2002/03: After being swept in the Finals the Nets looked to improve trading Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch to the Philadelphia 76ers for Dikembe Mutombo, while signing Free Agent Rodney Rogers. However neither deal worked out as Mutombo was lost most of the season due to injury while Rogers struggled all season. Despite the new additions failing to help, the Nets proved their previous season was not a fluke by leading the Atlantic Division most of the season as Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin both established themselves as 2 of the better up and coming players in the NBA. Despite a mediocre second half the Nets would go on to win their 2nd straight division title with a record of 49-33. In the playoffs the Nets would but their sluggish play behind them right away as easily beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 by an impressive 109-93 score. However, the Bucks would battle back and capture Game 2 to even the series. The Nets would see a 15 point halftime lead disappear in the Final minutes of Game 3. However, Rodney Rogers nailed a Game winning 20-footer after missing 2 free throws to deliver the Nets a 105-103 victory. After a loss in Milwaukee for Game 4 the Nets took back control of the series with a solid 89-82 victory. Not wanting to tempt fate the Nets but away the Bucks in Game 6 on the road as Jason Kidd recorded a triple double and Kenyon Martin scored 29 points in a 113-101 victory. The Nets second round series against the Boston Celtics started with controversy as the Boston Globe Columnist Bob Ryan suggested Jason Kidd's wife needed to be slapped. The series itself would turn into a mismatch as the Nets dominated the Celtics throughout in an easy 4-game sweep. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons the Nets continued their winning streak by holding the Pistons to just 11 points in the 4th Quarter on the road as Jason Kidd nailed the game winner with 1.4 seconds left to give the Nets a 76-74 victory. In Game 2 the Nets would rally again overcoming an 11-point deficit in the 4th Quarter to beat the Pistons 88-86 as Kenyon Martin scored 16 points in the final period. After 2 close games in Detroit the series shifted to New Jersey where the Nets easily completed the sweep winning the final 2 games by double digits to reach the NBA Finals for the second straight season. Their easy win in the Eastern Conference Finals gave the Nets 10 days off before the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs started. Unfortunately it led to rust as the Nets were thumped in Game 1 on the road 101-89. In Game 2 the Nets continued to shoot poorly. However their defense came trough as the Nets held off a late Spurs rally to even the series 87-85.After a disappointing 84-79 loss in Game 3 at home the Nets used the New Jersey Devils who brought out the Stanley Cup as inspiration, as they shut down the Spurs 77-76 in one of the lowest scoring games in final history. However, with a chance to take control of the series with a win in Game 5 at home the Nets could not get over the hump as the Spurs won 93-83. Back in San Antonio for Game 6 the Nets had a lead entering the 4th Quarter. However, the Spurs erupted 31 points in the final period to close out the Nets 88-77.