Slumping Nets aren't taking winless 76ers for granted

When you are 5-8, as the Brooklyn Nets are, and have lost six of your last seven games, as the Nets have, there is no way you can take any opponent lightly. So a date Wednesday night in Philadelphia against the winless 76ers is hardly something these Nets can afford to take for granted.

"I think, first and foremost, you have to respect your opponent," Joe Johnson said after Tuesday's practice. "Take nothing for granted. Just because this team hasn't won, obviously they are capable of winning. We really have to go in and establish how this game is going to be played from the start. We can't come out flat. Because they are a young team, confidence is something that you do not want to give this team at this point."

The Sixers are 0-14 and could be headed to breaking the record for losses to start a season. That record is held by the New Jersey Nets, who in 2009-10 were 0-18.

Nets coach Lionel Hollins insisted his team won't put extra pressure on itself to beat the Sixers just because, on paper, this is a game the Nets are expected to win.

"Every time we go out there, I expect us to play well enough to win. But we don't," Hollins said. "I'm sure you're saying we should win because they don't have a win. But, you know, they're going to win at some point. I don't want it to be against us.

"So we can't say, 'This is important that we get this win!' So what if we don't get it? Is our season over? No. We just have to go play, and try to play the best we can and hopefully we'll come out with a win."

Point guard Deron Williams conceded the Nets don't want to be the first team to lose to the Sixers this season, but he said beating them won't be easy.

"Anytime you play a team that's on a losing streak, searching for a win, those are desperate teams," Williams said. "They really have nothing to lose, so they're a dangerous team. Any team in the NBA is dangerous when they get hot. So we have to impose our will early."

Only one player on the Nets' roster -- center Brook Lopez -- was on the 2009-10 team that set the record. Lopez, who has struggled lately and is trying to work his way out of Hollins' doghouse, declined to speak to reporters Tuesday.

History lesson.In 2009-10, the Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank after 16 losses. Assistant Tom Barrise coached the team in losses No. 17, which tied the previous record, and 18, before general manager Kiki Vandeweghe took over as coach. The Nets finished 12-70 that season.