The Nets’ season has been, in a word, painful.
So a motivational speaker tried to have the players overcome the pain. He stuck a needle in his face.
True, needles thrust into your cheek would be preferable to watching most of the Nets games, but the gent yesterday was trying “to prove that he could tune out pain,” said Brook Lopez.
The Nets’ take?
“My reaction was like, ‘What’s up with that?’ ” said Chris Douglas-Roberts. “The whole thing was about confidence. He’s really into hypnosis . . . He has a good reputation around the country.”
So will the Nets try that?
“They’ve taken sharp objects away from me. We have to use safety scissors. We’re pretty close to getting helmets, too,” said Lopez, who didn’t need to view such a display — he woke up with a volcanic stomach from something he ate that left him weak for the 83-79 loss to Philly at the Meadowlands.
* The Nets expect to have a signed lease agreement this week to play games in Newark next season. Team officials met with the Devils on Friday and lease terms could be finalized as soon as today. The term sheet then would be forwarded to Gov. Chris Christie for approval.
* Incoming owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, will meet with team president Rod Thorn and CEO Brett Yormark at All-Star Weekend in Dallas to discuss the state of the team and future plans. Still, there is no set date for Prokhorov’s takeover. He still needs Board of Governors approval and nothing has been determined for a date. It might come All-Star Weekend. A league source said if the vote were planned then, it likely would be common knowledge but that’s not the case. Prokhorov also must be granted possession of land for Brooklyn site by New York State.
* Devin Harris (sore right wrist) sat fourth straight game. Interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe wants him completely healthy before return. Harris is aiming for Tuesday but said he “definitely” would be back at some point during the upcoming 4-game road trip that starts Wednesday in Toronto. Harris went through a full contact practice Saturday.
“It was fine,” he said. “The range is what I’m worried about. Today, I had better range on my jumpshot,” Harris said, noting his range is “above the foul line, like 18-20 feet without a lot of problems, so that’s encouraging.”
* Sixers coach Eddie Jordan on Lopez: “He’s a big body, he knows how to use the physical part of what he brings to the table. He seals you early in the paint, gets great position. You can see in his eyes, he has a will and determination.”