Sasha Vujacic is best known for being Maria Sharapova’s fiancé and hitting two foul shots that helped give the Lakers their second straight NBA title.

It will be hard for Vujacic to do anything to surpass those two accomplishments, but he’s trying to make a different name for himself in his new surroundings.

Vujacic has played only two games as a Net, but already he’s showing he can do the things this team needs. He plays with energy, can shoot and is a pest on defense. Those three attributes helped the Nets to an 89-82 win over the Hawks on Sunday afternoon.

“I’m trying to execute,” Vujacic said, “trying to do what coach is asking me to do.”

That’s why Vujacic will be a better fit for the Nets than Terrence Williams. Williams,

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Nets general manager Billy King is a Phillies fan from his days working in the 76ers front office. He was happy the Phillies beat the Yankees for Cliff Lee's services. King hopes to pull off a similar coup and beat out the Knicks for a soon-to-be free agent.

Carmelo Anthony isn’t a free agent, but he’s the next best thing in the NBA. He’s available through a trade, and the Nets are in position to deal for him, although won’t unless he agrees to sign an extension.

There is no gray area there. King and the Nets won’t trade for Anthony unless he agrees to a extension. Most teams wouldn’t and the Nets absolutely won’t. They can’t give up Derrick Favors and multiple first-round picks for a 40-game or so rental.

But King

The Nets lost last night.

We just wanted to make sure that was known because the atmosphere in the locker room and the quotes given to us by head coach Avery Johnson and the players after their 116-101 defeat to the Hawks wasn’t what we expected.

No one is saying a chair should have been thrown or a water cooler shattered or the coach should have called out the players, but after a 15-point loss you don’t expect to hear things such as “We came out and played very well.”

That was from Brook Lopez. Johnson praised the Nets fight in this game. Everyone had their heads up. Can’t imagine what would have happened if they only lost by 10 or five.

We understand why the Nets weren’t beating themselves up, but it was a little surprising at all the smiles and

The game is played and for the most part won by the players, but this was a night when Nets coach Avery Johnson’s presence was felt.

About 90 minutes before tipoff, the man nicknamed “The Little General,” announced that Terrence Williams wouldn’t be active for two games “for repeatedly violating team policy.” Then once the game started you could see Johnson’s words and actions got to Brook Lopez and Devin Harris.

The two captains, challenged publicly during last week’s 1-3 West Coast trip and privately the last few days, answered their coach’s call and guided the Nets to a 107-101 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night at the Prudential Center.

Lopez, who took plenty of criticism for his play out West, for not finishing

MIAMI – Terrence Williams received the obligatory boos from the fans in Miami after decking LeBron James late in the third quarter. Privately, Williams’ teammates were cheering figuratively.

Someone on the Nets had to do something to stop the Heat and Williams said, “I was the one who raised my hand first.”

The Nets were on their way to another loss when Williams said enough is enough and stopped James from what was sure to be another flashbulb-popping dunk. He and Dwyane Wade produced several in the Heat’s 101-89 victory over the Nets.

James was heading for a breakaway as the clock was winding down to 30 seconds left in the third when Williams sped up and bumped him with his shoulder. James went flying out of bounds. The King was down and his minions were

ORLANDO, Fla. – There were times in the first half when the Amway Center was silent; the fans were watching in stunned disbelief as the Nets built a 10-point lead on the powerhouse Orlando Magic.

Making it even more shocking was that the Nets built the cushion with little help from Devin Harris and absolutely none from Brook Lopez, who didn’t score his first basket until the fourth quarter.

By then the Nets were down 20 and on their way to a 105-90 loss to the Magic Friday night.

Lopez had an awful night, one of his worst as a professional as he missed his first 13 shots and 14-of-17 in the game.

It was a wonder the Nets were in this as long as they were, but they were because of Travis Outlaw, Terrence Williams and Kris Humphries. If the Nets can get consistent production

The Nets don’t want to upset Miami on the eve of their first meeting with the Heat.

When questions were asked after practice today about what they thought of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade forming a super alliance, the Nets said they had no problem with it.

We’re not saying they’re not being honest. They’re all players or former players so they’re going to stick together. James, Wade and Bosh never did anything personally to the Nets except for opt against joining them when they had the chance in July.

The truth is who could blame them? Yes, Mikhail Prokhorov has more money than anyone I have ever met and yes the Nets are going to Brooklyn in a couple of years and Jay-Z is part owner and everything is looking up.

But players are about right now,

Derrick Favors struggled today, which makes three times in four games against NBA players the Nets' rookie power forward had difficulty finding his way.

This is expected, especially for a 19-year-old first-year big man still learning and getting used to how fast the game is, how physical it is and where he needs to be on the floor.

All of that said, it’s too early to start Favors, who missed all five of his shots and finished with no points and five rebounds in the Nets’ 91-81 preseason loss to the Rockets in China.

From the beginning, the Nets’ plan was to start Troy Murphy and bring Favors along slowly. The plan has changed somewhat because of circumstances.

Except for two practices and maybe two shootarounds, Murphy hasn’t done much with the Nets. He missed