"With a roster ravaged by injury and illness, the Nets walked from the locker room before tipoff last night. Shelden Williams, for one, stared at those in uniform.

"When we stepped on the court for the first time, we looked around and said, 'Is this all?' " Williams said incredulously.

Yup, eight. But who's counting. "The 'Great Eight,' " coach Avery Johnson said.

With just eight available players, the Nets (8-15) found oxygen, sports drinks and whatever or whoever worked whenever as their chief allies in holding off the struggling but determined Pistons, 99-96, at the Prudential Center."