NBA

ANOTHER NET DUD BUT VINCE MAY RETURN

SALT LAKE CITY – Well, look at the bright side for the Nets.

Vince Carter might be back tomorrow from his sprained right ankle absence.

And that’s how bad things are for the Nets these days. Maybes are their source of hope.

Because reality is brutal. The Nets definitely got their posteriors pounded by the Jazz last night, losing 102-75 for their sixth straight defeat, as Carter again sat and watched struggles of every sort.

The Jazz took control early, saw a mini-Net surge in the second quarter and then slammed New Jersey (4-7) into dust in the second half.

“This is an unacceptable performance and I take responsibility,” said coach Lawrence Frank. “I’m in charge of the product out there, and this is not going to work. Give Utah credit … they carved us up tonight.”

But don’t give Utah (8-4) too much credit, although the Jazz were good.

“Honestly, the way we’re playing right now it doesn’t matter if we’re playing Utah, the 1997 Chicago Bulls or the 1984 Boston Celtics,” said Richard Jefferson (22 points).

The Nets, who trailed by 20 for the sixth time in 11 games, entered last in the league in both scoring (85.7) and in turnovers (18.7) and did nothing to improve their status as they gave away the ball 19 more times, six times by Jason Kidd (1-of-9, two points, 8 assists). Kidd was outplayed by Deron Williams (20 points, 6 assists). And with 75 points, the Nets have averaged just 76.6 points without Carter.

How about that return by Carter, huh?

“I think he’ll play, either Wednesday or Friday, if he doesn’t have any setback. He’s getting better,” said team president Rod Thorn. “He’s doing better.”

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The Nets used the same revamped lineup – Sean Williams (10 points) had his second NBA start but did not begin the second half – that Frank employed Saturday against Miami. The Nets trailed by 15 in the second quarter, closed to within seven, were down 10 at the half and then faded like a decades old photo in the sun.