The Nets always go West in November, but there are some major differences about this week’s trip than some of the past ones.

First, they’re not going during Thanksgiving Week for the first time in seemingly forever, which is because they’re no longer in Izod Center.

The second is they’re leaving on a high, despite Saturday’s last-second one-point loss to the Magic. The Nets feel like they’re improving.

“Tough loss last night but I really feel like we are getting better,” shooting guard Anthony Morrow tweeted before the Nets flew to Los Angeles for tomorrow’s game with the Clippers.

The Nets would have felt much better had the left on a two-game winning streak, but their attitude was similar to two Novembers ago, when they left for

After a lost week, after four straight losses when Brook Lopez surprisingly came up small and the Nets’ toughness came into question yet again, they have a chance to see .500 again.

And it may be the Nets’ last chance.

After Tuesday's and Wednesday’s home-and-home against LeBron James-less Cleveland, the 2-4 Nets play the Magic, go West for four games, and return home for a back-to-back against Atlanta and at Boston.

Things could change and the Nets could become a .500 team or even a playoff team if they acquire Carmelo Anthony later in the season. If anything, last week proved they need a proven go-to scorer, someone who can stop other teams’ runs or make plays down the stretch when they need them.

The Nets had no answer for the Heat on Halloween, missed seven

The Nets -- to quote the great philosopher Prokhorov -- just need time.

They proved that yesterday against the Heat, but also in the two prior games. They were great victories for the Nets, who showed great resilience, as Devin Harris and Brook Lopez played the roles of co-captains well.

But the Nets were this-close to losing both of those games to the Pistons and Kings, respectively, and could very easily be 0-3 right now. Then people would be wondering what’s wrong with the Nets, does Avery Johnson know what he’s doing, the players aren’t responding to him, they wasted money on the free agents they signed and they better get Carmelo Anthony right now.

Yet because of those two wins, Harris playing well in the two wins, Derrick Favors showing he can be a rebounding

As Rodney Stuckey’s three-pointer from the right corner missed at the buzzer, the fans inside Prudential Center cheered loudly, wildly and made the Nets feel like although this is a temporary home they are glad to have them.

But the Nets gave the 15,178 fans every reason to cheer because they played hard, put forth the kind of effort you expect from a young team, an Avery Johnson coached team and one that wants to prove this is nothing like last season.

The Nets pulled out a 101-98 win in their opener, first-ever regular-season NBA game in Prudential Center and the first game with Johnson on the bench and new owner Mikhail Prokhorov in the stands.

The only way this night would have been better for the Nets would have been if LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony was the starting small

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

The Nets have two things to do over the next five days: work on getting this team ready for the Oct. 27 opener and try to put the finishing touches on a trade for Carmelo Anthony.

Neither will be easy for coach Avery Johnson or the Nets’ management team of Billy King and Bobby Marks. But after a 12-70 season and an entire overhaul of the roster and front office, you can’t expect anything to be smooth.

The Nets are in contact with the Nuggets, trying to get something done and feel they are in good position, despite Anthony’s first choice being to play for the Knicks. Unless a dark horse candidate emerges, it’s between the Nets and Knicks. First and foremost, everyone is waiting on the Denver Nuggets to decide what they will do.

In the meantime, the preseason is

Lawrence Frank still is helping the Nets.

Replacing Doc Rivers on the Celtics’ bench last night because of a throat procedure, Frank guided Boston to a 107-92 victory over his old team in the Nets’ preseason finale. It matched Frank’s win total with the Nets last preseason and through the first 16 games before his dismissal.

Frank played Boston’s main guys relatively regular minutes and they put on a clinic against the Nets that undoubtedly will be shown to them during a film session with coach Avery Johnson. You know: things to do (Boston) and things not to do (Nets).

We’re not suggesting Frank, the Nets' all-time NBA leader in coaching victories, did it for New Jersey. It probably was Doc’s orders, but the Nets should be appreciative.

The third

The Nets have two preseason games, likely two walk-throughs and four practices to prepare for next Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Pistons.

So little time and so much to do.

Looking at the five preseason games that we’ve seen to this point there are plenty of holes that need fixing, which was to be expected with all the new faces, lack of familiarity and an around-the-world trip that interfered with their schedule.

That’s why you can’t get too high or to low during the preseason, which continues tomorrow at the Knicks.

Nets coach Avery Johnson and members of the Nets’ basketball department know that. No one was expecting a 35-to-45 win team as constituted, but many fans expected more at this point and from comments and tweets we see they’re

The Nets visited the Great Wall yesterday and officially hit the wall today.

Coach Avery Johnson said the Nets are tired, looked it at practice today and as a result likely won’t have a shootaround before tomorrow’s preseason game against the Rockets.

You knew it was coming after the Nets went from Newark to Russia – where they stayed for less than 24 hours – to Beijing and now Guangzhou all in about five days. Awaiting them after tomorrow’s game is a 17-hour trip home.

“I know in the back of their minds they know we’re going to be returning home after the game tomorrow," Johnson said during a conference call this morning. "We have to get something out of this game. With us only having two preseason games after tomorrow night, it’s critical.”