Too bad the Nets lost Wednesday night in Milwaukee, especially after the Knicks won in Indiana, or Saturday’s game could have been a battle for the basement. Instead, as we wrote in today's Record, it’s a battle to avoid further embarrassment.

It’s a bad time for area basketball -- has been for a few years now. Earlier this decade, the Nets were on top of the Tri-State area. Now they’re at the bottom of the NBA with 12 losses in 12 games, and they’re looking up at everyone, including the Knicks.

It’s early, but not since the 2000-01 season, the pre-Kidd era, have the Nets finished below the Knicks in the standings. The Nets may surpass them at some point this season -- the Knicks only have two more victories than the winless Nets and they've been healthy.