When: February 1, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
Since beating the Thunder in Brooklyn last Wednesday, the Nets have gone 0-3 with two very close losses and one not-so-close loss. The latest tight defeat came on Saturday night in New Orleans, where Brooklyn was just a few inches away from shocking the Pelicans on a buzzer-beating Joe Johnson heave.
Brooklyn led by seven at the half but, as the Nets have done in many a loss this season, fell apart in the third quarter as the Pelicans outscored them 27-15 in the frame. But, the Nets hung right with New Orleans down the stretch and fought back from a few multi-possession deficits to tie the Pelicans on three difference occasions in the game’s final 65 seconds, thanks to Thad Young, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson respectively. Then, Jrue Holiday drilled a contested jumper to put New Orleans ahead 105-103 and with time expiring, Joe’s prayer went unanswered as the Nets lost yet again.
On the other hand, the Pistons have been one of the Eastern Conference’s most surprising teams this season, as Detroit — in the second year of Stan Van Gundy’s tenure –is 25-23 and currently in the playoff picture as the No. 8 team in the East. Detroit has lost its last two games — to the Cavaliers and Raptors — but, behind 17 points and 15 rebounds per game from Andre Drummond, has become a decent team. Add in 19 points per from Reggie Jackson and almost 15 from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the Pistons — who, outside of Jodie Meeks and Brandon Jennings, have managed to stay pretty healthy — could make some noise come April.
But, Drummond is the real star of this team and he has become one of the best frontcourt players in the entire league. His ability to dominate both the offensive and defensive glass has made him into a double-double machine. His only real weakness is his horrid free throw shooting — he is at just under 35 percent on the year from the charity stripe — but that has allowed opposing teams to take advantage of his presence on the floor late in games with some creative intentional fouling methods.
Probable lineups
DET- Reggie Jackson (PG), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG), Ersan Ilyasova (SF), Marcus Morris (PF), Andre Drummind (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
The Nets have actually split their two meetings with the Pistons this season, winning back in November at home and losing in January up in Detroit. The common thread from both games was that Drummond posted double-doubles (20 points and 18 rebounds in the Brooklyn win, 23 points and 11 rebounds in the Detroit win) so it’s imperative that the Nets at least contain the UConn product tonight, at least on the offensive glass. Most of that will be up to Brook Lopez, who needs to use his big frame to push Drummond away from the basket and limit his effectiveness with scoring second chance points. Drummond can put up points quickly and if he does that, tonight will turn into the Nets’ fourth-straight loss.
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