The Nets were never worried about what would happen in the NBA Draft Lottery. They were never concerned Utah would get the first overall pick, just as they wouldn’t have been if they made the deal with Denver for Carmelo Anthony.

Billy King probably decided the day he took over as Nets general manager last July that getting an established All-Star and franchise-changing player is more vital to the organization’s growth than an unproven college player who may not develop for a few years.

He’s right, especially since there is no Derrick Rose, LeBron James or Blake Griffin in this draft. If you have the chance to get Anthony or Deron Williams you do whatever it takes and if it costs you a No. 1 pick in a draft that doesn’t have star power you make the trade. And you

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

CHICAGO -- Anyone who has watched the Nets has seen this game at least 10, 12 times. Only there was something very different.

They usually take an early lead, lose the advantage as well as their focus and poise after halftime, and talk about the need to learn how to finish out games.

Tuesday night the Nets took the lead in the first quarter, didn’t lose it until late in the game, but they never lost their poise, confidence or belief.

They showed a mettle that’s been greatly lacking for most of this season and pulled out a 103-101 win over the Bulls at the United Center.

The Bulls are not a good team, but this still was a major step for the Nets and a sign that they’re headed in the right direction.

Problems still remain because their defense faltered with the game