Let's not forget that Lawrence Frank holds the records for most wins to start a coaching tenure. And let's not forget that New Jersey shipped out the last remaining member of their Big Three at the start of this season. But someone has to take the fall for making East Rutherford the least attractive destination for LeBron, despite their piles of available cash.

I don't know about you, but I think the next two games for the Nets are just about the most fascinating matchups in this young season. The Lakers and Mavericks, with a combined eight losses between them, are all that stand between NJ and history. Assistant Tom Barrise will be on the bench for tonight's game against the defending champs, and then they'll have a cross-country flight and three long days to contemplate Dallas coming to town.

A losing streak is so much more identifiable with than an undefeated streak. We were awed by Tom Brady, and are amazed by Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, because they're light years beyond us. First, to play at a professional level, and second, to never lose? That's unfathomable. But to go down day after day, week after week is a universal feeling.

Whether it be a cold streak with women, or a terrible run in fantasy football, or even a general sense that life has never stopped shitting on us, we all know how the Nets feel. They'll try their hardest tonight, and they may still lose. Because sometimes that's what happens. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you just can't win.

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Head coach Lawrence Frank went so far as say that the Nets "cheated the game" in the first half, but guard Devin Harris displayed the quiet, cool confidence after the game that one would expect out of player on a team that has lost 16 straight games.

"It doesn't matter who we have from here on out. We have to come out with the same type of intensity we had in the second half no matter if it's the Lakers or the Knicks. We have to treat everybody the same and come out with a decent effort. Yeah they're the defending champions, but they can be beat. If we give the effort we need to, we'll keep ourselves in the game."

Notice that Harris doesn't claim that the Nets can beat the Lakers, just that the Lakers can be beat - by somebody - probably not the Nets. But Harris believes if the Nets give a good effort, the Nets can stay in the game, which is good, I guess.

Either way, things are not looking good for Lawrence Frank. Some believe that he could be out of a job as soon as Sunday if the Nets lose to the Lakers and tie the record. Obviously, these people were not swayed by the barely-positive attitude displayed by Harris. That guy should be giving motivational speeches.

Winless Nets lose 16th straight, 109-96 to Kings [Yahoo!/AP]
Nets now 0-16, Lawrence Frank could be headed for unemployment line [New York Daily News]

Earlier this year, the Nets signed a deal with T-Mobile for a "Stay Connected" promotion to run throughout the playoffs. The presumption, of course, was that the Nets would be in the playoffs. So in addition to the "prize packages" of "allowing fans to have lunch with Nets dancers, participate in a Porsche driving school, and play in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament," they will, in fact, have the opportunity to watch a playoff game with coach Lawrence Frank. Because, you know, he won't be busy.

We desperately hope a Deadspin reader wins this promotion. So many questions!

It has to just kill you that Byron Scott is still coaching and you aren't. It hurts, right?
Are you a ginger kid?
Man, it must suck to be stuck here while everyone else is out, you know, coaching. Hey, pass the nachos, would you?

For Nets, No Playoffs, No Problem [Lion In Oil]

Remember Bob Knight's infamous furious speech in which he gets his Berman on? Well, it turns out, it might have been recorded by Frank.

Lawrence Frank is a prime suspect. The New Jersey Nets coach couldn't be reached, but he was a basketball manager at IU then and was in the room. "Lawrence Frank definitely could have done something like this," Leary said. "There was never a manager that was more full of (it) than he was. He would take us to fraternity parties on campus and just walk us all in — and it wasn't even his fraternity. He was just as full of (it) as they came."

Seriously, just to kick off your day right: