Brook Lopez might be the most optimistic person in human history

What Lopez — given Monday off by coach Lionel Hollins — said he has learned is the Nets all have bought in — unlike last season (He didn’t name names). That might not have been the case when he suffered through an 0-18 start en route to a 12-70 campaign six years ago, and it sure wasn’t the case last winter.

Why is Lopez confident the improved play can translate to wins, starting Tuesday against the Hawks?

“Because I see it in practice as well,” he said. “It just hasn’t been these three games, I’ve seen it in practice, too. We haven’t had guys quitting — it definitely doesn’t feel like other previous seasons where we had a losing season and losing mentality to go with it. We have a positive group.

“You have to buy in, and I think guys do see that we can be better. We just competed with a very great Golden State team. We competed with them all the way to the end. We felt we should have had the game, and it gives us hope.’’