MIAMI — The name on the front of the Nets jersey now finally means something — Brooklyn.
The goal is for all the names on the back of the jersey to establish an identity together.
Despite all the good will and hope, there is a long way to go.
This brave new world is just beginning for the Brooklyn Nets, but losing a 22-point lead at home to Minnesota on Monday night and then having to bounce back against LeBron & Championship Co. last night at AmericanAirlines Arena almost seemed unfair, especially with Gerald Wallace, the designated defender against LeBron James, out again with a sprained ankle.
This was one big party for the Heat, as they led by 79-56 after three quarters and glided home with a 103-73 victory.
Before the game, Nets coach Avery Johnson talked about his team establishing an identity. Well, it sure isn’t defense, and the Nets couldn’t hit their shots.
Remember when the Knicks buried the Heat at the Garden earlier this month? The Knicks hit 19 3-pointers and committed only 12 turnovers. The Nets committed 19 turnovers last night and had only three 3-pointers.
“We’ve got to go into Orlando [tomorrow] with a little more toughness than what we brought tonight,’’ Joe Johnson said.
Still, just walking into AmericanAirlines Arena with the word Brooklyn on their chest was a moment of pride for these new Nets. “We’re definitely united together in this Brooklyn banner,’’ Brook Lopez told The Post before the game as he pointed to the team logo. “We just have to keep moving in the right direction.’’
Not last night. They went backwards. That is all part of the process, though.
The secret to basketball life is to keep moving, understand spacing and each other’s talents as a team and put on a show at the same time. The Heat won a championship last year doing exactly that.
Miami has found The Secret, just listen to LeBron.
“No one cares about scoring,’’ he said after scoring 20 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists in only 30 minutes of action. “No one cares about who is shooting. You might have a great shot but there might be a better shot right next to you and that’s what our team is all about. No one cares about the assists either, we just want to get the ball up to the open man.’’
Now that the glitz and glamour of opening the new show is behind them, it’s time for the Nets to get down to the hard work of becoming a team. The Nets labeled this a “bounce-back test,’’ but they were overwhelmed after getting an early lift from Kris Humphries.
The Nets have to understand now that they are on the big stage, they cannot relax for one second. Life was much mellower in the Meadowlands. There is more focus now on the Nets than ever before.
“We don’t have an identity yet,’’ Avery Johnson said. “Hopefully as the season goes on we’ll build one. These are new experiences for us.’’
One of the things the Nets must improve at is not allowing as many points in the paint. They surrendered 62 to the Timberwolves and last night the Heat partied through the middle of the Nets’ defense.
“I think as far as talent-wise, they’re right up at the top with New York and with Boston,’’ LeBron said of the Nets. His team, though, is on another level, especially the unselfish offense.
The Nets have to come together on the court.
“The real encouraging thing is we have a really good basketball team,’’ Avery Johnson said. “We have some really good pieces. Now the chemistry part of it is to try to get the pieces to work together. That’s what I tell Avery Jr. He’s taking chemistry now, the pieces have to work together.’’
In school or the NBA, it’s all about passing that chemistry test. That’s the ultimate challenge for these new Nets. Last night they could not stay in the same building as the defending champions.