Scouting the Nets

All of a sudden the Nets (6-6) are looking like a team that could make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference after beating Toronto on the road, then holding off the Clippers at home on Saturday.

Not bad for a team most people assumed was content to dump salary the next two years until LeBron James becomes a free agent in 2010.

Rookie center Brook Lopez is looking like one of the steals of last summer's draft. He's averaging 14.6 points and nine rebounds since becoming a starter five games ago.

Young point guard Devin Harris has been shredding people, averaging 23.2 points a game in the nine games he's played this season. Harris went for 30 or more points three times last week.

Needless to say, the Lakers point guards will have their hands full again tonight.