Jarvis Hayes says his bruised shin won’t stop him from playing Tuesday in Cleveland. Devin Harris thinks it’s “50-50″ whether he plays with a sprained shoulder. The two looked like they were going to be out for a lot longer than the 18.2 seconds they missed at the end of the Pistons game. Neither player practiced Monday. Harris says even if he misses Tuesday’s game, he’ll be ready for the Bucks Wednesday at home.

The designer of the building façade at Barclays Center reports the arena will be enclosed in a “blast resistant curtain wall”. The curtain wall is part of a “mega wall system” designed by ASI Limited. Outside the blast resistant wall will be an insulated weather wall and a steel lattice screen that will mimic Brooklyn’s brownstones. Critics have accused Bruce Ratner of not paying enough attention to terrorism concerns.

The Nets 4-46 mark is not tied for the worst start for an NBA team. It is the worst start for a professional sports team–worse than any MLB team, worse than any NHL team. Of course, they remain at the bottom of the power rankings. John Schuhmann of NBA.com offers the only hope, that the All-Star version of Devin Harris has begun showing up. Oh wait, he got hurt Sunday going for a loose ball. Never mind.

Rod Thorn told Fred Kerber the Nets are “not looking to trade Chris”, adding there’s been interest. “I can understand why [teams] like him. He has talent and a small salary.” Thorn also said he doesn’t have a short list of coaching candidates and Kiki Vandeweghe will “probably” last the season. Interest remains in Trenton Hassell (Toronto) and Josh Boone, but Thorn doesn’t expect a trade before the deadline.

Sports Business Journal reports the Nets are at the bottom of the NBA in many ways: they’re last in attendance, averaging 13,134, and last in TV ratings as well, attracting 0.32 per cent of viewers in the New York area, lowest since YES began carrying the team’s games. Eleven teams attract smaller TV audiences, but they’re in smaller markets. The ratings on YES represent a 40.7% drop, also worst in the NBA.

If you looked closely at the Charles Barkley commercial in Sunday’s Super Bowl, the furry face of the Nets should have been evident. The ad, pushing Taco Bell’s NBA Five Buck Box, was shown in the fourth quarter and was seen by 100 million viewers worldwide. Brett Yormark, noting Taco Bell is the “Official Quick Service Restaurant” of the NBA, said “Sly is very excited.” Who among us is not?

Bobby Simmons’ value to the Nets rests with his status as an expiring contract, an $11.24 million expiring contract. Same with Tony Battie, who makes $6.61 million. But if the Nets can’t deal them by Feb. 18, they’re likely to be released so they can join another team. As for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Al Iannazzone confirms that Memphis is among teams that have inquired about him. CDR played college ball in Memphis.

The Nets’ favorite trading partner the past two years has been the Mavs. Since February 2008, the teams have exchanged 11 players, two draft picks and $3 million in cash. Now, in a Dallas Morning News report on the Mavs’ desire to find a swingman, there’s this line: “New Jersey doesn’t have the marquee assets that Washington or Philadelphia does, but players like Courtney Lee might be easier to extract.”