When: 6:00 PM EST; Sunday, December 21st, 2014
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Once again, the Nets find themselves losers of three straight games–losses to the Heat, Raptors and Cavaliers–and need a win desperately to stay afloat in the muddled Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Good thing, for them, that they play the 5-22 Detroit Pistons who are on a three-game losing streak of their own. Brook Lopez (back) and Deron Williams (hamstring)–who was mentioned in even more trade rumors yesterday, this time with the Sacramento Kings–are both out for the Nets tonight while Detroit is pretty healthy.
The Pistons, beaten by the Nets in Detroit back on November 1st, have struggled mightily yet again this season. They unquestionably have loads of talent–Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to name a few players–but even under new head coach Stan Van Gundy haven’t been able to put the pieces together.
It’s not like the Nets have been lighting up the league or anything, in fact quite the opposite, but their level or team turmoil probably hasn’t gotten to the level of Detroit’s just yet. But if they keep losing, maybe it will.
Probable Lineups
DET- Brandon Jennings (PG), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG), Kyle Singler (SF), Josh Smith (PF), Drummond (C)
BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Joe Johnson (SG), Sergey Karasev (SF), Kevin Garnett (PF), Mason Plumlee (C)
Final Thoughts
Without Brook Lopez, the Pistons’ forwards and centers will be a real burden in the paint on offense and for rebounding. Keeping Drummond, Monroe and Smith off the glass and out of the paint will be key for a needed Nets win, which would be a nice springboard to the rest of the week in which Brooklyn plays a string of weaker foes.
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