Lopez last Nets starter standing

Labeled a "cornerstone" player in preseason by coach Avery Johnson, Lopez heard his coach criticize his rebounding repeatedly. He saw Johnson staring at him with "tissue paper" remarks while questioning the team's toughness. Then there was the famous flare-up in Phoenix on Jan. 12, when the coach yanked Lopez late in the fourth quarter and the center was caught by television cameras mouthing some un-Disney-like comments.

Lopez now sees that it was all for the best, all part of Johnson's attempts to improve him.

"No question. It's '20-20 in hindsight,' right? I don't even know where to start about where he's helped me," Lopez said. "It's every area: my post game, mental readiness, shot selection, defense. It's constant. As long as he's talking to me and as long as I get to put on a New Jersey jersey . . ."

Johnson appreciates the dependability of Lopez, who has played with a calcium deposit that could require a cleaning-out surgery in the offseason.

"I'm going to be seeing a specialist," Lopez said. "Just thinking of getting stuff out of the muscle."