Finley doesn't strike me as the type of guy that would do something like this just over good defense, so I can believe there were some cheap shots involved. Allen is just a big pussy.
Had the Pacers had a REAL coach last year, we would have beat Boston and we'd know this for sure. The Nets have yet to play a Pacer team with great chemistry in the playoffs (2002 was the year of the big trade involving Jalen Rose, remember), but they may get that chance this year. We have major trouble with New Orleans though, and that's likely who we'll end up with in Round 2.
Which I think is the main reason NJ bitchslapped the Celtics the last couple years...Antoine refused to get his ass in the post and put a body on Martin, electing instead to spend the series outside the arc. But fuck, I recall Kirilenko torching K-Mart earlier this year, too.
The Nets proved they can play with the Spurs...but I still think if they get Sac, Minnesota or LA (or Dallas if they somehow make it) they have no chance.
I still agree that Jersey is the team to beat in the East, if only because saying no would make me a hypocrite...no matter how good Sac and Minnesota are right now, I'm still riding the Spurs until they're actually eliminated from the playoffs.