Nets Playoff Push Begins (Really!)

We're not going to link to Jim Mora's famous "playoffs?!" video, but Mora's incredulous response to a beat reporter seems no more surprising than the Nets suggesting Friday that they have a chance at making the NBA playoffs. Then again, the numbers do tell a positive story.

After playing at Charlotte (who's won five games), the Nets play nine of their next 11 games at home. They are five and a half games back of the eighth place Knicks who have lost three straight and play the toughest schedule from now till April 26. And New Jersey is only two and a half behind the ninth place Bucks. Even the seventh place Celtics are in for a hard time. They start an eight-game road trip this weekend, starting with the Lakers.

Meanwhile the Nets admitted Friday what everyone already suspected: Mehmet Okur, acquired to fill in for Brook Lopez, is unlikely to come back. "The back situation, has not responded at all," Avery Johnson said. "We've tried a little bit of everything. So, we've just taken the pressure off of him. We just don't have a timeframe now, we'll just continue to treat him,"

• Nets ready to talk playoffs - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Nets look to build momentum, start winning streak against Bobcats - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
• Nets look to go streaking - Andy Vasquez - NJ Nets Nation
  
• Okur still out indefinitely - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York