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| Durant is simply unstoppable most of the time. Gerald Wallace may have something to do about that in Oklahoma City tonight |
When: 8:00 pm; Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena; Oklahoma City, OK
TV: YES Network
In the first Nets game I will be able to watch since the firing of Avery Johnson–and their first game of 2013–, Brooklyn will be taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder, the owners of the best record in the NBA and the winners of 15 of their last 17 games. Not exactly the kind of opponent I was hoping the Nets to take on. Anyway, the Nets need to rebound from a humbling and embarrasing loss in San Antonio against the Spurs on New Years' Eve night a few days ago in which they fell by 31 points and scored just five points in the third quarter.
Tonight will–most likely–be another of those trying nights for this Nets team still attempting to fully right the ship after the sudden and unexpected dismissal of their head man in Avery Johnson. Granted, Gerald Wallace will play against the Thunder after missing the Spurs with a knee bruise. As we have seen, the Nets sorely miss Gerald on defense whenever he isn't able to play and with him likely matching up against Kevin Durant, that defense will be needed. However, C.J. Watson is just a gametime decision with his own knee injury, and an absence from him will handicap the Nets' ability to get scoring off the bench.
These two teams met earlier this season, in Brooklyn, in a very close game which the Thunder came out on top in. Even with a 38-point third quarter effort, the Nets, who were down 13 at half, came up six points behind the defending Western Conference champions. Deron Williams probably played the best game of his season that December night, scoring 33 points on 10-20 shooting and dishing out seven assists. Even though all Nets starters, including D-Will, scored in double figures on the evening, Kevin Durant scored 32 and Russell Westbrook dropped 25, justly neutralizing Brooklyn's solid scoring effort. Another close game with an elite team, another tough Nets loss.
Probable Lineups
NETS- D-Will (PG), Joe Johnson (SG), Wallace (SF), Humphries (PF), Lopez (C)
OKC- Westbrook (PG), Sefalosha (SG), Durant (SF), Ibaka (PF), Perkins (C)
Final Thoughts
With all of the talk surrounding this team and its perilous coaching situation at the moment, the best thing for some stability would be a win against an elite team like Oklahoma City. Obviously, this is another one of things that's "easier said than done" but as we have seen a few times already this season from the Nets, they are inconsistent and do possess the ability to either be blown out by good teams, or stay close with them and either barely lose or win surprisingly. Let's hope the "win surprisingly" option is chosen tonight.
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