A Russian billionaire and a coaching lifer from Scranton, Pa., walked into a Greek restaurant, providing the setup for a corny punch line or perhaps an agenda for the future of the Nets. Or maybe it was just a lunch.
Either way, P. J. Carlesimo, the Nets' newly installed interim coach, enjoyed his first extensive meeting Saturday with Mikhail D. Prokhorov, the Nets' owner, who is contemplating his next move after firing Coach Avery Johnson last week.
They met for two hours Saturday at Milos, in Midtown Manhattan — along with General Manager Billy King and Dmitry Razumov, Prokhorov's chief liaison to the team — and discussed a variety of topics over a large platter of Mediterranean fare.
"We talked about the team, and we talked about the food and restaurants and stuff," Carlesimo said Saturday night before the Nets scratched out a tense 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.
Carlesimo was guarded about the conversation, particularly as it pertained to his future and the Nets' coaching search. But he left with a firm sense of Prokhorov's priorities.
"That he wants to win a championship," Carlesimo said. "That he's willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship. That he's got a good understanding of our team and the N.B.A.
"I think if we would keep winning games, that would be good," Carlesimo added, deadpan. "Definitely prefers winning."
The Nets are preparing to make a determined run at Phil Jackson, by far the best coach on the market and their only target for the moment, people monitoring the process have said. There has been no contact yet between the parties, although a conversation is expected sometime after New Year's Day. Jackson is open to meeting with Prokhorov, but his interest in the job — or a return to coaching, period — is far from certain, according to friends.
For now, Carlesimo has the job and the burden of reviving the team. The Nets took another positive step Saturday, improving to 2-0 under Carlesimo, although the victory took more effort than expected. The win was not secured until Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
The Nets showed some of their worst habits Saturday night, taking a big early lead (15 points) and then squandering most of it before pulling out the win. Irving hit a 3-pointer that cut the lead to 101-100 with 5.9 seconds left, before the Nets' Joe Johnson hit two free throws to finish the scoring.
Brook Lopez led the Nets for the second straight night, scoring a season-high 35 points and adding 11 rebounds while going 13 for 20 from the field. Deron Williams continued to emerge from his season-long slump, scoring 15 points while making 5 of 12 shots. He also had seven assists.
The Nets never could put the game away, though, in part because they could not stop C. J. Miles from hitting nearly shot he attempted from beyond the 3-point arc. He converted a career-high 8 of 10 3-point attempts, finishing with 33 points. Irving, the Cavaliers' young star point guard, had 13 points and 7 assists.
The Nets' modest winning streak will be tested with a three-game trip that begins with stops in San Antonio and in Oklahoma City, against two of the top teams in the Western Conference. But the schedule is easier from there, giving Carlesimo the chance to put the Nets on a winning track.
If the Nets fail to land Jackson, it is conceivable that Carlesimo could remain the coach for the rest of the season. The field of candidates beyond Jackson is not particularly compelling, and all of them will probably still be available after the season.
As long as the Nets start winning again — or at least start showing the same feistiness that powered them to 11 victories in November — there may be no urgency to make another change until the off-season.
"I think it's available," Carlesimo said of the job. "I think we need to win. And there's also coaches that are available. And that's not something I have any control over."
Jackson would have to be convinced that the Nets have championship potential. Even then, he might be hesitant to take the job midseason, without the benefit of a training camp to start teaching the triangle offense, the system he has used through 11 championship runs. It would be nearly impossible to install now, with the Nets fighting just to stay in the playoff hunt.
It is therefore possible that Jackson could give Prokhorov a mixed answer: not no and not yes, but simply "not yet."
REBOUNDS
Kris Humphries missed his fourth straight game Saturday because of a mild abdominal strain and is unlikely to play Monday in San Antonio. He might return to practice Tuesday, P. J. Carlesimo said. "I think when he comes back, he's going to be O.K.," Carlesimo said. "I think it's going to be short rather than long." ... Toko Shengelia returned to the Nets' active roster after missing one game because of flu symptoms. Josh Childress replaced him on the inactive list.
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