After the Nets lost to the Lakers 103-95 on Friday night, Vince Carter said time is running out for his team to make a run.
“Ten, 11 games left,” he said. “We have to win as many as possible, plain and simple.”
Eleven games left would be nicer. But sorry Vince — it’s just 10.
This past week there was talk of the NFL expanding its season, and the Nets could use some help on that from the NBA and David Stern. The Nets have lost three straight games and nine of 12 and went into yesterday 4½ games out of the eighth spot in the playoffs. There isn’t much time remaining to make up ground.
That brings the Nets to today, when they will visit the woeful 20-53 Timberwolves in Minnesota. At least the Nets don’t have to face Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Before the Lakers loss, the Nets lost to the best-in-the-East Cavaliers twice this past week.
We have Minnesota. We have Milwaukee coming in,” Devin Harris said. “These are games we have to have.”
No question the Nets need this one. They’re battling with the Bulls, Pistons, Bobcats, Bucks, Pacers and Knicks for two slots. After today, the Nets face the Bucks tomorrow, the Pistons Wednesday and the Bulls Saturday. If they can have a big week, they can perhaps make a push.
Coach Lawrence Franks said the Nets have shown good resiliency and still have a shot at the playoffs.
“We understand that we still have a heartbeat,” he said.
“There’s still a chance [of the playoffs],” Jarvis Hayes said. “But we’ve got to go to Minnesota and take care of business.”
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Frank said Harris, who returned Friday after being out five games with a sprained left shoulder, should be ready to go today.
Frank said Bobby Simmons was dealing with “a little bit of a knot in his back.”
“Hopefully [he’ll] be able to play,” he said.
–Additional reporting by Fred Kerber