NET NOTES

At a still stunning 37-6 after their 91-84 loss to the Nets last night, the Pistons are on pace to become only the second 70-victory team in NBA history, joining the 72-10 Bulls of 1995-96.

But how about that Kobe Bryant, huh? Guy gets 81 points in a game.

“Let’s be realistic,” said Richard Jefferson, showing an understanding of why Bryant’s individual feat weighs more heavily than a team achievement.

“That was the second-most points ever. That’s more impressive than a mid-season record . . .

“I’m not taking anything away from the Pistons but 20 years from now, you’re going to be talking about Kobe scoring 81, not the Pistons’ record at Game 42. It’s one of the most impressive records ever, but at Game 42, 43?

“Kobe is something that goes down in the history books.”

*

Jason Kidd, who shot 20-of-67 (.299) in his five previous games, insisted his left knee (he banged it Saturday night in Seattle) and right foot, which has been aching for a while, both were no problem.

“My knee feels fine,” said Kidd. “My foot’s been bothering me for a while, but it has nothing to do with way I played. Just had a hard trip. . . . It [my foot] has bothered me for a couple weeks, but we’ve had it under control. It hasn’t been a factor. It hasn’t stopped me from playing.”

Kidd backed up his words against the Pistons last night, leading the Nets with 23 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists. He was 18-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-8 on 3s in a game that had playoff-like intensity.

*

While under-the-weather Jason Collins was sent home from the morning shootaround – “he sounded like he had whooping cough,” coach Lawrence Frank offered – Jefferson and Marc Jackson both were back after missing practice Monday with similar symptoms. “I thought I had the plague,” Jackson said with a weak smile. . . .

A big stretch for Nets came in third quarter, when Piston Tayshaun Prince picked up three fouls – his second, third and fourth – in just 29 seconds.

Jeff McInnis will accompany the team to Cleveland, his old stomping grounds. McInnis, out for up to another month after arthroscopic knee surgery, has begun rehab.

“I’m getting back, slowly but surely; I’m not rushing back,” he said. “Because when I get back, I’m going to finish on a good note.

*

Cliff Robinson noted how he was almost part of the Pistons’ title run, having played in Detroit under Rick Carlisle. But then he got traded to Golden State in the summer of 2003.

“For a bag of potato chips and a soda,” Robinson said. “Bobby Sura and something else.”

In Cleveland tonight, the Nets hope to break their road losing streak at five.