Mission impossible: beating the Lakers; nets can win if ... if ... if ... (NBA).

How's this for a little unwanted pressure: After the Nets finished off the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, Boston coach Jim O'Brien told reporters, unsolicited, "I think they will bring the NBA championship back East.... I think the West is in for a rude awakening."

Uh, thanks, Jim. The Lakers have won two consecutive NBA championships and 11 consecutive series. They are 41-13 in that span, and their. coach, Phil Jackson, is 8-0 in his NBA Finals career, This is just what the enormously, underdog Nets need--an opposing coach warning of a rude awakening.

Even though TSN thinks O'Brien is wrong--our pick is Lakers in four--we must allow for the possibility the Nets can give L.A. a rude cock-a-doodle-doo. TSN asked five coaches and scouts what advice they would give the Nets.

1 K-MART SPECIAL As they did with the Kings' Chris Webber, the Lakers will leave power forward Robert Horry to guard the Nets' Kenyon Martin one-on-one. Webber took advantage, and Martin must do the same. Martin's athleticism makes Ms a difficult task for Horry: Martin is a good enough leaper to simply shoot over Horry. Martin's defense also will be key. If he sneaks into the paint to help on Shaquille O'Neal, he must be mindful of Horry's perimeter ...