Matchup of Kidd, Parker Is Not Only About Finals

Tony Parker will become the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to compete in the NBA Finals when the San Antonio Spurs’ best-of-seven series against the New Jersey Nets begins Wednesday night in San Antonio.

“It’s a dream to play in the NBA Finals,” Parker, 21, said. “Three years ago I was waking up at 3 a.m. to watch the finals, and now I’m playing in them.”

His matchup against point guard Jason Kidd will be one of the keys to the series, and it comes with an intriguing subplot.

The Spurs will have more than $14 million worth of salary cap space over the summer when Kidd becomes a free agent, and it’s possible they will offer it to Kidd.

Will it have an effect on Parker?

“I’ve been asked that question 500 times, and it’s not going to bother me -- the comparison and the matchup with Jason Kidd,” Parker said.

The speedy Parker does not even expect this matchup to be his toughest of the postseason. In his opinion, no point guard is harder to defend than Phoenix’s Stephon Marbury, whose team defeated San Antonio twice in the opening round.

Kidd is not the same type of natural scorer Marbury is, but he’s a better passer, rebounder and all-around player. He is averaging 20.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the postseason to Parker’s 14.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

“They were the best team in the NBA, so everybody talks about Tim [Duncan], and they should,” Kidd said. “But Tony Parker is the key. When he plays well, they play well.”

The Spurs were 20-1 during the regular season and 4-0 in the first three rounds of the playoffs when getting 20 or more points from Parker.

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Yao Ming will make a historic trip home to China in October 2004 when he and the Houston Rockets play the Sacramento Kings in two exhibition games in Shanghai and Beijing, the first NBA games in the country.

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NBA FINALS

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SAN ANTONIO VS. NEW JERSEY

Best-of-seven series

Wednesday...at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

Friday...at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday...at New Jersey, 5:30 p.m.

June 11...at New Jersey, 5:30 p.m.

June 13...at New Jersey, 5:30 p.m.*

June 15...at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.*

June 18...at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.*

*if necessary All times PDT