Back to square one for Nets

The Nets have their longest in-season layoff between now and Wednesday night —three days. Then, they’ll try to break their 16-game losing streak in Sacramento.

Kenny Atkinson says he’ll use the layoff to put the Nets through some (shortened) training camp practices.

“We’ve got to be a little bit like in training camp mode, I mean, without burning our guys out,” Atkinson told beat reporters after their loss to Golden State. “They had a while off at the All-Star break. We’ll have two good days to get shortened training camp practices. I think it’s important. Our guys need it. I’m looking forward to it.”

The calendar provides the opportunity, the losing streak the motivation. The Nets will stay in the Bay Area, getting a full day off Sunday to recover from their back-to-back. Atkinson plans to put them through the training camp-style practices Monday and Tuesday before they fly to Sacramento for a Wednesday night game. Sacramento will be the third of their annual eight-game circus road trip.

“I think after this stretch, there’s no more two days [off together], so we really need to take advantage of these two days to sharpen our games,” Atkinson added.

The Nets need a win. If they lose to the Kings on Wednesday and the Jazz on Friday, they will tie the franchise record for consecutive losses, 18, set in their last season at IZOD. Then, they’ll go into Portland for the second half of a back-to-back and a chance to break that record.

To insure this isn’t the worst team in Nets history —and that’s saying something— they will have to win four games out of the next 24.

• Nets get three-day breather after back-to-back games during road trip - Greg Logan - Newsday