With 26 games left, the Nets have, finally, entered the weakest stretch of their schedule. Of the remaining 26, 16 are at home. Of the remaining 26, 14 are against teams with losing records. The Nets have four homestands of three games each, and one stretch of seven games in 10 days where they won't have to board a plane -- six home games and a bus trip to Philly.
Of the 22 games after the trade deadline, 12 are at home. They do have a four-game West Coast swing vs. Golden State, Sacramento, the Lakers and Portland starting the end of this month.
Is this enough for a playoff run? Deron Williams thinks so. They are currently five games behind the wilting Knicks, having won three of their last five, four of their last six, while New York has lost three straight. But one thing is virtually certain. The roster that beat the Clippers on Wednesday won't be the same one that ends the regular season (and maybe the New Jersey Nets run) in Toronto on April 26.