NBA

Nets lose Bogans for season after surgery

At some point, the Nets are going to catch a break. The law of averages says so. Maybe it will come after the All-Star Game.

Or maybe not. They are the Nets, after all. But wouldn’t you like to see for just one game what the Nets were supposed to be this season?

It hasn’t happened yet.

The latest casualty, Keith Bogans, underwent surgery yesterday for a fractured left ankle and a complete tear of the left deltoid ligament, which provides support and stability to the inside of the ankle and is officially done for the season, although there was no doubt he would not play again in 2011-12.

The Nets said Bogans is expected to make a full recovery and be ready in time for training camp next season. The operation was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley and team orthopedist Dr. Riley Williams III, yet another Williams (Deron, Shelden, Shawne, Jordan) in the Nets stable. Bogans appeared in five games, averaged 18.8 minutes and 4.2 points.

“It’s been a tough year for us. Injury after injury. We get close to getting a couple guys back thinking we’re going to have a whole team and we have another injury so we’ve been dealing with it all year,” said Deron Williams. “It’s not like we’re not used to it now. Just wish him the best with his surgery and a speedy recovery.”

This season has seen the most stunning run of ill health fortune the Nets have experienced since the disastrous 2000-01 season – the first year of the Rod Thorn-Byron Scott regime when 345 manpower games were lost to injury, forcing the Nets to turn to such immortals as Vlad Stepania and Jamel Thomas. Already, the Nets have used 14 different starting lineups (five different small forwards, two power forwards, three centers, five off guards, two point guards).

Bogans joins Damion James (foot surgery) as players not expected to return this season. But amid the sickening medical news updates Friday, GM Billy King did supply a ray of hope that all other injured players – including Brook Lopez (broken foot, has not played this season), DeShawn Stevenson (sore knee) and Mehmet Okur (back) – will be in the fold when the team re-convenes in Dallas for the first game, Feb. 28, after the All-Star break.

King said he didn’t plan to waive anybody — Bogan’s is represented by Dan Fegan, who also handles Dwight Howard.

“Just different,” was coach Avery Johnson’s understated assessment of the season, which stands at 8-21 heading into tomorrow’s home game with the Grizzlies, a contest that starts a brutal five games in six nights stretch. “And we have been affected more than anybody in the NBA … Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.

“We just have to keep surviving, try to play good basketball, until we can get healthy.”

Whenever that may be. If ever.