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ATLANTA -- There was nothing more fitting than the Nets holding practice this morning in the home of the Rambling Wreck. That’s just what they are.

Twenty-four games into this season, the Nets have two wins. At this rate, they’re going to win about seven games, but they’ll be better than that. The Nets, who practiced today on the campus of Georgia Tech, won’t break the record for fewest wins in a season -- nine -– unless they have extended injuries to Devin Harris or Brook Lopez.

While we were in Atlanta, we were reminded of something former Nets coach Kevin Loughery said. We spoke to Loughery, who lives in Atlanta and was the player-coach of the 9-73 Sixers, after the Nets set the mark with 18 consecutive losses to start this season.

“They’ll be all right,” Loughery said. “They won’t break the record for most losses for the season. This is the weakest I’ve seen the NBA in years. They have enough talent to win some games.

“They’ve had a lot of injuries. Lopez is a top five center in the NBA or will be. The only problem is you can’t afford another injury to their two top players, Lopez and Harris.”

The amazing thing is the Nets seem to be playing better lately. They’re more confident, effective and efficient on offense. They scored 107 last night and lost by 23 to Atlanta. The problem is the Nets’ losses are becoming more and more lopsided.

They played the Hawks, but the Nets just can’t play defense for whatever reason. They probably will play LeBron James and the Cavaliers tough tomorrow, but if they don’t defend, the far superior team should have a relatively easy night.

All that said, despite Harris saying there’s a “little division on the team right now” –- he meant on the court -- things are not nearly as bad as previous Nets teams that featured Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. A few years back, the chemistry was terrible, players weren’t talking to each other and one certain moody player was drifting back and forth with his allegiance.

These Nets are getting along remarkably well, all things considered. The record is much worse, but the atmosphere is better.

“They’re hanging together, and this is a tough time for them to hang together,” coach/GM Kiki Vandeweghe said. “They could easily drift apart, but they’re not. They’re trying to do the right things.”

The Nets have to concentrate their effort on the defensive end. They’re a step slow, a few strides behind and aren’t getting help when they get beaten. More talking, better rotations, more focus all would help.

Vandeweghe is new to this coaching thing and continues to give his team outs by saying they’re working hard and trying and are beaten up and still haven’t had that many practices.

When the Nets had eight guys regularly, they were playing defense. They just couldn’t score. So now whenever they meet they need to concentrate on defense because the offense has made major strides of late.

“I think we have to be realistic in that we haven’t been able to have a real practice yet since I got here,” Vandeweghe said. “Until we can get a couple of weeks during the season or a couple days of practice, we’re going to have to just inch it along.

“On a consistent basis while we’re playing we’re right there with teams. A lot of times it’s through the first half. We start to break down the second half as we get a little bit more tired. It’s a tough schedule for us. Our guys are playing a lot of minutes.”

Vandeweghe is trying not to break the Nets, thinking more like an executive than a coach. Sure he wants to win. He’s competitive and has told us repeatedly that, despite his calm demeanor, he can’t stand losing. But her keeps things in “perspective,” he said.

“At times I try to be realistic about where we are, try and step back, out of the picture and really look at it objectively,” Vandeweghe said. “You look at your goals, which are to develop winning habits in young players, teach them how to play.

“Objectively, we've had a lot of injuries. ... Then again, you have to make guys understand that here's what you want. It's clear. This is what's acceptable and this is what's not.”

The defense has been unacceptable. Saying “while we’re playing” is, too. They should play the whole game, regardless. Practices can be optional, defense can’t.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)