Spurs can counter on defense? Does this mean a lot more minutes for Ginobli, a personal favorite?

Fred Gonzalez: As we talked above, Ginobili should get plenty of minutes against the likes of Jefferson and Kerry Kittles. Can't wait to see what Manu does in the finals.

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: You gotta love what Bryon and the Nets have accomplished this year. Congrats! We know the match-ups of Kidd-Parker, Martin-Duncan, but there is always a breakout player in every playoff series. Who do you figure to be the breakout players for each of the teams in the finals? And should we call them breakout players?

Fred Gonzalez: Breakout performances for the Spurs could be Ginobili and Jackson (a former Nets player).
For the Nets, Jason Collins could really make an impact in the post, and Kittles from the outside.

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Rockville, Md.: The last time a team with obviously the best player didn't win the NBA Finals was 1974, when the Celtics beat Kareem and the Bucks. That said, are you willing to say that if a certain player reaches a certain plateau, his team will be unbeatable? For example, if Jason Kidd averages 25 pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, the Nets will win for sure. Or if Duncan averages 35-15, the Spurs can't be beat? Or do you think this series will come down to the role players?
Please keep up the great work.
Thanks.

Fred Gonzalez: I think it will come down to the role players, like Ginobili and Jackson and Rose for SA and Kittles and Collins for NJ. Kidd and Duncan will get theirs, but how their teammates respond will be the key. However, if Duncan averaged 35-15, the Spurs have more of a chance to win the series than if Kidd averaged 25-8-8.

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Washington, D.C.: What do the Nets have to do to win the championship?

Fred Gonzalez: Honestly? Hope Duncan gets injured. I just don't see the Nets having an answer for the big guy in the paint.

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Washington, Pa.: Do you feel the Nets have any hope of containing or slowing down the powerful inside out game of the Spurs? Can the Spurs slow down the lethal fast break of the Nets? Finally, will size or speed decide the fate of this final. Thank you

Fred Gonzalez: As mentioned above, I think size will win out. The Nets will win a few games, and their speed is impressive, but I think with the right guys on the floor, the Spurs can run effectively.

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washingtonpost.com: What's the latest on the NBA coaching changes? Why do we see the same retreads popping up again and again?

Fred Gonzalez: I think we see the same retreads because when new guys like Lon Kruger and Tim Floyd move in from the college ranks and flop, the tendency is to go back to what you know works, even if that means hiring Fratello or Van Gundy. The one "new" guy that deserves a shot is Eddie Jordan, the NJ assistant who has helped develop the Nets fast break game. Perhaps the Wizards should hire him.

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Birmingham, Ala.: The Spurs seem to peter-out at the end of the games, often losing. Why is this and what must they do to win?

Fred Gonzalez: If they knew why, they probably would bottle up the remedy and sell it. I think at times they appear as if they are playing not to lose, and would prefer to do as little as possible to just hold on to a lead. They force the ball into Duncan instead of looking for a second or third option. I don't think they will blow a big lead in the finals -- well, maybe once. But after Game 5 against Dallas, I just don't see that happening again.

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Reston, Va.: The Spurs should take the title this time in 6. Having said that, I think the only rivals are the Lakers and the Mavs (both west conf. teams.) Do you think with the Lakers players and their issues, the Nets should go for Shaq for the size. They would then make at least one East conf. team competative. What are the chances, or what do you see happening for the Nets getting a good big man next season.

Fred Gonzalez: The Nets don't need a big man. They've reached the finals two straight years, and have a decent shot at winning. And their system works better without someone clogging the middle. That said, if I was the Nets GM, I would try and develop Jason Collins, or look for someone comparable and develop a rotation at center. As for Shaq going to NJ, have you checked the latest weather forecasts for both cities? I don't see Shaq ever coming back to the East coast. He'll retire a Laker.

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Somewhere, USA: What are your predictions?

Fred Gonzalez: I think the series will be more competitive than people think and will draw decent ratings (despite all the musical performances ABC has lined up. ridiculous.)
Look for the Spurs to win in six games, winning Games 1,3,5 and 6. They have played great on the road and I wouldn't be surprised to see San Antonio win a couple games in New Jersey.

All that's left now is tip off tonite. Be sure to follow our coverage in the paper and on the website (shameless plug!)
Thanks for all the questions. Cheers.

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