He was a day late, but Nets coach Avery Johnson had a list that he probably checked twice and then let his players know who’s been naughty and nice.

Johnson addressed each player individually in front of the whole team before Sunday's practice and told him what he's doing well and what needs improvement.

We weren’t there, so we can’t tell you what was said, but we all probably can guess because the Nets have no perfect players and no All-Stars.

Things such as better shot selection, taking care of the ball, being more of a presence on the boards, boxing out, finishing better, finding the best shot and not dribbling or holding on to the ball too much probably came up. But Johnson said it was more positive than negative, especially coming off of the Nets’ last five

Well, at least Brook Lopez and Devin Harris should be flattered that LeBron James thinks they belong in the NBA. But it certainly sounded as if James doesn’t think the Nets should be.

It’s probably too late for Jay-Z to get back his Christmas gift and card.

What James said last night to reporters in Phoenix isn’t wrong necessarily. There are too many NBA teams, and plenty of them aren’t good.

The league is watered down and some teams have too many stars – ahem, like the Heat - that make them powerhouses and others just fighting to stay afloat. Some probably should be contracted. But it was surprising that he singled out the Nets – and Timberwolves – when he was asked about the possibility of the league downsizing.

"Just imagine if you could

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Brook Lopez was the best offensive player on the floor in the first half last night, but there still was something missing from his game and Nets coach Avery Johnson told him without really saying anything.

Johnson made a circle with his hand and put it over his eye, signaling to Lopez he had not grabbed a single defensive rebound in the half. Zero - which contributed to the Grizzlies registering 10 second-chance points.

If not for that, some turnovers and too many fouls early, the Nets might have been on their way to an easy victory. Nothing ever is easy for the Nets, but they did come out with 101-94 victory, showing tremendous focus and confidence amid rumors and speculation that the team would be broken up in the near future.

None of that mattered to Lopez,

The Nets' pre-Christmas two-game trip is a little bit of what could have been and a lot of what could be. Everything about the Nets right now is what could be.

Everyone knows what is happening: the Nets are in transition and won’t make the playoffs as constituted, but have young assets, expiring contracts and draft picks to make trades, and improve quickly with Carmelo Anthony, their top target. He’s definitely in the “what could be” category and has a connection to this trip.

The Nets open up tomorrow in Memphis, where they finally will see Rudy Gay.

The high-scoring small forward was considered the Nets’ fallback option if they couldn’t get LeBron James in free agency. It turned out they couldn’t get either.

Coach Avery Johnson and Nets’

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Nets general manager Billy King is a Phillies fan from his days working in the 76ers front office. He was happy the Phillies beat the Yankees for Cliff Lee's services. King hopes to pull off a similar coup and beat out the Knicks for a soon-to-be free agent.

Carmelo Anthony isn’t a free agent, but he’s the next best thing in the NBA. He’s available through a trade, and the Nets are in position to deal for him, although won’t unless he agrees to sign an extension.

There is no gray area there. King and the Nets won’t trade for Anthony unless he agrees to a extension. Most teams wouldn’t and the Nets absolutely won’t. They can’t give up Derrick Favors and multiple first-round picks for a 40-game or so rental.

But King

The losses just keep on piling up for the Nets, but they have to be considered a winner in the trade that will be announced Wednesday.

Long before the Nets lost their eighth straight game and perhaps shooting guard Anthony Morrow to a hamstring injury, they agreed on a three-team deal that brings them more assets and flexibility and they hope eventually Carmelo Anthony.

That’s getting way ahead, but Anthony factored in the Nets’ thinking when they made this deal.

Terrence Williams will be traded Wednesday to the Rockets for a protected first-round pick, and Joe Smith will go to the Lakers for shooter Sasha Vujacic and another first-round pick.

They will also save money when Vujacic’s deal expires next year, and Williams is signed through 2011-12. When it’s

The Nets and their fans have plenty be thankful for, especially after what they experienced last season. There’s direction, vision, money and a plan.

We’re not amongst those that believe 5-10 is something to jump up and down about, but at least they’re showing progress. They’re five games better than last season, and with a stop here and a make there could have another victory, two or three.

The Nets are going to continue to get better and at this point that’s the most important thing. But here are some things for which the Nets –- and their fans –- should give thanks:

1. Mikhail Prokhorov: It’s too early to know whether his initial promise of making the playoffs in Year 1 and winning a championship within five years will happen. But he’s

The Nets returned from the four-game West trip feeling about the same as they did when they left a week ago.

They fought hard, came close to beating some good teams and were one or two plays away from doing that, and perhaps even one or two calls. They also feel like they’re progressing and improving.

This is all well and good, but the Nets have to eventually win some of these close games, against better teams, to really show progress.

It’s nice after a 12-70 season and with so many new faces that they battle the Magic and lose by one on a tough Jameer Nelson bucket before leaving for the trip and then end the four-game trek at Denver on a back-to-back, and are down two in the waning moments.

But it means so much more if they would get the win, naturally.

The Magic loss

DENVER -- Carmelo Anthony had nothing but nice things to say about the Nets, their ownership, their organization and their future the last few days. But he did nothing but bad things to them on the court Saturday night.

That, in a nutshell, is the reason the Nets want Anthony in their uniform. They want someone who can make plays down the stretch of games. This four-game West Coast trip proved the Nets don’t have that kind of player consistently.

Anthony scored a game-high 28 points, including the Nuggets’ last six, and was the defender on the key stop that sent the Nets home with a tough 107-103 loss.

It was tough because the Nuggets seemed to be on the verge of taking control of this game on at least four different occasions. But the Nets kept fighting. Not to show Anthony