By FRED KERBER

The Nets open their season against the Raptors Wednesday night. And after that, they’ll be only 81 regular season games left. Where does the time go?

Anyway, here are some opening night stats and facts to wow ’em at the next cocktail party:

The Nets are 12-18 overall in season openers.

They are 15-15 in all their home openers. They are 8-10 when they open a season at home.

They have twice before opened the season against the Raptors, both times in Toronto. They lost both, including the first ever game in Toronto’s history, 94-79, on Nov. 3, 1995. The initial play sort of gave a prevue of the season: off the opening tap, P.J. Brown went in for an open dunk. And hit the back rim. The Nets finished a boffo 30-52 for a second straight year, showing remarkable consistency. Hey, anybody can go 41-41. Try going 30-52 two straight seasons.

The Nets also lost in Canada, 90-87, Oct. 29, 2003, despite 26 points, 11 rebounds from Kenyon Martin who opened his next season in a Nuggets uniform.

The greatest opening night scoring performance by a Net came from Stephon Marbury who blitzed the Pacers for 39 points in a 119-112 Meadowlands loss, Nov. 2, 1999. Jason Kidd’s 12 assists in a 105-94 win over Atlanta at home on Oct. 30 are a team opening high. Buck Williams holds the opening night Net rebound mark, 21, in a 113-109 overtime victory over the mighty Celtics on Oct. 25, 1985 – perhaps the Nets’ most exciting season opener ever. For a non-overtime game, Jayson Williams had 20 boards in a 97-95 win over the Pacers on Oct. 31, 1997.

Nets will be shorthanded for the opener against the Raptors. Josh Boone (shoulder) and Edie House (knee) will rehab injuries. Cliff Robinson will be serving out the suspension he received during the playoffs for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy (he can’t even be in the building – same goes when he finishes the ban Friday at Miami, although he may travel with team). And then there’s Jeff McInnis who doesn’t count. So that gives 11 bodies including Mile Ilic, who’s coming off an achy hamstring but who did practice Tuesday.

One guy who will be healthy, sort of, is Jason Collins, although he claims his sore foot and stubbed toe are “100 percent” – before admitting he is lying through his twin teeth. “It’s good. A hundred percent,” he fibbed. “But it’s not something I’m worried about.” Collins rolled his ankle just before training camp and then stubbed his toe last week. X-rays on the toe were negative. Collins reports there’s some pain on the top and side of his left foot. But compared to last season when he could barely walk to start the season, he4’ll live with an ouchy toe.

Cliff Robinson, forgiven by team and brass for his knucklehead decision, still is a guy many go to for advice and insight. His general take on the Nets: “I think we’ll be a better offensive team. I don’t think we’ll have some of the droughts that we experienced last year. And hopefully we’ll be just as good defensively once everybody understands the scheme of things and what we’re trying to get done on the defensive end. Hopefully, we’ll be just as good if not better.”

To Lawrence Frank, the season is a question of balance. “The game is played on both ends. So you have to be good on both ends. If you look at the preseason numbers defensively those stand out. We’ll see as we get a better feel as we go ahead. I know that we’re going to defend a whole lot better than the preseason and yet I want to still see us be very efficient on the offensive end as well.

That’s what it takes to be a special team.”

Richard Jefferson, Captain Sunshine, reiterated his usual stance: “Everything I approach, I’m always insanely optimistic things will work out. And for some weird reason they normally do. Maybe not to the highest levels but they do end up working out.”