AP
It's only been one month, but the Brooklyn Nets have already suffered their fair share of injuries. Here's the team's current injury report, as it stands today, December 2nd.
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andrei kirilenko
Out, out, and... out. (AP)
Yet, somehow, the Nets only find themselves 1.5 games out of the division lead, which guarantees at least the 4th seed in the playoffs. Quickly, Brooklyn has approached the point of the season in which fans vehemently called for former coach Avery Johnson's head last year.
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AP
The Nets are catching too many breaks, and not the good kind. Starting Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez have officially been ruled out once again as they each nurse sprained ankles, while backup small forward Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and backup shooting guard Jason Terry (bruised knee) will both sit out Friday night's contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It has been a cruel stretch of bad luck for Williams; after having numerous problems with both ankles throughout his two-year tenure with the Nets, he appeared to turn a corner in February after receiving cortisone shots and platelet-rich plasma therapy to soothe his ankle synovitis, playing like an elite-level point guard in the last three months of the season. But while working out as his Utah home in the offseason, Williams suffered a right ankle sprain, causing him to sit out training camp and all of one preseason game.
Then, in a cruel twist, Williams landed awkwardly on his left ankle against the Phoenix Suns last Friday when jumping up for a rebound, resulting in another sprain. Then, after Williams waited a few days, participated in a full practice plus bonus shooting drills, and told reporters he'd be ready to go with no restrictions, Williams landed awkwardly on Kemba Walker's foot in Wednesday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats, re-spraining the left ankle.
Lopez injured his ankle landing awkwardly in the fourth quarter of the Suns game and has not played since. He has no clear timetable for return. Kirilenko, who last played for the Timberwolves before signing a two-year contract with the Nets this past offseason, hurt his back in preseason and shuffled in and out of playing ever since, calling these spasms the worst of his career. It's not entirely clear when Terry bruised his knee, but the injury was listed on Wednesday's Nets injury report.
Shaun Livingston will start in Williams's place for the third time this season. The Nets have started both Andray Blatche and Reggie Evans in Lopez's place, and Mason Plumlee is also available at center.
The Brooklyn Nets sat five players Saturday night in their 110-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and it looks like they may have the same lineup tonight.
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In an interview with YES Network, Andrei Kirilenko lists off his top 5 NBA nicknames, first noting that he's not a big fan of Kobe Bryant's Black Mamba. He says he'd call him "Killer Instinct," which for some reason he likes better.
Kirilenko also lists two of his new teammates from the Boston Celtics, though he says he prefers "KG" to "The Big Ticket." When told that Dirk Nowitzki's nickname is "Big Mummy," Kirilenko smartly says "I have my own opinion on that," laughing.
Andrei Kirilenko (AP)
Kirilenko suffered back spasms after the first two games in preseason, sitting out most practices, missing the rest of the exhibition games, and sitting out the team's regular season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He's shuffled in and out of the rotation since as he continues to rest his back, and by missing the West Coast trip, he'll get at least another week of rest. That leaves the team's presumed sixth man out of five of the team's first ten games, and no one-game stint more than 17 minutes.
After Kirilenko opted out of a one-year contract worth $10 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nets signed the 6'9" forward to a two-year deal worth a little over $6 million. The second year is a player option.
Back spasms are no joke, and this could be a lingering injury that follows Kirilenko throughout the season. If a week of rest now means a healthier Kirilenko down the stretch, all the better. But with the Nets already reeling a bit at 2-4, they'll need him healthy to right the ship sooner rather than later.
We noticed that a lot of you guys on Twitter were comparing Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko to... well, pretty much everybody. It seems like he's got a relatable face. Here are our favorite comparisons.
ivan-drago
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Is it just me or does Kirilenko look like Dolph Lungren??
— Darth Vader (@IGotU_Sidelined) November 2, 2013
Jason Terry leads the crowd as good basketball leads the Nets to an upset victory. (AP)
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Before Friday night's home opener, Deron Williams casually made a bold statement: he, and his team, felt that they were better than the defending champion Miami Heat. It's a statement easily met with ridicule; this is the Miami Heat, after all, of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, of back-to-back championships.
The road to the title goes through Miami, and Brooklyn took its first steps down that path... MORE →
The YES Network's Sarah Kustok's fascinating interview with Michael Prokhorov had interesting bits:
The idea for a five year plan for the Nets was inspired by Vladimir Lenin's Five Year Plans in the early days of the Soviet Union. He then noted, wryly, that he hoped and expected that the Brooklyn version would be more successful.
He was particularly proud to have Andrei Kirilenko on the team, remembering as a young pup in Moscow.
His excitement about Jason Kidd as head coach? "He's very tough with a great desire to win" -- one of those guys who might have nine broken fingers and still play to win.
His reaction when presented with the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade. "Hell yes."
Did he have any qualms about paying the luxury tax triggered by those trades? A mischievous smile and then, "Hell no."
courtesy dr jay 202
But others compared Kirilenko to other characters:
Kirilenko looks like Bruce Jenner #nets #nba
— Chloe Murray⚡ (@chlo_sarah) November 2, 2013
Andrei kirilenko looks like a bald eagle. Tell me he doesnt.. please.
— dahmer (@sloppydomz) November 2, 2013
Kirilenko looks like Rocky Horror with that haircut. #Nets #BrooklynNets #NBA
— BallDontLie (@BallDontLie585) November 2, 2013
Andrei Kirilenko look like he's about to murder someone #Lmao #Nets
— † Ang † (@Angelo_iudici) November 2, 2013
Is it just me or does Kirilenko look like Dolph Lungren??
— Darth Vader (@IGotU_Sidelined) November 2, 2013
Think I liked Andrei Kirilenko's hair better when he looked like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV instead of this Oasis cut. "I must break you."
— Rob (@RobCabrera) November 2, 2013
@KFCBarstool Andrei Kirilenko looks exactly like Lord Farquaad from shrek. Same exact chin
— Brendan Roberts (@TheRealBobRobs) November 2, 2013
Kirilenko look like son from that throwback movie "the people under the stairs" pic.twitter.com/NoSRH9jPuY
— Celeb Dibiase (@DatDudeDibi) November 2, 2013
AP
Kirilenko sat out the last four preseason games and Brooklyn's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After practicing with the team Thursday, he's been given the green light to play Friday, according to reporters who attended the practice.
After opting out of the last year of his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves worth approximately $10 million, The 32-year-old forward signed a two-year contract with the Nets on a two-year deal (the second a player option) for around $6.2 million. The do-it-all forward averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block in 31.8 minutes per game last year, shooting 50.7% from the field.
Kirilenko (AP)
Via Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:
Kirilenko says he's out tonight but is still hopeful for Friday. Says he needs to play 5-on-5. Hopes to do so tomorrow.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 30, 2013
As always, Kirilenko and Nets hope he'll be ready to go for the Nets home opener Friday versus the Miami Heat.
SNY -- Opener notes: Andrei Kirilenko will not play tonight, Deron Williams will
