Grade the players at any time!
Game Info: The Brooklyn Nets (12-9) host the Detroit Pistons (7-17) tonight at 7:30 P.M. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The game will be televised on YES Network and WFAN has the call for radio.
Out: Not Brook Lopez! Lopez is in for the first time in seven games after his mild right foot sprain. He’ll play around 24 minutes, according to Avery Johnson. Jerry Stackhouse is out for the Nets. No one out for Pistons.
Last time: You have to go back to last season for the last time these two teams met. On February 10, 2012 the Pistons handed the Nets their 5th loss in a row, winning 109-92. To show you just how far we’ve come in a year, the Nets leading scorer in that game? Johan Petro with 16.
Starters:
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez
Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight, Kyle Singler, Tayshaun Prince, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe
Three Things To Watch:
1. The Return of Brook Lopez. His health is concern NUMBER ONE for this season moving forward, so all eyes will certainly be on Lopez and his foot during any minutes he’s on the court.
2. Rotations. They’re still a little wonky, so there is no telling at this point if we’ll see MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans or Mirza Teletovic. Ok fine, we probably won’t see Mirza. But the point is, Avery is still working through the kinks of these rotations and still tinkering to see what works best.
3. Defend your turf. The Nets have dropped a few games at home, but if they are to be this team we all hope they can be, then this is the precise game that the Nets should win going away. Time will tell.
