In the 'Zzone

Reading The Nets Wrong

No one saw this game coming. No one, except maybe Richard Jefferson and the Bucks.

I thought the Nets would come back after the Minnesota game and show something. Instead, it was Jefferson who played as if he wanted to end the Nets' season and make sure his new team finished ahead of his old one.

RJ: The Assassin

A hypothetical was posed to Richard Jefferson before last night's game. Basically, how good would the Nets be if they didn't lose him or Nenad Krstic and started them up front with Brook Lopez, Vince Carter and Devin Harris?

On paper, that's a decent team. But questions about mental health, physical health, chemistry and all that come to mind. Especially when you consider Jefferson's response without giving it much thought:

No More Minny Ha-Has

It's pride time.

The Nets technically are still in it, but the reality is everything - and we mean everything - has to go perfect for them to get in the playoffs after what's happened this month.

The Nets better show something tonight after not showing up in Minnesota yesterday.

Lineup Change

Lawrence Frank announced this morning that Ryan Anderson will start at power forward for Yi Jianlian tonight against the Lakers.

Barring matchups and foul trouble, Yi will be out of the rotation as Frank will continue to go with Bobby Simmons at power forward off the bench.

Devin Harris remains a game-time decision. He shot last night and this morning and said he was a little sore still, which is to be expected.

Harris Is Sore But Sounds Ready

Devin Harris played four-on-four for about 20 minutes today and other than getting hit in the jaw by Chris Douglas-Roberts - presumably by accident - he came out of it OK.

Harris called himself a game-time decision and said he "really won't know until I come in tomorrow." He said he was going to come back tonight and shoot some more, but it sounds like he's going to play.

Shooting For A Stunner

Barring something unexpected, we're down to five or six shootarounds in this NBA season after this one.

I won't bore you with the banter between beat writers and some Nets people about the weather and other stuff. Just the important stuff: it started with the Cavaliers telling us LeBron James doesn't talk at shootarounds, only before games.

If you're a Cleveland writer, is there any reason to come to shootarounds then?

Harris Out, Nets Almost Are, Too

Devin Harris shot around, but did no contact so as expected he's out tomorrow at Cleveland.

The plan is for Harris to go through shootaround and then practice Thursday and if all is well play Friday against the Lakers. But Harris isn't thinking that far ahead.

"I’m thinking about Wednesday’s shootaround at this point," Harris said.

Sean Suspended

The Nets suspended Sean Williams for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

It was reported here today the Nets probably would do something after Williams was arrested Monday in Denver following an altercation at a mall during which he allegedly threw a computer monitor and caused roughly $1,300 in damages. Williams was unavailable for Monday's game at the Nuggets because he was in jail.

It was Williams' second arrest in 30 days. He also was arrested for violating a trespass order at Boston College, but the charges were later dropped.

Nets Should Consider Sitting Yi

A couple of days ago in this space, it said the Nets needed to make changes. They're not firing the coach despite all of your efforts so let's get back to the players and one in particular: Yi Jianlian.

If Yi's not going to score he still can try and box out a guy or get a rebound. He had one rebound in 20 minutes against Denver when the Nets were manhandled inside. He had just 16 boards and 15 rebounds on the winless trip.

Breaking it down further: Yi grabbed one rebound roughly every five minutes and scored one point about every 5:15 on the trip. Jason Collins prduced more. (Sorry, Yi)

No Tear for Harris

You can call it relatively good news after a very bad week: the MRI on Devin Harris' confirmed the original diagnosis. He has a sprained left shoulder but the MRI showed a strained deltoid muscle.

Not great, but better than a tear.