When: February 19, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
Two days after a NBA trade deadline that featured significantly less player movement than usual, the Brooklyn Nets get back to action at home against the cross-city New York Knicks on Friday. Due to the extended All-Star break this season, the Nets haven’t played since February 10, when they lost 109-90 to the Grizzlies.
Neither the Nets nor the Knicks made a trade by the deadline, but the Nets did revamp their front office, hiring Sean Marks away from the San Antonio Spurs to become Brooklyn’s new general manager. There was some talk the Nets could trade Thaddeus Young or Joe Johnson on Thursday, but nothing materialized. Meanwhile, the rumors expected to swirl around the Knicks with regards to potential moves never surfaced either.
Both teams struggled mightily in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break. Brooklyn lost five consecutive games before wins against the Kings and Nuggets — a Johnson buzzer-beater — gave the Nets their 13th and 14th wins of the year. New York dropped six straight before the break and 10 of 11 overall, leading some to believe that the team might look to deal Carmelo Anthony. Of course, that didn’t happen and the Knicks — who were in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt for some part of the season — have now faded back.
So that leaves each of the city’s NBA teams in a weird state of limbo, as each are unlikely to make the playoffs AND don’t have their respective first round picks in this June’s draft due to ill-advised trades — in fact, the Raptors acquired the Knicks’ pick in exchange for none other than Andrea Bargnani. Oh, and the Knicks signed former BYU star Jimmer Fredette to a 10-day contract earlier today.
Probable lineups
NYK- Jose Calderon (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Carmelo Anthony (SF), Kristaps Porzingis (PF), Robin Lopez (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
It’s another Lopez brother battle as Robin and Brook’s teams have split the two prior meetings this season. The Nets won the game at Barclays and the Knicks the one at MSG. A key matchup, as always, will be at small forward with Carmelo and Joe guarding each other. Brooklyn will have no chance tonight if Joe can’t stick with him. Also, the Kristaps-Thaddeus matchup is a very compelling one.
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