G12 Brooklyn Nets (4-7) vs Portland Blazers (6-5)

Game Thread 83

The Nets came out deflated in the second game of back-to-back game to lose 104-112 to the Denver Nuggets. The Nets weakness in their big men continued to be exploited as Nikola Jokic become the third player to post career-high 41 points in their first ten games of the season. Nikola Vuvecic and Aaron Gordon from Orlando Magic were the first two big men. D’Angelo Russell played poorly with 12 points and 8 turnovers after helping the Nets win against the Suns with 23 points and 8 assists the previous night. The loss of Trevor Booker, Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, and Jarrett Allen have further decimated the Nets ability to defend well.

Allen Crabbe will play against his former team for the first time after he was traded to the Nets in the offseason. He should get a warm welcome but this is another tough game to win on the road, especially without solid big men ha

ESPN Preview:

The Brooklyn Nets did not figure to be a playoff team anyway when the regular season began.

Then injuries started happening.

First there was the season-ending patella tendon injury to starting point guard Jeremy Lin — in the opener at Indiana.

Lately, it’s been the Nets’ big men who have gone down — forwards Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (hip) and Trevor Booker (back), as well as their best rim-protector, rookie center Jarrett Allen (foot). All three sat out Brooklyn’s 112-104 loss at Denver on Tuesday night.

Hollis-Jefferson is expected back but Booker and Allen remain questionable when the Nets (4-7) visit Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Coach Kenny Atkinson even used forward Jacob Wiley, on a two-way contract, for 21 minutes at Denver.

“It’s a challenge for continuity, which is the big thing, especially with a new team — just getting your rhythm,” Atkinson told Newsday. “You want the same guys playing together. We’re mixing and matching right now.”

DeMarre Carroll has moved from starting small forward to starting power forward.

“We have a lot of guys out,” Carroll said. “You’re missing your ‘4’ men, and Quincy (Acy) is just getting back. It’s a challenge for us, but we have to keep fighting our way out of it.”

Center Tyler Zeller came off the bench to score a team-high 21 points against Denver.

“It’s just uncomfortable,” Zeller said. “Changing lineups all the time makes it very difficult.”

Former Trail Blazer Allen Crabbe will make his first appearance at Moda Center since his offseason trade to Brooklyn. Crabbe had a poor shooting game against the Nuggets, going 1 for 8 from the field — and 1 for 7 from 3-point range — while scoring three points in 19 minutes as the Nets’ starting shooting guard against Denver. Crabbe is averaging 11.1 points on 37.5 percent shooting — but a solid 37.1 percent from behind the arc — in 24.7 minutes.

Jeremy Lin’s Recovery News

During Tencent interview at his home, Jeremy Lin expressed his gratitude to the unfailing support from his fans who will keep waiting for his return next season. It is such relief for his fans to hear that he will recover 100% in 6-9 months. In the mean time he is working hard to improve every aspect of his game and return stronger. His fans simply can’t wait to see him play next season.

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