Mikhail Prokhorov is not walking through the Prudential Center doors to make another bold announcement, so the Nets will just have to find it from within to come out and play hard from the opening tip.

It’s amazing that a team with 15 wins doesn’t play with energy all the time, especially at the start of games. There is no reason and no excuse for not being ready to play.

Nets coach Avery Johnson will be around much longer than most of the players, so it doesn't help their standing with the team to start sluggishly. You can say that many of them were almost traded anyway, which is true, but you still have to be professional. You are recognized for your play.

Devin Harris remarked that maybe guys have to change up their routines or work out differently before the game. There is the old saying that if you do the same thing over and over, you’re going to get the same results. That’s fine if the results are good. But the Nets have to do something different when they play against the Hornets on Wednesday night, because another slow start could lead to another loss.

It was only a few weeks ago -- after the 0-4 West Coast trip when the Carmelo Anthony trade talks were hanging over their heads and after Prokhorov put an end to them with his memorable press conference -- that the Nets seemed to get how they have to play to put themselves in position to win. They enjoyed a 4-1 homestand, with the one loss being by one point to Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki hit a tough game-winning shot and the Nets couldn’t execute on the final play. On that night, the Nets weren’t outworked, but they were out-talented. You can live with that, or at least, you have to live with that. 

In some of those other games, the Nets lifted their defensive intensity when they needed to, got the crowd into the game, drew charges in the fourth quarter. The games, for the most part, were close because the Nets came to play from the beginning.

During this stretch of five losses in six games, it’s been all about the starts. The Nuggets definitely had more talent, but that’s the game the Nets won because of their focus and commitment to play hard all game. Plus, they made shots.

But after that win over Denver, the Nets lost twice to Indiana and once each to the Sixers, Bucks and Pistons by a total of 85 points. The Nets were outworked and outhustled. That’s never acceptable.

The Hornets have an advantage at point guard (Chris Paul) and power forward (David West). Those are two positions, with all due respect to Harris, where the Nets may be out-talented. But they can make up for whatever disadvantages they have by working hard and not hanging their heads.

That’s happening too with the Nets. Rough starts sometimes lead to the here-we-go-again thought process. Kris Humphries and Sasha Vujacic usually try to change that when they enter the games and deserve all the credit for being able to lift their teammates off the bench. But then the third quarter starts, and the Nets are off to another slow start.

For that reason, Johnson is considering changing the starting lineup. Barring an injury, Johnson said he won’t do anything until after the All-Star break, which is when Damion James is expected to be fully healthy after foot surgery. But what kind of difference James will make? The rookie small forward definitely plays with energy, but he’s not the answer, just like the return of Jordan Farmar after missing six games with a lower back injury isn’t the answer.

James and Farmar will help the Nets, but it also has to come from within each player to be ready to play when the ball is tipped. There is no reason and no excuse not to be.

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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.)