"Yi Jianlian has a one-word answer about what he wants to improve this season as the Nets' starting power forward.

"Everything," he answered simply.

No arguments from his coaches.

Following a disappointing, injury-filled rookie year with Milwaukee, the 7-foot Yi came to the Nets before last season essentially for Richard Jefferson. He immediately provided more of the same: a disappointing, injury-filled second season.

"My first two seasons, sometimes they were pretty good, but I have to work hard and show something more this season. I still have to improve a lot of stuff. But that's [in the] past. I just want to talk about the new season," Yi said.

OK, talk.

"Everything. Everything I want to improve," Yi said, stressing the point coach Lawrence Frank wants to hear. "On defense, I want to get much better. Every good team, they are a good defensive team. I want to help us be that."

That grateful weeping in the background comes from Frank. At least his message is getting through to someone, even if it's Yi, who in two seasons hasn't quite been confused with Dennis Rodman defensively.

"How can he progress? Consistency is one. Knock on wood, he stays healthy so he can put in a complete season," said Frank, who saw Yi finally give something -- in terms of points and rebounds -- only to see the forward break his pinkie, and any game momentum, Jan. 9 in Milwaukee, where his season essentially ended.

With seven pounds of added weight that have turned him from a string bean into a lamp post (a thick one), Yi in the early preseason is trying to show things he didn't last season. He worked on footwork, bulk, a post game all summer. "