The P.J. Carlesimo era bagan tonight, as the Brooklyn Nets suited up against the Charlotte Bobcats. Prior to the start of the game Coach Carlesimo stressed that with little preparation in the post-Avery Johnson era, he wanted the team to focus on being aggressive in these next two games, rather than on the X's and O's. I suppose you can say "mission accomplished."

Brooklyn was certainly aggressive, to say the least, in the first quarter. They charged out to a 33-15 lead, shooting 55 percent from the floor and 3-of-6 from the 3-point line, while holding the Bobcats to 27-percent shooting, with four turnovers. Brook Lopez went for 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the first, while Deron Williams chipped in with nine points.

The Nets haven't had much trouble starting games, in fact the issue is more so how they close them -- or, better yet, how they respond to their opponent making a run.

Fortunately for them, that run never came in the first half -- or ever. The closest the Bobcats got was within nine points in the second quarter, and the Nets responded to carry a 56-38 lead into halftime.

Speaking at halftime to the media, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov didn't let on that the Nets were close to finding a replacement coach for Avery, and wasn't even willing to budge at all on the details of any search. He continued to reiterate, "P.J. (Carlesimo) is our guy."

With the way the Nets responded to Prokhorov being in the building and the firing of Avery Johnson, it has certainly helped P.J.'s case going forward.

The Nets didn't falter in the third, as they've often been accustomed to, and were able to close out the Bobcats, 97-81.

Brook Lopez finished the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 27 minutes, while 19 points, but just two assists, in 28 minutes.

You can see that this team was playing with some sense of urgency, whether it was a "we have something to prove" moment, or "the boss is in the house" performance. It also should be said that, yes, this win was against the Bobcats who are now losers of 17 straight games.

Up next for the Nets is a quick turnaround game, tomorrow night, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For more on the Bobcats, see: Rufus on Fire

• Bobcats at Nets - December 28, 2012 - Boxscore - NBA.com
• Bobcats vs. Nets First Half (Video) - NBA.com
• Carlesimo, Nets hand Bobcats 17th straight loss - AP
• Carlesimo talks about winning his first game (Video) - YES Network
• Johnson on the team's energy, getting a victory (Video) - YES Network
• Williams on raising his game, defeating the Bobcats (Video) - YES Network
• Nets Beat the Bobcats but Pine for Phil Jackson - Howard Beck - New York Times
• As Nets' search begins, Jackson looms as Prokhorov's key 'suspect' - Ken Berger - CBS Sports
  
• Brooklyn rolls, coaching carousel spins - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Spotlight on Deron in wake of Avery firing - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Prokhorov backs Carlesimo - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Mikhail Prokhorov deflects discussion of timetable to pick permanent Nets coach - Rod Boone - Newday
  
• In first game without Avery Johnson, Brooklyn Nets rout Charlotte Bobcats under interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo - Kristie Ackert - NY Daily News
• Prokhorov leaves vacation early to examine P.J. Carlesimo, coaching situation - Stefan Bondy - NY Daily News
• Interim Brooklyn Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo manages under watchful eye of owner Mikhail Prokhorov - Filip Bondy - NY Daily News
• Nets defeat Bobcats, 97-81, in P.J. Carlesimo's debut as interim head coach - Michael Fensom - The Star-Ledger
• Nets beat Bobcats; owner Mikhail Prokhorov says Avery Johnson didn't fit with team - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Nets notebook: Williams says he's not to blame for Johnson's firing - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Rapid Reaction: Nets 97, Bobcats 81 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• D-Will gets aggressive against Bobcats - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Notes: Nets respond well in P.J.'s debut - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov says team 'capable of much more' - ESPN New York
• Phil Jackson, Brooklyn Nets' Mikhail Prokhorov need each other - Johnette Howard - ESPN New York
  
• #Bobcats Head Coach Mike Dunlap Shares Opinion on Avery Johnson Firing - Moke Hamilton - SNY
• Source: Patrick Ewing Unlikely to Receive Consideration For #Nets Head Coaching Gig - Moke Hamilton - SNY
• Rapid Recap: #Nets 97, #Bobcats 81 - SNY
• Nets 97, Bobcats 81: Player Grades - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Bobcats Recap: Nets Win First Game Under P.J. Carlesimo - From Russia With Dunk
• Make That Seventeen: Bobcats Lose in Brooklyn 97-81 - Derek James - Rufus on Fire
• Brooklyn Nets drub Charlotte Bobcats, 97-81 - Charlotte Observer
• First half thread - NetsDaily
• Second half thread - NetsDaily