NEWARK, N.J. -- The Nets keep talking about wanting to get better and finishing strong, but in their last two games, they’ve looked like they can’t wait for the offseason to start.

Unfortunately, they still have nine games left, and if the Nets continue to play this way, it will spoil some of the good things they’ve done this season.

I'm not saying this because the Nets need four more wins to get to my predicted total of 27. With young teams or rebuilding teams or teams in transition, it’s about consistency of effort, but in good effort. The Nets’ effort these last two games has been consistent, but it’s also been poor.

“Disappointed,” coach Avery Johnson said after his team was throttled, 112-87, by the Rockets Tuesday night. “Disappointed.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Through all the losses, through all the rumors, through all the injuries and trades, there has been one constant for the Nets: Avery Johnson.

In his first year as head coach, Johnson has been what the Nets have needed: a leader, a voice and someone who holds everyone accountable.

Johnson was the spokesperson during all the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and the one keeping his team focused on the games and playing as hard as possible. It wasn’t always easy with guys drifting, looking over their shoulders, wondering whether they would soon be on an airplane to Denver or some other NBA city. But Johnson never stopped doing his job, never stopped trying to remain positive and keep his players committed.

If you want to nitpick, you can question some

ATLANTA – One night after putting a scare into the Orlando Magic in their building, the Nets let the Atlanta Hawks feel right at home in their house – for a little more of a half.

Then the Nets had the Hawks sweating and their fans booing when they ran 20 points off of a 30-point second-half lead.

But the Nets just didn’t have enough time, couldn’t make enough shots and couldn’t get enough stops to really spoil the night for the Hawks and the announced crowd of 17,093.

The final score, 98-87, was much more respectable than it appeared it was going to be, and the comeback allowed the Nets to escape coach Avery Johnson’s wrath – at least publicly.

Johnson wasn’t happy, and he let the players know it. He let the media know it, too, but it

CLEVELAND – Kris Humphries was in the locker room talking to his teammates and said nothing ever comes easy for the Nets.

He’s right.

The Nets were shorthanded, missing Deron Williams and then lost backup Sundiata Gaines in the first quarter with a hip injury and nearly lost the game to the NBA’s worst team, the Cavaliers, who were without arguably their three best players.

But the Nets found a way to outlast Cleveland, winning 98-94 in overtime in an ugly game that wound up being very rewarding for New Jersey.

“Hump was just saying nothing comes easy for us,” Brook Lopez said. “It makes it that much better. We’re definitely working for everyone one of these.”

This was the Nets’ ninth game that went to at least one overtime –

NEWARK – The Nets’ game against Indiana Monday had some of the same characteristics as Sunday’s in Washington and the result was the same – a bad loss.

If you’re a Nets’ fan and you’re looking for anything to hold on to - by now you probably should have given up on postseason hopes – they showed much more spirit and fight in their 102-98 loss to the Pacers.

The bottom line, though, is it was a loss – another one. The streak is up to four, following a five-game winning streak that appeared to be the turning-the-corner moment. But coach Avery Johnson was right in saying at the time, “we are approaching the corner.”

Now the only thing the Nets are approaching is the finish line.

They are eight games out of the playoffs with

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Deron Williams and the Nets' season have something in common: they may be just about over.

It was doubtful the Nets would play beyond the April 13th regular-season finale anyway. Now there’s question as to whether Williams will play in April. He may already have played his last game.

Before the Nets’ crushing 98-92 loss to the Wizards on Sunday afternoon they announced Williams would miss “a minimum of” three games due to his strained right wrist. ‘A minimum of’ are the key words.

Williams is a fierce competitor who wants to play and help his team win games. But if the Nets continue to lose the way they have the last couple of games, there really is no reason for Williams to play again, not with his wrist bothering him physically

MILWAUKEE – Deron Williams sat at his locker with his right wrist wrapped in ice, but that wasn’t the only thing hurting him.

Williams’ pride is bothering him almost as much as his strained right wrist.

Both have taken a hit lately and both were leveled in the Nets’ 110-95 loss to the Bucks here last night.

Williams fell hard on a third-quarter drive and braced his fall with both hands, aggravating his wrist. He missed a foul shot, committed a turnover and couldn’t finish on a drive to the basket after that.

The Nets’ point guard was beyond frustrated and motioned that he wanted to come out of the game. He went to the bench, punched the seat with his left hand and screamed an expletive.

Williams came back to finish the game, but you have to wonder

NEWARK – The Nets ran out of luck on St. Patrick’s Day. The team wearing Shamrock Green took it from them.

Even if the Bulls were wearing their normal road colors they probably would have made the necessary plays down the stretch, the ones the Nets didn’t. Chicago was the aggressor and in control most of the time and when it came to crunch time you expected Derrick Rose to show why he’s the leading candidate for MVP.

He did and the Bulls showed why they’re the East’s top team right now in an 84-73 victory that halted the Nets’ five-game winning streak.

You expected it to happen at some point. The Nets were the better executing team down the stretch in the previous five games. But after erasing a 14-point lead and putting themselves in position

Brook Lopez hasn’t experienced a win streak like this since college, and he’s right smack in the middle of it all.

It’s not only because he’s the Nets' center, but also because he’s making the plays he didn’t make earlier in the season and carrying himself much differently. Nets coach Avery Johnson keeps talking about how Lopez is doing things he hasn’t seen him do before, such as asking to go back in games, talking during huddles and demanding the ball more.

Success breeds confidence, and Lopez and the Nets’ confidence is at an all-time high together. After his seventh straight game with at least 20 points -- the Nets’ fifth consecutive win -- Lopez was asked if anyone should be surprised that they just beat the Celtics.