GAMENIGHT

Chicago Bulls (28-17) @ Brooklyn Nets (27-19)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off their first home loss in nine tries under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo to the Miami Heat 105-85, and now they host the team with the best road record in the Eastern Conference (13-6) in the Chicago Bulls.

The Net are trying desperately to remove the tag of mediocre and a team that can only beat the lower echelon teams in the NBA. Their record speaks for itself when playing the better teams in the league and something has to give. They are 17-0 when playing below .500 teams and 10-19 when playing teams with a winning record.

The Nets have to find some heart and man up against the beer teams in the league or they will make a quick exit from the playoffs. They are scoring 102 points a game against the teams that are below .500 and only 92 points per game against the teams playing .500 or better. That’s a problem.

[quote_box]”We just got flustered and couldn’t really get anything going, and because we couldn’t get anything going, I think our defense suffered because of that,” said Deron Williams, who had six turnovers while battling the flu and was limited to nine points.[/quote_box]

The Nets and Bulls both share the Eastern Conference’s best record at 13-5 (since P.J. took over). The difference is Chicago (28-17) has won eight of 10 while Brooklyn (27-19) has lost three of four and have not looked good in the process.

Joe Johnson’s play has taken a hit in these games and he has only averaged 13.3 points and while shooting 36.7 percent from the field. These numbers are well below his season averages and if the Nets want to beat the Bulls he will have to play much better.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Gerald Wallace vs LeBron James

The matchup in the middle will be big in this game. In 10 games head to head Brook Lopez is averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks while Noah is averaging 9.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks. Lopez needs to set the tone and go right after Noah and send a message. The two will be playing along side one another in the All-Star game but tonight there will be no friendly exchanges.

STAT FOR TONIGHT:The Bulls have limited the Nets to an average of 87.7 in the past six meetings and have won five of those games.

Nets:

Tornike Shengelia (concussion symptoms) out indefinitely

Deron Williams (Flu-like symptoms) is probable

Bulls:

Derrick Rose (left knee) is out

Carlos Boozer (rights hamstring) is out

Joakim Noah (right foot) is a game-time decision

Kirk Hinrich (elbow) is out