With owner Mikhail Prokhorov in town to celebrate "Russian Culture Night" and reportedly granted permission to meet with Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, could Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz be the last one this version of the roster plays together? Right now the players -- who have been clearly distracted by the trade drama -- are just hoping to end their six-game losing streak.
The Nets return home after a rough West Coast trip that found them losing all four games by an average of more than nine points. Brook Lopez broke out offensively with two 30-point games leading to averaging nearly 26 points for the trip. Unfortunately the center didn't receive much help on offense as Avery Johnson's crew continues to have trouble putting points on the board.
Utah travels to the Prudential Center after a 108-101 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday but before that setback had been winner in five of their previous seven games.
Deron Williams and Paul Millsap provide one of the more impressive inside-out combos in the NBA combining for 39.6 points per game. Al Jefferson has been good for 16.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with nearly nine a game.
The Jazz beat the Nets, 98-88, back on Nov. 17 in Salt Lake City and have taken four straight and six of the last 10 games in the series. New Jersey has dropped 10 of their last 15 home games against Utah.
Next up for the Nets are the Detroit Pistons on Friday night at the Rock. The question is, just who will be suiting up? If things continue to progress on the Carmelo Anthony front and a trade goes down Thursday, expect to see Brook Lopez and a bunch of 10-day contracts holding down the fort until all of the players involved pass their physicals. If there are more delays then it will just mean more waiting.