G36 Brooklyn Nets (8-27) Need A Win vs Philadelphia 76ers (9-25)
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
[mstw_gs_countdown sched=”2016-17-brooklyn-nets”]
The Nets desperately need a win to get closer to the 76ers record if they want to shed the label as the owner of the worst record in the NBA but it will not be easy to face Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and the 76ers. Embiid had his career-high 33 pts against the Nets at home on Dec 18 so the Nets would need a solid game-plan to slow down Embiid.
The Nets would also need a huge game from Brook Lopez since the Nets record is 1-13 when Lopez does not reach 20pts. Jeremy Lin will miss his 5 straight games and he has not been seen in recent team practice yet so his return could be a while.
ESPN.com Game Preview article:
Lopez scored 17 points Friday, marking the season-high fourth straight game he was held under 20. The Nets are 1-13 when Lopez does not hit 20 and he is shooting 19 of 49 percent, including 4 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games.
The Nets played their fifth game without Jeremy Lin, who is rehabbing his second left hamstring injury. The Nets are 5-18 when Lin does not play and his absences have resulted in 14 different starting lineups with five different point guards, including Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored seven points in 17 minutes Friday.
“We’ve had some injuries,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said Thursday in Indiana. “I think we’re still searching, still looking at different lineups. It’s an ongoing thing. Right now, we’re still looking at guys in roles. When we have our whole roster completely healthy, it will be a little bit easier.”
KEY OF THE GAME: The Nets would need a huge game from Brook Lopez to hit at least 20pts, good defense from other big men like Justin Hamilton, Trevor Booker or even McCullough to slow down Embiid/Noel/Okafor. RHJ’s return would only help.
Let’s hope and pray JLin will recover soon and help the Nets get back on the winning track!
Let’s go, JLin and the Nets!
Game link
