Nets-Jazz: Pregame Open Thread & Key To The Game

Deron Williams
Slumpbegone? (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

Deron Williams
Slumpbegone? (AP/Nam Y. Huh)
Grade the Players at any time!

Game Info: The Utah Jazz (13-12) take on the Brooklyn Nets (13-10) tonight at 7:30 P.M. EST, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The game will be televised on YES Network. Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel have the call on YES. WFAN has the radio call, WADO has the Spanish radio call.

Starting Lineups:
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez
Utah Jazz: Mo Williams, Randy Foye, Marvin Williams, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson

OUT: Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Childress are inactive for the Nets. Raja Bell is out for the Jazz.

Key to the Game: staying out of foul trouble. The biggest difference between the Jazz’s wins and losses isn’t how they shoot from the field — it’s how they get to the line. In Utah’s 13 wins, the team averages 29.7 free throw attempts on 23.4 fouls drawn per game. In their 12 losses, they average just 19 free throw attempts on 17.4 fouls drawn per game.

This is a very good sign for Brooklyn; the Nets rank 13th in the league in opponent free throw rate at .267, and their five-man starting lineup is even better — their opponent free throw rate is just a paltry .203, a number that would rank by far the best in the league. If the Nets can stay out of foul trouble, keeping their starters on the floor, they’ve got an excellent shot at winning tonight.