G37 Brooklyn Nets (8-28) Hosts the Formidable Atlanta Hawks (21-16)
COUNTDOWN CLOCK
[mstw_gs_countdown sched=”2016-17-brooklyn-nets”]
The struggle continues for the Brooklyn Nets as they failed to beat the 76ers. The Nets waived Anthony Bennet to end their experiment to develop the former #1 pick of 2013 class in order to sign Quincy Acy to 10-day contract who showed improved 3pt-shooting in the D-League to complement his rebounding and shot-blocking skills.
The Nets clearly want to shore up their weakness in defense by providing toughness. It will be interesting to watch their next moves of players to trade or sign to further improve their defense.
It is admirable that Coach Kenny Atkinson can rally his troops to fight hard despite being undermanned without Jeremy Lin and Rondae-Hollis Jefferson. Trevor Booker is also questionable with the hip injury for the Atlanta Hawks game.
The Hawks is riding a 6-game winning streak and will look to extend to their 7th against the undermanned Nets. Nets fans can only hope for further development of Caris LeVert, the arrival of Quincy Acy to see how they might get better defensively.
No update has been given on Jeremy Lin who has missed 7th straight game and 25th game of the season.
Jeremy Lin will miss his 7th straight game & 25th of the season. #Nets have lost 6 straight games & 11 of the last 12.
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) January 10, 2017
ESPN.com Game Preview article:
The Hawks (21-16) are on their second six-game winning streak of the season. The other six-game streak occurred Nov. 5-16 as Atlanta opened with a 9-2 record.
Tuesday will mark the first time the Hawks face former assistant Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson was on coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff for the previous three seasons, including two years ago when the Hawks won 60 games.
“I think the Hawks are a smart organization,” Atkinson said. “I think we all like to see a team that won 60 games stay together forever but the reality is you have to change and you have to look to the future.”
Brooklyn is on a six-game losing for the second time this season and a loss on Tuesday will equal its longest skid of the year. The Nets are also 4-23 since Nov. 12 and 11 of 12 since a 10-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 14.
The latest defeat was a 105-95 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday afternoon, when the Nets gave up 13 straight points to open the second half and again down the stretch in the fourth.
KEY OF THE GAME: A loss against the striking Hawks is expected but we can hope for an improving defense if Quincy Acy plays on the 1st day of his 10-day contract. If the Hawks underestimate the Nets, the Nets might be able to steal a game.
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
