Avery Johnson joked that when the time comes for the Nets to get something done with free agents, he’s like Mariano Rivera.
 
“They bring me in to close,” Johnson said today.
 
Johnson can give the final sales pitch – he ultimately decides how much a player plays. But the two biggest things for the Nets in their pursuit of any free agent are Mikhail Prokhorov’s fortune and Deron Williams’ future.
 
Williams declared his intentions yesterday, saying, “I plan to stay.” That should help the Nets lure some players. But the almighty millions could be the deciding factor.
 
The truth is the Nets are going to have to spend more than they probably would like in order to get Nene or Tyson Chandler or Caron Butler or even to bring Kris Humphries

This would have been a nice sendoff for Nets principal owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who flew back to Russia last night.

He already was seen as a conquering hero by the NBA community for swooping in Wednesday and announcing the Nets were done playing by Denver’s rules, done with the protracted trade talks for Carmelo Anthony that were played out in the public and taking back control of the Nets.

All of that may have had something to do with how the Nets have played on this five-game home stand. They played relaxed and carefree. They won the first two games on Prokhorov’s stay and came within six seconds of their first three-game winning streak since late January/early February 2009. But the Nets couldn’t close out the Mavericks and suffered a seemingly gut-wrenching

The Nets two-game trip highlighted some of their strengths, but also showed many of their weaknesses, and the one that’s got to eat at coach Avery Johnson the most is the defense.

Kobe Bryant’s eyes are probably lighting up, knowing he won’t be guarded much tomorrow. The last three stars the Nets played have had a field day against them.

Last Sunday, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined to shoot 11-for-16 against the Nets. On Tuesday, Josh Smith was 14-for-16 on Thursday, Dirk Nowitzki was 8-for-10.

Anyone want to predict Bryant’s line tomorrow, coming off a Lakers’ loss last night?

From the moment Johnson came to New Jersey, from his first practice of training camp, he stressed defense. The Nets probably worked on their transition defense in every

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