The Nets were within a stop and/or a make in the closing seconds against Dallas of taking a five-game winning streak into Indianapolis tomorrow. They’re probably kicking themselves now for that, but there is nothing wrong with a 4-1 homestand.

Not for this team that usually needs a few weeks to register four wins.

They got their fourth win of the season in their 10th game. Their eighth win came in their 28th game and their 12th win came in Game 43. So four-in-five and almost five-in-five is definitely an indication that the Nets believe in each other, their coach, the system and, more than anything, they’re finally executing.

“Right now the spirit of our team is at an all-time high, just in terms of all the things we're trying to implement and change this culture,” coach Avery Johnson said. “We're seeing some of the product of some of our hard work, on and off the floor.”

The timing couldn’t be better.

A couple of days ago it said in this space that the timing was right for the Nets to win some games – between their schedule, Mikhail Prokhorov making his bold announcement regarding the Carmelo Anthony talks and the return of Anthony Morrow.

All remain true and with their confidence at an all-time high, the Nets may actually be able to continue their winning ways when they play at Indianapolis and Milwaukee this weekend.

But let’s look past these two games for a minute and look ahead to who’s coming to Newark on Monday. The very Anthony that Prokhorov said the Nets should not engage in talks for will be in Newark.

If the Nets have won four straight and six-of-seven games or even five-of-seven and the Nets beat the Nuggets, you never know what kind of impact it would have on Anthony and Denver.

The Nuggets are better than the Nets and have a real chance of making the playoffs in the West with Anthony and Chauncey Billups. But if Anthony wants out and doesn’t want to re-sign with Denver, Nuggets officials are going to have to do something.

Regardless of what has been written or what Prokhorov or GM Billy King said, no deal is dead until the player and/or players involved are traded. The Nets probably will hear from the Nuggets again if they haven’t already.

The Nets may still present the best offer, although it should and probably will be much different since Prokhorov made them pull out. (The Nets should try to hold onto Morrow as much as they can).

Of course, some of the players wouldn’t be around in order to get Anthony, but every win helps the Nets on so many levels.

First, they don’t look as desperate as they might have during some of their previous talks for Anthony. Second, it raises some of their players’ trade value. Third, first and second applies for the rest of the NBA if the Nets can’t get Anthony.

The Nets will make moves before the trading deadline. I’m convinced of it and not just moving Troy Murphy.

This is a nice run and definitely one the Nets needed. You need to experience some success. After last year, Brook Lopez and Devin Harris, especially, need their hard work to lead to positive results. You need to develop winning habits and know how to win.

The Nets definitely have over this homestand, coming back from 16 against the Grizzlies last night and closing out some of the close games, except against Dallas. If they had a real star they might have.

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Follow me on Twitter: @Al_Iannazzone

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