G28 Brooklyn Nets (7-20) Hosts the NBA Best Team in GSW Warriors (25-4)
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
[mstw_gs_countdown sched=”2016-17-brooklyn-nets”]
The bad loss against the Raptors 104-116 minus Brook Lopez (rest) exposed the Nets biggest weakness in defense even more. The Raptors scored in the paint with ease without reliable big men to challenge the shots. For all his reputation of playing more offense than defense, Brook Lopez can still alters and blocks shots in the paint more than Scola and Justin Hamilton can do. The lack of defensive big men might be the key area that the Nets will search in the trading season soon.
Jeremy Lin increased his playing time to 25 minutes after playing a string of 20/20/22 minutes in his comeback. He only attempted 8 shots attempts to finish with 12pts/4asts/2rebs/1blk/1stl. He shot very well but did not try to take over the game as the primary scorer since the game plan might ask him to play more facilitator role, especially in a few games after he came back from hamstring injury.
The Nets will face even tougher opponent in the next 2 games with GSW Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. These are probably seen as true development games unless the Nets can find a way to play inspired defense to make it competitive.
ESPN Game Preview article:
NEW YORK — The Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are in the NBA’s top three in possessions per game and 3-point attempts.
The similarities on offense end there.
The NBA’s top-scoring offense meets the league’s worst-scoring defense Thursday night when the Warriors visit the Nets.
Golden State (25-4) averages 100 possessions per game and is capitalizing on it by averaging a league-best 117.4 points per game and producing an offensive rating of 116.
Brooklyn (7-20) averages a league-high 101.7 possessions per game and a respectable 106.6 points per game, placing them in the top 10. The drop-off comes with the offensive rating of 104, which places the Nets in the bottom third of the league.
The Nets rarely earn praise for their defense as they allow a league-worst 114.4 points per game, resulting in a defensive rating of 111.6. Brooklyn is allowing opponents to shoot 46.3 percent and make 36.9 of their 3-pointers, and those figures place them in the bottom third of defensive rankings.
KEY OF THE GAME: Jeremy should start and hopefully will play 28+min to regain his shooting rhythm. As for the Nets, they would need to play inspired defense to keep the game close.
Let’s hope and pray JLin will stay healthy and help the Nets get back on the winning track!
Let’s go, JLin and the Nets!
Game link
