When: 7:30 PM EST; Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
Where: Madison Square Garden; Manhattan, NY
TV: YES/MSG
Now that they have won a season-high four games in a row–thanks to a huge victory over the Pacers at Barclays last night–the Nets control their own playoff destiny. Up a half-game on the Celtics with one game in hand, Brooklyn has full dominion over whether its season will play on past the regular 82 games or not.
The Nets’ latest chance to affirm their place in the East comes tonight, just over the Brooklyn Bridge, at MSG against the awful Knicks, who have won only 14 games this season. Manhattan’s team has recently said it wants to “mess” with the Nets’ playoff chances. Considering New York hasn’t had much positivity in this nightmare of a season, such a goal gives the team’s barebones roster something to right for, even with the Knicks being so, so far out of contention.
Still, even as the Nets look to sweep their season series with their crosstown rival, they need to focus up and cannot lay an egg to one of the NBA’s worst teams. With the Celtics hosting the Pacers and the Hornets hosting the Pistons, the Nets need a win to at least hold onto their tenuous position as the No. 8 seed. Brooklyn has struggled with trap games all season, and this might be the biggest trap game of them all.
Probable Lineups
BKN- Deron Williams (PG), Markel Brown (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
NYK- Langston Galloway (PG), Shane Larkin (SG), Lance Thomas (SF), Lou Amundson (PF), Andrea Bargnani (C)
Final Thoughts
It’s Brook Lopez’ s 27th birthday and it comes during his strongest stretch of play of the whole season, and maybe his entire career. After yet another double-double last night versus Indiana, he can make it eight games in a row with 20 or more points if he can dominate New York’s weak frontline–ANDREA BARGNANI–like he should. Happy birthday, Brook.
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