Speculation, rumors and other stories are following the Nets every day. That’s what happens when you’re as bad as they are.

Everyone's waiting for the next trade, coach's departure, controversial Tweet from some of the young players or lengthy losing streak.

The stories will continue leading up to next week’s trade deadline and beyond because there will be an ownership change at some point, with players unhappy if they’re still with the Nets after the trade deadline. And there’s always the chase for infamy -– the worst record in NBA history -– that will gain national attention.

Had the Nets won a few of the close games lately maybe some things would disappear. Certainly the race for the record and the coverage it will receive. But some of the

This was the kind of game, and it ended the type of homestand, that teams could look back at as the season winds down and point to as the reason they missed the playoffs.

The Nets may be pointing at Tuesday night, and the past five days, as the reason they own the worst record in NBA history. They still need six more wins to avoid that humiliation.

Win No. 5 on the season was staring right at them, if only. That really is the story of the Nets season, if only.

If only they were healthy for the start of the season, if only they had better players, if only their coach called plays that lead to wins.

The latest disappointment was a 97-93 loss to the Pistons in a game where the Nets were the better team for most of the night.

This is the third straight game the Nets had matched the other

Kiki Vandeweghe stood in front of the Nets’ bench, clapped and told his team to “Focus, guys. Focus.” It was the second half and you could tell the Nets were losing it.

The Knicks had the Nets rattled throughout the second half of a game the visitors had a good chance of winning.

For so much of the game, the Nets looked as if they might be on their way to turning the proverbial corner and building off their first win Friday against Charlotte. But in the end, they looked like the team that lost 18 in a row to start the season.

No, it wasn’t as bad as some of those games and the Nets will get better, but they buckled under when the Knicks turned up their defense and dropped a 106-97 decision in Madison Square Garden.

Put it on the Knicks’ going to a zone

There were more players and coaches on the Nets’ practice floor today than there have been at any point this season.

Kiki Vandeweghe and Del Harris ran their first practice as the Nets’ new head coach and assistant, respectively. The Nets’ opening-night starting five was out there together for the first time since Oct. 30. There was a little bit of old and a little bit of new.

But this time is more about out with the old and in with the new.

The Nets made a coaching change. They’re turning the page on everything that happened leading up to this point and trying to build something starting now. The 0-18 record still stands, but under Vandeweghe’s and Harris’ watch, they’re 0-0. So Vandeweghe said he tried to simplify things today and make things

The Nets were supposed to be insignificant this season, but they did something significant last night. Forgive them for not popping any champagne.

But it sounds like one of their players wants to pop someone.

Maybe the Nets will uncork the bubbly when they finally win a game, whenever that is. Thus far they’re 0-for-18. No team in NBA history has lost that many games in a row to start a season. Not the Clippers, a perennial doormat or even the 1972-73 Sixers, who won just nine games in that fateful and forgettable season.

No, the Nets stand alone after their 117-101 loss last night to the Mavericks. An 0-18 record is the new standard and dare we say 18 and counting.

This was going to be a tough game to get against Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks, but the Nets laid