The New Jersey Nets ended 2010 the same way they spent most of the rest of the year: with a loss. They dropped their fourth straight in a row, this time 90-81 to the Bulls in Chicago.
Avery Johnson and his team will gladly turn the page on 2010 after putting together an ugly 18-65 record for the year.
In a lot of ways, New Jersey's loss to the Bulls was a great representation of what the pre and post-Avery Johnson Nets have dealt with. Only down two at half, then as many as seven early in the fourth before pulling within two late just to watch the game get away down the stretch.
As has been the case for the last year, the Nets were paced by Brook Lopez who had 19 points and 8 rebounds. Something that would be a welcomed sight for 2011, Travis Outlaw and Stephen Graham both added 16 points each.
Chicago was led by their three headed monster of Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose. The Bulls three stars combined for 58 points while Boozer had a game-high 15 rebounds while Rose dished out 9 assists.
The Bulls have now won 12 of their last 14 games, while the Nets have dropped six of their last seven trips to Chicago.
The Nets might want to put everything having to do with 2010 in the rearview mirror, but Lopez didn't want to look beyond this short trip away from home.
"We have one more game left on this road trip, we want to finish off with a win," the center said in the locker room following New Jersey's fourth straight loss.
That final road game is Saturday night in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.