NBA

Kidd adjusts to his ‘different seat’

WASHINGTON — As Jason Kidd was getting ready for the Nets’ preseason opener last night, he was asked what his favorite thing about his transition to coaching has been.

After pausing a moment, Kidd said with a smile, “Did I already say I apologize to all the coaches I’ve had?”

At every step along the way since being hired as head coach of the Nets back in June, Kidd has stressed the job isn’t easy for him, including before last night’s 111-106 win over Washington. But Kidd also went into as much detail as he has yet about the parts of the job that have appealed to him since he has gotten started.

“The beauty of this is trying to play it from a different seat,” Kidd said. “Being a player on the floor or being in a uniform, now being in a suit and trying to prepare, and give my insight of what I see and also what I felt worked to get these guys to execute out on the floor.

“This training camp, these guys have done everything I’ve asked. Timing is everything, but … I couldn’t have asked for a better group to coach or to learn how to coach.”

The Nets may not be concerned about winning the Atlantic Division, but Las Vegas thinks they’re the favorites to do so.

Las Vegas sportsbook Bovada has listed the Nets with 1-2 odds to win their first division title since 2006 in its most recent lines update, which was released Tuesday afternoon. The reigning division champion Knicks are listed at 7-4to win the division, while the Raptors are 14-1, the Celtics are 33-1 and the 76ers are 66-1. The Nets remained at 10-1 odds to win the 2014 title (fifth in league), tied with the Rockets and Pacers for the fifth-lowest odds in the league behind t. The Heat (2-1) are the favorites. Bulls and Thunder (8-1) and Clippers (9-1), while tThe Knicks are 10th at 22-1.

Brooklyn is listed with the fourth-best shot to win the Eastern Conference at 11-2 odds, behind the Heat (1-1), Bulls (4-1) and Pacers (5-1), while the Knicks are fifth at 9-1.

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With Deron Williams (sprained right ankle) and Jason Terry (offseason left knee surgery) out, the Nets were down two rotation players for Tuesday night’s game. Shaun Livingston replaced Williams as the starting point guard, while Alan Anderson filled Terry’s role in the rotation.

Tornike Shengelia (offseason left knee surgery) and Gary Forbes (illness) were out against the Wizards, as well.

Though Williams was forced to sit out, his teammates kept him part of the action. Eevery time a Net made a 3-pointer, they made him do three push-ups — especially after Williams said he forgot to do them a couple of times in the first half. He joked with reporters after the game that someone else would have to be doing those push-ups during the season when he’s knocking down 3-pointers himself.

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The YES Network’s Nets broadcast production team picked up an award at the NBA’s Broadcast Meetings last month.

The YES team of Frank DiGraci, Joe Calo, E.J. Gentile and Blayke Scheer was honored for having the “Best Tease” spot of the 2012-13 season, an award that was given based upon voting by producers, directors and talent from around the league.

The winning YES spot was for opening night in Brooklyn last season. The network will once again carry Nets games this season, including five of the seven preseason games.