The playoffs begin April 17, the question from here until then is simple for the Nets:

Will Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin be ready?

Right now, the Nets are saying little except that neither Kidd nor Martin will play today against the Mavericks at the Meadowlands.

Even though Kidd’s and Martin’s MRIs on their knees were completed Friday, the Nets still don’t have a full read on the extent of the injuries as they apparently want to consult with every doctor outside of Julius Erving.

“We don’t know,” Nets coach Lawrence Frank said of Kidd’s MRI. “I’m not a doctor. Each doctor has his own opinion. With the MRI, whatever it says, it says. There are a number of doctors that both Jason and the organization have consulted in terms of looking at.”

Several reports, including one in yesterday’s Post, have said that Kidd may miss the rest of the regular season and maybe even some of the playoffs because of what the Nets have described as a bone bruise in his left knee. There is also a feeling among some that Kidd might need surgery to repair the knee.

A Net spokesman said team plans on announcing its doctors’ conclusion tomorrow. Kidd was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Martin didn’t talk either, though he did sign autographs for some kids at the Nets’ practice facility. Frank said the Nets have no time-table on the tendinitis in Martin’s left knee.

“He has to strengthen his quads and he has to have rest,” Frank said.

Last Sunday in Miami, Martin sat out before playing the Nets’ two midweek games against Sacramento and Detroit. He wasn’t in uniform again Friday as the Nets lost to the Knicks at the Garden.

Also without Kidd Friday for the fifth time this month, Lucious Harris received the majority of the minutes at the point against the Knicks and predictably the offense looked out of sorts.

“Jason is Jason,” Frank said. “He is the fastest guy in the world with the ball. He plays with unbelievable energy and will. He is the best passer in the NBA. You have to find a different way to do it. It is part of the NBA. It is part of the league. Everybody goes through injuries towards the end of the year.”

Now, the Nets must play perfect games to beat the upper tier teams, like the Mavericks.

“We have to be the master of little details,” Frank said. “Our margin of error is small. In order to find a way, it still got to be on the defensive end. We have to minimize the mental mistakes. We have to understand what the game plan is and be committed to it. We have to give our best effort because you don’t have Kenyon flying over tall buildings to get a rebound.”

For now, with the Atlantic virtually locked up, missing Kidd and Martin is livable; a month from now, it is not.