NET NOTES

BOSTON – To paraphrase Patton – or George C. Scott – Americans will not tolerate a loser. So after the nightmare of Indianapolis for Team USA in international basketball competition, the stars are lining up for the Olympics. One of the first in line is Jason Kidd.

“To represent your country and also, after the disaster that we had last year, you want to be the team that re-starts the streak and lets the world know we still are the best,” said Kidd, explaining why he wants to play for Team USA.

The Americans, losers of three games at the World Championship, must qualify this summer to gain entry to the Athens 2004 Olympics. Along with Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen and Tim Duncan have said they want to play. George Karl, who coached Team USA, said if Kidd played this summer, the United States would have won the gold.

“I heard that. If I was going the way I am now, maybe,” said Kidd, who bypassed Indianapolis because of a groin injury. “I would hate to lose on my watch. At Sydney [2000 Olympics], we had a scare, so anything is possible.”

*

The return of Chris Childs has been delayed. Childs is still at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center and is expected to re-join the Nets “within a week’s time,” Thorn said, adding it could be Monday. “Before he can play he’s got to get into some kind of aerobic conditioning,” Thorn added.

It is unlikely Childs will accompany the team on its West Coast trip because there is so little practice time.

*

Kenyon Martin said he’ll wear his custom mask for his broken nose “till I get tired of it” but admits this mask is better than the first he had. “The first one I couldn’t see. This one I can see the ball,” Martin said.