NET NOTES

WASHINGTON – Byron Scott could live with with Michael Jordan’s 45 points. In fact, he said his Nets could live and win with MJ going for 45. But no way could he accept – nor could the Nets or any basketball team on the planet survive – with a 62-30 rebounding discrepancy.

“Their front line beat the crap out of ours, no contest,” said Scott, whose Nets were led by six boards from Jason Kidd while four Wizards had 10 boards or better. “Sixty-two to 30? No way you can win a basketball game. Not in the NBA. Not in high school. You get outrebounded 62-30, that’s pitiful. That’s ridiculous. That’s embarrassing to get beaten that way on the boards.”

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Add Washington coach Doug Collins to those backing Kidd’s early MVP candidacy.

“I have loved Jason Kidd since I saw him play in high school. I would kill to play with a guy like that because that guy does everything but put the ball in the basket for you,” said Collins whose love turned to competitive hate last night when the Wizards sought to stop the Nets’ three-game winning streak. “He has revitalized Kerry Kittles. He gets [Keith] Van Horn open shots. He gets the ball to [Todd] MacCulloch. They push the ball up the court. They get easy scores.

“He reminds me a lot as a point guard of Magic Johnson when he was younger. Magic used to get eight, nine, 10 defensive rebounds and it was an automatic fast break. That’s what Jason does. He’s fearless,” said Collins, echoing sentiments issued by Detroit’s Rick Carlisle last week. “To me, right now, if I had to vote for a most valuable player, he’s the Most Valuable Player in the league.”

Kidd yesterday was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging a triple double (13.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 13.0 assists plus 3.3 steals) while leading the Nets to a 3-0 record. The Spurs’ Tim Duncan received the Western honor.

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Before the game, Jordan was told that in his career, he had a 23-1 record at home against the Nets. “With the Chicago Bulls, I would assume?” he deadpanned. Now he’s 24-1.