Avery Johnson seemed heartened by a workout he called the “hardest practice that we’ve had,” which included a few “borderline continuations of last night’s boxing match” at Barclays Center. Johnson said that last part with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eyes.

But that only served to underline a broader concern: that the Nets still lack the snarl and the defensive tenacity required of a contender.

“This team does not have the personality that I thought it would have at this point,” Johnson said. “That has been somewhat of a disappointment.”

He added: “We don’t have a hit-first mentality. And if you don’t have a hit-first mentality, then you’re going to get hit. So that’s what I’m talking about.”

via Howard Beck of The New York Times