Joe Johnson says the Nets are ‘definitely’ better than the Knicks. Here we go.

Let the Battle for the Basketball Boroughs commence. We’re headed for a new rivalry, as the Nets and Knicks face off for the soul of hoops in Gotham, and the Nets have no plans to enter the arena humbly nor quietly. At a pep rally in Brooklyn introducing Joe Johnson, Johnson told reporters that the Nets are “definitely” the best team in New York, via the New York Daily News.

And he was the tame one. the Brooklyn Borough President had a ton of things to say about the Knicks.

“For nearly 40 years the Manhattan Knicks have shown they can’t bring a championship to New York, so it’s going to take the Brooklyn Nets to get the job done,” Markowitz said. “So move over Manhattan — enough air balls. You had your chance.”

“Now that the Barclays Center is in town, the national basketball spotlight is focused on Brooklyn’s big stage and Madison Square Garden just doesn’t have the same sparkle anymore,” said Markowitz, comparing it to the old rivalry between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Yankees. “By the way, for any Brooklynites still rooting for the Manhattan Knicks: as of November and on, I’m giving you fair warning: it’s treason to support the outer borough’s team over our Brooklyn Nets.

“Besides, when it comes down to it, we all know the Brooklyn Nets will shut down the Manhattan Knicks when they play for the first time.”

via Joe Johnson says Nets ‘definitely’ the best team in New  York as Brooklyn declares all-out hoops war on Manhattan  – NY Daily News.

Comes off as a little little-brother-ish, does it not? “We’re totally better than you!” Better teams go out and show it. Like the Heat. Oh, wait. No. That’s not right. Bad example. Or the Celtics. They never talk about how good they ar… nope, that doesn’t work either. Anyway, this is going to be a beast of a rivalry for the next three years until Amar’e Stoudemire can’t walk and Joe Johnson is making $25 million and shooting 40 percent, then it’s going to seem a little sad. But for right now?

You can make the argument for either side, especially the Knicks. It’s not just that they have arguably the best overall player in Carmelo Anthony, but they have a better defensive system. Amar’e Stoudemire’s injury problems aren’t sure to repeat themselves, and even if they do, he can still contribute. Tyson Chandler may be the difference maker, though, as a better overall defensive player. The Knicks were a great defensive team last year, and with another year together, plus a full year with Jeremy Lin, there’s a chance the Knicks’ offense could come together. Compare that with the inexperience of the Nets and “Manhattan” has the edge.

But you could easily make an argument for Brooklyn.

Oh, and in that same article, Billy King’s quoted as saying Deron Williams and Joe Johnson is a better backcourt than the Lakers’ combo of Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant.

So much fun!