The Nets were down 18 at halftime. But by the time the representatives of proposed owner Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov left their courtside seats after the third quarter, the Nets had stormed back to take a one-point lead over the Knicks.
Hey, maybe those New Jersey guys aren’t such a bad long-term investment. Of course, the short term may be another matter.
OK, so the likes of Dmitry Razumov, CEO of Prokhorov’s Onexim Group, didn’t see the comeback ultimately foiled, as the Nets dropped to 0-6 in preseason through a 94-92 Knicks victory at Prudential Center in Newark before a crowd of 15,721 (2,300 giveaways). And like anyone following the Nets, Prokhorov’s reps didn’t see the real team in a sense.
The Nets have had a rather difficult time this preseason getting their rotations down because they have had a tough time getting their players up — up off the trainer’s table.
Injuries, granted most nagging, and a couple of post-surgery rehabs have prevented the Nets from fielding the units they expect to use when the regular season starts Wednesday in Minnesota. Just five Nets have played in all six preseason games. Another minor injury hit last night as Eduardo Najera, who has battled a bum back as a result of a sports hernia surgery, suffered a groin strain and left after 11 first half minutes.
“We’re not the only team,” coach Lawrence Frank said. “Any time you’re five months off and you go to training camp, there’s going to be nicks and knacks and bruises.”
Devin Harris has suffered three injuries: two ankle sprains and a groin strain (that kept him out again last night, but he might play tomorrow at St. John’s against the Sixers). The list continues. Najera, Courtney Lee, Bobby Simmons, Chris Douglas-Roberts (though one of the five to play every game, and he scored 26 last night). Tony Battie. Jarvis Hayes. Keyon Dooling.
So when the Nets get healthy, they can have training camp on the fly. So far, it’s hard to gauge the Nets.
“Other than quick and athletic, I have no idea,” Hayes said. “Devin missed a big part of the preseason, and he’s our point guard so from a chemistry standpoint, we still have a way to go. We haven’t had a full squad in practice, either. We can’t gauge anything until everybody gets out here.”
Flip a coin on when that will be.
“You still get a chance to play with the other guys and learn their game, learn their tendencies, learn where they like the ball,” Lee said. “Then when [Devin] gets back and Jarvis gets back and Keyon gets back, we definitely have to get familiar with their games again.”
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Prokhorov attended the NBA Board of Governors meeting in midtown, met with NBA team owners. Approval vote would be after New Year’s. . . . Dwight Gooden sat courtside. Gooden on the Nets possibly playing permanently in Newark: “The facility here is very good. I think they would draw here.”