"Today, a winning streak. Tomorrow, the world. And come April, the playoffs?

Even before the Nets won consecutive games for the first time last night, dropping the Cavaliers, 99-96, they were quietly hinting about the playoffs despite their record, which now stands at 7-13.

And now they're not really hinting.

"We definitely look at the standings. We knew we were only a game and a half back of New York," said Deron Williams, who had another monster game with 27 points and 10 assists. "So we just have to worry about winning each game and not jumping too far ahead, but we definitely want to pay attention to who's ahead of us and who we can catch."

So watch it, Knicks. And Cavs and Bucks. What the heck: They're coming after you too, Bulls.

Amazing what a two-game winning streak can do, huh?

There are several factors, the Nets insist, that work in their favor. The crippling portion of their schedule — in which they played 10 of the first 14 games on the road — is in the rear-view mirror. Brook Lopez will be coming back, presumably next month. Despite a you-gotta-be-kidding run of injuries, which continued last night with MarShon Brooks (sore left Achilles) sitting a third straight game and center Mehmet Okur (back spasms) scratched, the Nets feel they are developing chemistry."