Out with the old and in with the new has been the Nets' mantra since last season’s 12-70 debacle ended – and who could blame them.

They have 11 new players. They’re playing in their new building and have a new coach. The Nets would like to add some more new as in a new franchise player - Carmelo Anthony.

For now they’re focused on the new season, starting Wednesday at Prudential Center against the Pistons and with new owner Mikhail Prokhorov in the house.

Team Strengths
Man in the middle: Brook Lopez is expected to be “The Man” this season. On most nights, they will have an advantage at center, one they will exploit as Avery Johnson plans to go to Lopez early and often inside. Lopez will demand double-teams and draw fouls and could get the Nets in the bonus early. Another bonus is Lopez makes his free throws. He already has the tools, but they Nets are working on making him meaner.

Coaching: Johnson, nicknamed “The Little General,” is just what this young team needed. He already has made his presence felt by bringing discipline, structure, and a defensive mentality. He holds players accountable, is excellent at making in-game adjustments and will always have this team prepared. The Nets know who their leader is. They may have many nights where they were out-talented, but won’t have that many when they are out-coached.

Shooting: Yes, you read right. At the bottom last year, the Nets addressed their shooting woes by acquiring Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Travis Outlaw. All three had inconsistent preseasons, but each made at least 39 percent from three. No Net shot better than 37.6 percent last year. Troy Murphy, who missed the entire preseason, also will spread the floor. Johnson, however, must limit Devin Harris and Terrence Williams’ three-point attempts and make sure they focus on getting into the paint. The attention Lopez gets inside, and with Harris and Williams penetrating, perimeter shots will be open.

Ownership/Direction: The owner will spend and wants to win, and a coach and general manager (Billy King) who will be here and want to win. There is nothing lame-duck about the Nets this season, which means players have to work to keep their jobs. The unquestioned goal and vision is to make the Nets a championship team within the next few years and having some stars when they open Brooklyn in the next two-three years.

They can/will be aggressive with assets: Unlike last year when the Nets were in a holding pattern because of the ownership change and 2010 free-agent class, they are looking to trade for a big name, not worried about the luxury-tax penalty and not concerned with holding on to all of their picks/and five expiring contracts.

Team Weaknesses
Defense: Johnson is stressing it and keeps saying the defense is ahead of the offense, which doesn’t say much for the O. The Nets will be better but have a long way to go. They need Harris to start it up top and go back to being a good on-the-ball defender. Morrow never had to play it in Golden State, so he needs work. Williams could be a stopper and solid help defender if he commits and Lopez has to stand his ground inside and deter people from coming into the paint. Rookie Derrick Favors should be OK if he can stay out of foul trouble.

Familiarity: It’s hard to get 11 new players to mesh in one month, especially when you add trips to Russia and China that lead to extra days off, wobbly legs, and body clocks being out of whack. It’s also hard when you start three different power forwards, none of whom is the expected starter – Murphy. So the Nets don’t have chemistry yet, haven’t played together enough and that could show at the start.

On-court leadership: Johnson is the leader on the bench, but the Nets need Harris and Lopez to take more of a leadership role on the court. This is one of the areas Jason Kidd and Vince Carter are so missed. Harris wants to be that guy and if he can stay healthy maybe he will be.

Power forward: If Joe Smith is your opening-night starting power forward – which could be the case – it’s not a good thing. No disrespect to Smith, a solid veteran, whose knowledge, savvy and team-first attitude is welcomed. But the Nets envisioned starting Murphy and bringing Favors along slowly. Now Murphy and Favors will be brought along slowly. If Denver agrees on a trade of Favors and Murphy (and maybe Kris Humphries) for Anthony, Outlaw becomes the starting power forward.

Decision-making/Inexperience: This comes with familiarity but also players trying to do too much, which can be the case for Harris and often is the case for Williams. All around, though, the Nets are young and playing positions and minutes that are relatively new. Outlaw and Morrow have never been regular starters. Outlaw has played power forward most of his career and unless something changes should play more small forward. Farmar will handle the ball more than he ever did with the Lakers and Williams will get more minutes than he did as a rookie.

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