When: November 4, 2015; 8:00 PM EST
Where: Philips Arena; Atlanta, GA
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN
Along with the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, the Nets are one of the last four teams in the NBA to have yet win a game in the 2015-16 season. Considering the open rebuilding campaigns of the 76ers and Lakers — and the injury struggles of the Pelicans — it’s not hard to reason that the Nets, with a high payroll and ugly draft pick future, are in a bad place right now, and their opponent tonight doesn’t make things much better.
The Nets are in Atlanta to visit the 4-1 Hawks, who won 60 games and had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, for the first time since last spring’s playoff season between the two teams, which Atlanta won in six games. Somewhat surprisingly, Brooklyn pushed the Hawks hard in that opening round meeting but eventually faded away. Gone from last season’s Atlanta roster is DeMarre Carroll (now with the Raptors) and Pero Antic (overseas) but the real nucleus of Mike Budenholzer’s team is still there. Nope, not a good thing for the Nets, who have looked pretty bad for the vast majority of their four losses.
In action last night in Miami, the Hawks beat the Heat 98-92 behind 26 points and nine assists from Jeff Teague and double-doubles from Al Horford and Paul Millsap. Although many people have expected them to regress from their huge 2014-15 season, Atlanta has looked as dominant so far as it did all of last year and might not lose as much ground as expected. The Hawks are certainly still a bad matchup for the Nets, with the speed and quickness of their backcourt and defense and rebounding ability of their frontcourt. Also, they shoot the three well and the Nets are terrible at defending it.
Probable lineups
BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Markel Brown (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
ATL- Jeff Teague (PG), Dennis Schroder (SG), Kent Bazemore (SF), Paul Millsap (PF), Al Horford (C)
Final thoughts
Brooklyn gets a big break tonight as Kyle Korver won’t be able to play and will be replaced by Dennis Schroder in the starting lineup. Korver’s knockdown shooting ability from deep killed the Nets during the playoffs last season and would have been a major issue in this game but Brooklyn gets a reprieve. Schroder is a good scorer, but is essentially a second point guard with Teague and doesn’t stretch the floor as well as Korver, who the Nets actually drafted out of Creighton in 2003.
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