Tonight: The 26-17 Brooklyn Nets, fresh off a 101-77 laugher loss against the Memphis Grizzlies last night, travel to Houston to take on the 23-22 Houston Rockets at 8 P.M. EST in Toyota Center. The Rockets are 2-1 after lulling through a seven-game losing streak, while the Nets were 12-2 in the P.J. Carlesimo era until losing the Memphis game.
Watch & Listen: The game is broadcast on YES Network. Chris Carrino & Jim Spanarkel are on the call. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
Out: Nobody for Brooklyn — Deron Williams suffered a quad contusion against Memphis, but it won’t keep him out today. Similarly, the Rockets are at full strength.
More on tonight’s matchup after the jump.
Starting Lineups:
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez
Houston Rockets: Jeremy Lin, James Harden, Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson, Omer Asik
Advanced Statistics:
Brooklyn Nets: 104.2 offensive rating (9th), 103.3 defensive rating (17th), 90.52 possessions per game (30th)
Houston Rockets: 104.3 offensive rating (8th), 103.6 defensive rating (20th), 98.87 possessions per game (1st)
Note: Just a reminder of why you can’t trust per game numbers: the Rockets are third in the league in points per game, and the Nets are 17th. The Rockets are fourth in the league in points allowed per game, and the Nets are 26th. But look at those advanced statistics again: their efficiencies on both ends are nearly identical. It just so happens that they sit on opposite ends of the pace spectrum.
My guess is: whichever team controls the pace, controls the game.
Go Nets!
