BY SAM LACHOW
The Phoenix Suns will try to finish a road trip 3-0, traveling to Brooklyn for the only time this season to take on the Nets at Barclays Center.
| Brooklyn Nets |
Breakdown |
Phoenix Suns |
| 33-31 | Record | 38-28 |
| 7-3 | Last 10 Games | 5-5 |
| 103.2 | Points scored per 100 possessions | 106.7 |
| 104.0 | Points allowed per 100 possessions | 103.9 |
| 94.0 | Possessions per game | 98.3 |
| 45.2% | Field goal percentage | 46.0% |
| 36.7% | Three-point percentage | 37.2% |
| 47.1% | Rebound percentage | 50.0% |
| 15.3% | Turnover percentage | 15.6% |
| Joe Johnson (15.0) | Top Scorer | Goran Dragic (20.6) |
Projected starting lineup: Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee.
Jeff Hornacek’s young squad keeps going. They’re a game out of the playoffs, but for a team that has had such low expectations, 38-28 is a great accomplishment. Led by All-Star snub Goran Dragic and the now-healthy and explosive Eric Bledsoe, the Suns are fast, athletic and consequently fun to watch. While their defense isn’t spectacular, they rebound well and their offense is solid.
The Nets have to keep it slow, since the explosive Bledsoe and speedy Dragic love to push the ball. Brooklyn’s got to stop those two from penetrating, because once they do, they can either layup it up, dish it Miles Plumlee, or hit P.J. Tucker or Channing Frye for a three. They didn’t have much success stopping John Wall — they’ve got to tighten that up.
Kevin Garnett will miss his ninth straight game with back spasms, meaning that Mason Plumlee will get the start — and the tipoff! — against his older brother.
In the November game between these two, P.J. Tucker shot 7-11 from the field, including 3-4 from three. Tucker is shooting above 39 percent from three and 51 percent from the field in his last 10 games.
The last these two teams met, the Nets won in overtime off a Joe Johnson buzzer-beater. After a heart-wrenching loss against the Wizards, the Nets go back home to face a similar team; the Suns are led by two great guards who have the ability to slice through Brooklyn’s defense.
