With a slim one-game lead over the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Nets need to find some kind of consistency if they hope to reach the postseason. Losing their last three games in less than admirable fashion, thanks to sub-par shooting and spotty defense, things are not looking as good as the organization hoped earlier in the season.

To make matters worse, Richard Jefferson, the player many expected to lead the team after the trade of Jason Kidd a few weeks ago, has failed to step up and take charge of a team desperate for a leader on the court.

"I feel I haven't played well in a about a week, a week and a half. Just me personally," the Nets forward and leading scorer told the Star Ledger. "There were times the team played well, but on an individual level, I feel I haven't played well. I have to play better."

Averaging only 16.7 points through his last three games and shooting 41.9 percent from the floor, Jefferson hasn’t been the same player he was through the first half of the season, when he was averaging 23 points a game and playing a pivotal role in the team’s success.

With the loss of Kidd and new point guard Devin Harris still adjusting to the team’s offense, RJ knows that he can’t continue what has been a mediocre stretch of games for him. More importantly though, Jefferson understands the need to score in the clutch, something he hasn’t done lately.

"I've got to do a better job of doing something in the fourth quarter," Jefferson told the Star Ledger. "My last six games, my numbers in the fourth quarter are pathetic, they're a joke. Over my last 6-7 games I haven't done anything."

Luckily for the Nets, forward/center Nenad Krstic, is starting to regain the form that made him a fan favorite last season before a debilitating knee injury ended his season. Coming off of a 34-minute, 16-point performance against Grizzles on Wednesday, a healthy Krstic will not only help New Jersey this season, but will improve their chances next season.

In a classy, team-first move, Krstic isn’t thinking about the offseason yet and is trying to prove that he’s still the promising player he was last season.

"You can't think about that," Krstic told the Star Ledger. "I still have enough time. You know, I'm just trying to do my best on the court and see what happens. I can't do anything else."

However, a healthy Krstic alone will not guarantee the Nets a playoff spot. The New Jersey front office is well aware of this though and is hoping the team can sandwich a few wins together, while the teams on their back, most notably Atlanta, can lose some steam.

"Our schedule is very, very tough,” Nets President and GM Rod Thorn told the AP. “Atlanta has a bunch of easy ones, plus they have a doubleheader coming up Saturday and they'll probably win two right there."

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