Game in Washington are the starters:

Devin Harris, Vince Carter, Bobby Simmons, Yi Jianlian and Josh Boone.

Boone gets the nod over Brook Lopez at center even though he missed about 10 days of practice after experiencing a rapid heartbeat on Oct.17.

No real surprise there but we'll see later if Lawrence Frank limits Boone's minutes, either because of conditioning issues or because he wants to play Lopez more.

Boone came into training camp as the projected starter, having held down that job for about 70 games last season. But Lopez - the No.10 pick in the draft - had a good preseason and the Nets are still holding out hope that Sean Williams - last year's top draft pick - can develop into the athletic freak everyone thought he would. Of course, there's also Stromile Swift, who is not playing tonight because of an injured back.

Frank said so much depth at that position can serve as motivation for Boone, who's heading into his third season.

"I think it's very good," the coach said at this morning's shoot-around. "I think we've got a real good situation where we've got four guys who can give you very, very good minutes there. It's a positive situation. I think you've got to make sure you're doing exactly what you need to do, fulfilling your roll in order to maintain those minutes."

Boone - who will likely have his fourth-year option picked up by the team at tomorrow's deadline - admitted Lopez's presence has gotten his attention.

"It makes me want to work a little bit harder because I know that he's going to come in here and he's going to do the things that people are saying he's going to do," said Boone.

***

Frank was asked if the team has a captain yet. He was reluctant to give a straight answer - all he said was, "We do have a captain." - because the players voted on it and hadn't been told the results yet. Since we're in Washington, we're keeping in mind that Dewey Defeats Truman headline from years ago, so we won't say for sure who the captain is. But let's just say his initials are V.C.

***

Joining Swift on tonight's inactive list are Trenton Hassell, who's not with the team because of an ear infection, and Eduardo Najera, who hasn't practiced since the team was in Europe because of a left wrist injury. Najera is hoping he can practice tomorrow.

"If they tell me to suit up I'm up for it," said Najera, a free agent signing over the summer. "But I understand being patient. We're trying to be cautious about it. Hopefully tomorrow they let me go and do some contact in practice."