Well, at least the Nets won’t have to wait too long to start finding out what they have.

For the past three years, the Nets have been an Eastern Conference power, starting the last two seasons as the team to beat on a lot of radar screens. This season is different.

“A lot of ifs,” said Richard Jefferson, the guy the Nets will have to look to most for much of 2004-05, which starts tonight in the Meadowlands against one of the projected conference superpowers, Miami and Shaquille O’Neal.

So “if” Alonzo Mourning provides an inside presence; “if” Jason Kidd returns from knee surgery and hangs around for a bit; “if” a remade team can find chemistry – then maybe the Nets can surprise.

“I think we can,” team president Rod Thorn said. “A lot of people are downgrading our team, but I think our guys will play hard and give a best effort every night.”

But go back in Nets history. Teams with guys like Armon Gilliam and Roy Hinson played hard and gave effort – and still stunk.

But Jefferson, the Nets’ top scorer last season, said a key to the team’s immediate future can be found in a look around the conference: Murderers’ Row it ain’t.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say what I saw about our team, but what I saw in other teams,” Jefferson said, explaining his never-ending optimism about the Nets’ playoff chances. “We played teams that had core players back, that so-called ‘improved’ themselves, and we were still right there.

“Our players played well against other starters. Obviously, we understand it’s a long haul, but when we look at our team we’re not a finished product. Other teams, they are finished products. And for the most part we are right there even with them.”

Lawrence Frank, who studies every game from every conceivable angle, begins his first full season as a head coach. He said he’ll announce his lineup this morning; likely it will be Jacque Vaughn (his defense is needed against Dwyane Wade) and Ron Mercer in the backcourt, Jefferson and Eric Williams at forward, and Jason Collins at center, where he’ll face Shaq, who has been battling hamstring problems and will be a game-time decision.

“I’m assuming Shaq’s playing,” said Collins, who claims he carries the same “We’re the hunted” attitude the Nets carried into each of the last two seasons. “I’m so used to being in that position. I don’t know any other way to approach it. You go out there expecting to win every time you step on the court.”

But there’s no Kenyon Martin, no Kerry Kittles. For at least a month, no Jason Kidd. Those three players formed the spine of a team that won 148 games over the past three seasons.

Kidd and Mourning are the keys this time.

“Those guys could make a huge impact and could definitely take us to another level. In their prime, you would say, yeah, we’re a championship contender,” Brian Scalabrine said.

Said Frank, “It’s going to be a process, because of all the new faces.

“Now it gets turned up a notch intensity-wise, to see where we’re at. Let’s see as a team how we react.”

—

Heat’s on

HEAT at NETS

Tonight, 8:00

YES, WFAN

(660 AM)

Nets 2004-05 Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt.

1 Ron Mercer F 6-7 215

2 Rodney Buford F/G 6-5 195

6 Travis Best G 5-11 182

10 Zoran Planinic G 6-7 200

11 Jacque Vaughn G 6-1 190

12 Nenad Krstic F/C 7-0 240

17 Eric Williams F 6-8 220

21 Brian Scalabrine F 6-9 235

24 Richard Jefferson F 6-7 225

33 Alonzo Mourning C 6-10 260

34 Aaron Williams F/C 6-9 235

35 Jason Collins C 7-0 255

Injured list

5 Jason Kidd G 6-4 210

26 Awvee Storey F 6-6 225

55 Jabari Smith C 6-11 240