Jacques Vaughn came into training camp this year knowing the point guard position was up for grabs, with Jason Kidd recovering from surgery.  His competition comes from Zoran Planinic and Travis Best and he appears to be leading.

"I call him one of those military guys ? always under control, always trying to set the defense up. You can always hear his voice out there. He's good in the leadership role," said forward Eric Williams, another new Net. "He's one of those throwback point guards that people like to play around. He puts his nose in it on defense, and the other way, you know he'll get us into the offense."

Coach Lawrence Frank, with his best poker face, swears he still is undetermined about his choice for his opening-night starting point guard. Planinic has served in that role for much of the preseason, but turnovers and lack of experience are worries. Vaughn lacks the flash, size and versatility of the 6-7 Planinic but counters with stability, consistency and experience.

"He's a little more vocal, a little more confident. He's been an All-American point guard since he was 16," Richard Jefferson said of Vaughn.

"I'm really beginning to understand the system. That just comes day-to-day and understanding my teammates, getting to know them on and off the court. That's all part of the process," said Vaughn, who admits the Nets' system is more complicated than most but noted one trait that made him feel supremely comfortable: unselfishness.