The team which won two consecutive Eastern Conference Championships in 2002 and 2003 may be a distant memory, but it isn?t all doom and gloom in New Jersey.  Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles may be in new cities while Jason Kidd remains sidelined through injury as the new NBA season draws nearer, but finally fans of the Nets may have something to smile about.

All-Star Alonzo Mourning, sidelined long-term since 2000 with kidney problems, now appears healthy enough to return to the NBA hard court, and his return may happen sooner than what many of us were expecting.  According to Dave D?Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger it is conceivable that Mourning could be in uniform for the new look Nets as early as tomorrow night when New Jersey faces Philadelphia in their final exhibition game.

Even if Mourning doesn?t suit up tomorrow night Mourning has made it clear that after three full-contact practices he will not accept going onto the injured list to start the season.

"Why? Because I'm not injured," Mourning yesterday. "I feel like I'm ready and can physically contribute, regardless of what stage I'm at right now. Why put me on the injured list if I'm not injured? I won't be a happy person if I'm on the list."

"He's practiced three times now, with full contact, and he's participated in all the drills," Nets GM Thorn said. "It's been positive, so we'll see how it goes. But there's a possible chance he'll play that night, and we'll go from there."

"Yeah, he's a very active participant (in the decision)," coach Lawrence Frank added. "The bottom line is, if he can help us in any way, you want him active. If he can help us and he's ready mentally and physically, ready and willing to play, then you want a guy like that. His ability on the defense alone can impact a game. ?

"But I don't want to put undue burden or strain on his shoulders, because he's coming back from a kidney transplant. So we'll make a daily evaluation, and if he continues to make daily progress, it looks like it's going to be a very positive situation."

The kidney may not be a cause for concern if you listen to team mate Eric Williams, who says that Mourning doesn?t look like he has lost any of the talent which made him a force in the league

"He's still Zo," Williams said. "He's dunking the ball, being aggressive. I like the way he's running the court, and as time goes on, he's playing longer stints. Guys are going at him, and he's giving better than he gets. He's out there trying to block every shot, and sacrificing the body every chance he gets."

Mourning stressed that playing tomorrow night isn't as important as being ready to play next Wednesday, when his old friend, Shaquille O'Neal, comes to visit in the season opener.

"Like I've said, preseason games don't mean anything," he said. "What's important is next Wednesday. I want to play in that game. And I want to play in the game after that and the game after that."

The good news doesn?t stop there for the Nets, with Kidd anticipating getting the green light to begin floor drills this afternoon, when he is scheduled to visit his knee surgeon, David Altchek.

"We'll see what happens," Kidd said. "I don't know if he'll (Altchek) take a picture (X-ray) tomorrow, but hopefully it's good news and we'll push forward."

Asked how his left knee felt, the point guard replied, "I feel great. I've had some great workouts, and hopefully we can go to the next stage -- start running and stuff. We'll see."