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Joe Johnson: Nets Are Most 'Complete' Team In The NBA

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Joe Johnson has never been one to bite his tongue.

Last preseason he said that the Nets were the best team in New York City and then reiterated his claim in December. The Nets and Knicks went on to split their four-game season series.

That's where the comparison ended for all intents and purposes.

The Knicks went on to win the Atlantic Division, finishing five games ahead of the Nets. New York ended up the No. 2 seed in the East and was knocked out in the Eastern Conference semifinals in six games by Indiana. Brooklyn finished as the No. 4 seed and lost in seven games in the first round to Chicago.

So, no one is going to confuse Johnson with Nostradamus any time soon.

But that doesn't mean he's stopped speaking his peace.

In a recent interview with the Yes Network, Johnson sounded like someone who not only thinks the Nets will be better than the Knicks in 2013-14, but also everyone else.

"I can't see any other team that is more complete than we are," Johnson said.

It's hard to blame Johnson for feeling that way considering the fact that the Nets were extremely aggressive in the offseason, adding veterans with experience and championship rings to a core that was already among the best in the league.

Back in July, the Nets traded a package of picks and players to Boston in a deal that sent perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn, where they will play power forward and small forward, respectively. They will be part of a starting five that will also consist of point guard Deron Williams, shooting guard Johnson and center Brook Lopez.

The Nets' bench also figures to be really good as new additions Andrei Kirilenko and Alan Anderson, as well as returning veterans Andray Blatche and Jason Terry, each averaged doubles figures in scoring last season.

For what it's worth, the newest Knick, Metta World Peace, will probably disagree with Johnson, considering he said back in September when asked about the Nets, "I don't even know who's on their team."

The Nets and Knicks will meet on Dec. 5 at Barclays Center, Jan. 20 and April 2 at Madison Square Garden, and back in Brooklyn on April 15.

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