Yankees
Nets
See what a little hard work can get you?
Do it again and the Nets may actually have a winning streak.
After disposing of the Clippers on Wednesday, the Nets have a chance at what was somewhat unthinkable just several days ago – putting back-to-back wins together. It’s possible because of their opponent and because of what the Nets showed Wednesday night.
Most people around the team and around the NBA looked at this four-game homestand as an opportunity for the Nets to win some games and improve their chances of avoiding the overall futility mark.
But you just didn’t know, especially after the four-game West trip when the Nets were outscored by 100 points. The way they played out there, it looked like the Nets may not win another game – all season.
“If they don’t show improvement in these four games they never will,” one league executive said.
The Nets showed improvement against the Clippers and just in the nick of time.
A loss would have given the Nets exclusive possession of the NBA’s worst record after 44 games – 3-41. The Nets share the mark with the ’93-94 Mavs and ’72-73 Sixers, but 4-40 never felt so good.
You know what would feel better? Try 5-40.
That would take some of the heat off of the Nets and there is heat.
They have to answer questions every day about the possibility of having the worst record of all time. It weighs on you. It crushes your confidence. You start to wonder if you’re going to achieve that dubious and depressing distinction.
For one night, the Nets seemed determined to stop the questions and start something positive – perhaps a winning streak.
“Winning streak?” Kris Humphries said with a big smile on his face. “I don’t know. You got to win a couple in a row before you start talking about streaks.
“We’re going to try to win. It’s like a breath of relief when some of the stuff you work on translates to the court.
“The hardest part is when you work so hard in practice and you get out there and we find ourselves competing not as hard as we’re competing in practice. It makes you wonder like what are we doing? To actually do it feels good.”
Humphries helped spark the win, playing with the energy and effort all the Nets should show, and scored a career-high 25 points off the bench.
It’s encore time for the newest Net and for his team probably with Courtney Lee in the lineup but likely once again minus Devin Harris.
The Wizards come in a major disappointment under coach Flip Saunders. They’ve been terrible off the court and made more national news off of it than the Nets because of the gun situation involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.
NBA commissioner David Stern doled out the penalties yesterday – suspending both men for the rest of the year. Maybe the Wizards will have closure and come out and play harder and better than they have lately.
But if the Nets show the same passion and resolve against the Clippers they could beat Washington and do something that was somewhat unthinkable several days ago – put together a winning streak.
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Yankees’ ace CC Sabathia was at the Nets’ practice facility today, shooting something with Brook Lopez for “Yankees On Deck” on YES.
Sabathia said he’s ready for Spring Training to get started and is excited about what the Yankees can accomplish this season, even after losing Hideki Matsui and more than likely Johnny Damon. Sabathia points to the acquisitions of Curtis Granderson, Javier Vazquez and Randy Winn.
“It’s unbelievable,” Sabathia said. “It’s why I wanted to be part of this organization just because we won a World Series and they’re always still trying to find ways to get better – signing Granderson, trading for [Vazquez]. It just shows they’re committed to winning even after we win.”
The Nets hope having a winner in their place will be good luck. On the flip side, the Yankees and their fans probably hope
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (
