Net flop one for boo-birds

4th straight home defeat

By OHM YOUNGMISUK
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


Emeka Okafor and Bobcats stuff reeling Nets at Meadowlands.

Lawrence Frank was speechless following the Nets' latest debacle.

But the few thousand fans who paid to see his team fall, 91-83, to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats had plenty to say.


One night after losing by 20 in Washington, the Nets (9-12) handed Charlotte (6-17) its first victory in nine games and were heckled and booed off the Meadowlands floor by an announced crowd of 13,363. But nasty taunts are the least of the Nets' problems at the moment.


"We're not going to change overnight," Jason Kidd said of the Nets, who have lost three straight and four consecutive at home.


"We're the same team we were in Washington. You can't turn it on and off. Right now it's off."


The Nets appear to be on the verge of splintering apart. Once again, Marc Jackson and Jeff McInnis are frustrated with their lack of playing time as Frank benched both for the game. Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter look like they are far from being on the same wavelength. And the Nets' flawed roster can now change overnight if management can strike a deal. Players like Jackson and McInnis who were acquired in the offseason are eligible to be traded starting today.


Something must change for the Nets, who for the second straight night were outhustled and outplayed.


It doesn't appear that the front office will make a switch at coach. A Nets source said the team has not discussed Frank's status at all during this underachieving start.


Management's problem is with the players and their effort.


Kidd was asked if the team is in danger of falling apart.


"Are we in danger? We will find out," he replied. "I hope not. I hope everybody is still confident that we can turn things around.


"In this league, everybody becomes fragile when things don't go well. So, we'll soon find out."


Despite Jefferson scoring 25 points, Carter collecting 22 points and 11 rebounds and Kidd (10 assists, eight points and eight rebounds) nearly registering a triple-double, the Nets were handled by a team they beat by 13 in Charlotte just a week ago.


Brevin Knight, one of five Bobcats to score in double figures, shredded the Nets for 25 points and five steals.


Fans became restless with 4:30 remaining in the second quarter when the Bobcats used an 11-2 run to cut a 10-point Net lead down to one. The Nets went into halftime up 40-34, but it hardly felt like they were leading.


Things got ugly in the third quarter when Charlotte opened with a 19-4 run and led 53-44 with 4:26 to go in the quarter. Fans jeered every time the Bobcats beat the Nets to an offensive rebound or loose ball. One relentless fan heckled every move Frank made while another screamed at Carter for not getting his arms up when contesting a three-pointer by Jumaine Jones.


The Nets cut the deficit to 70-66 with 5:07 remaining only to allow Charlotte to score eight of the next nine points and take an 78-67 lead with 2:50 left.


Carter said the Nets are missing a "willingness to win" and he is unsure of whether the team is together.


"I don't know," Carter said. "We have to ask ourselves that as individuals. And if (not), check in at the door and let's figure it out. Right now, it's not about individual accolades, who gets the points, it doesn't matter. We have to decide what we want to be, who we are, and time is now."