The Nets had no hangover from last night's letdown against the Hawks. They came out against the Pistons, put their foot on the gas and didn't look back, blowing out Detroit 119-82.

With first place on the line, the Nets fall to the Atlanta Hawks 105-93. After the Knicks lost to the Clippers earlier in the day, had the Nets won they would have been in a statistical tie for first atop the Atlantic Division.

P.J Carlesimo is hoping lightning strikes twice in Brooklyn's backcourt. After resting Deron Williams for a week at the All-Star Game, and being rewarded for it, he's taking advantage of a quirk in the schedule to give Joe Johnson five days off.

P.J. Carlesimo decided to play Andray Blatche and Brook Lopez together in the second half, and wouldn't you know, it worked! The two led the way in the second half, after the Hornets tried to make a game of it, and went on to win 108-98.

P.J. Carlesimo said that down the stretch and in the playoffs, Jerry Stackhouse has "the ability to contribute to us -- perhaps even more so later on, because of his experience." Stackhouse and Carlesimo spoke with CSN Philly Monday.

While talking about Mikhail Prokhorov's willingness to spend money, P.J. Carlesimo put in a good word, in a joking manner, for himself. He said spending money is the best thing an owner can do, other than "Giving a coach a long-term contract."

That's why they play the games.

There doesn't seem any way for Josh Smith to make to Brooklyn anytime soon. That aside, Smith likes the embrace he's seen his former teammate receive in Brooklyn and thinks the Nets are a viable option for free agents.

One night after the Deron Williams explosion against the Wizards, the Nets went into Atlanta and beat the Hawks, easily, 93-80. It wasn't pretty early, but the bench really carried the team, led by Andray Blatche.