The Nets are reeling, having lost five straight games and nine of 10. They play the powerful Heat today, and probably will be without power forward Kris Humphries, who just happens to be their leading rebounder. The season long ago lost importance, and all that remains to play for are pride and fantasy league numbers.
Sounds like a good time for a pick-me-up story.
Avery Johnson, after seeing his Nets get hammered in Philadelphia on Friday when they fell behind in the first quarter by over a dozen points for the third time in four games, told his team about Anthony Robles, the Arizona State wrestler who won an NCAA individual championship despite being born with only one leg.
“His determination. He never made excuses. And his continuous will to fight against the odds,” Brook Lopez said of Robles. “We definitely need to take some spirit from that one.”
The Nets figure to have Deron Williams — he has played the last two games — but Humphries (team-best 10.4 rebounds, fifth in NBA) likely will be on the sideline again nursing a sprained right ankle and bruised heel. The Nets were incredibly lackluster against the Sixers, and Johnson saw it in the morning workout. It took about three game minutes for his worst fears to be confirmed.
Johnson suggested Humphries’ absence affected the Nets, who were out of it physically and mentally and received just 34 points from their starters. They didn’t even look like they were trying to stockpile fantasy stats.
“That can’t happen. We are not in the playoffs. We are playing for something — we don’t know what we’re playing for — but we’ve got to put ourselves together, our heads together,” Sasha Vujacic said.
The Heat, with those guys — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — who spend more time on “SportsCenter” than the Nets do holding leads, have something very real for motivation. Currently No. 2, Miami is trying to catch Chicago and hold off Boston for seeding in the Eastern playoffs. The postseason is something the Nets abandoned weeks ago.
“I came in knowing that. I said we were shooting for the playoffs but knew it was a long shot. I also knew we were building for the future. That’s the way I’m approaching it. It’s not fun to lose, but it is what it is,” said Williams, who sees the presence of the Heat providing an energy surge for the Nets. “Everybody wants to play those guys. Hopefully our energy will be up. There should be a lot of excitement in the building. Hopefully not too many Miami fans.”
That has been a problem. The Nets have played several “road” games this season in Newark, where the Knicks and Celtics brought more fans to games.
“I hope that Prudential Center is going to be packed and with our fans. Because we need that right now,” Vujacic said. “We need that energy from our fans for 48 minutes, and we have to feel like [we’re] at home.”
fred.kerber@nypost.com