NETS GAMENIGHT: #Bulls (10-16) @ #Nets (9-18)

Chicago Bulls (10-16) @ Brooklyn Nets (9-18)

Barclays Center 12:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup will be Deron Williams playing alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt with Alan Anderson,  Mirza Teletovic up front and the man in the middle Kevin Garnett.

The Nets played their first game without their big man for the rest of the year and the proceeded to get blown out at home by the Indiana Pacers 103-86.

The season is spiraling downhill fast for Brooklyn, losers of three in a row, so a win on Christmas Day against a once again depleted Bulls team would make everyone smile at least for one day.

Rebounding is a must in this game with the Bulls frontcourt being very aggressive so the battle of the boards will once again tell the story.

[box]Injury News: 

Brook Lopez is out for the year. (ankle)

Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) will be out again but did practice yesterday and he looks close to returning.[/box]

BULLS  STARTERS

The Bulls starting lineup will be DJ Augustin and Tony Snell in the backcourt with Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah playing in the frontcourt.

The short-handed Bulls will try to win consecutive games for the first time in more than a month.

They will be missing Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Jimmy Butler so the recently picked up off waivers Augustin will get the majority of the point guard minutes.

The frontcourt will have its hands full with the Brooklyn front line if they play well.

[quote_simple][box]Game Notes:

Chicago has won seven of the last nine regular-season meetings.

The Nets have compiled a 48-25 all-time home record against the Chicago Bulls.

The Nets and Bulls faced off 11 times last season (four times in the regular season and seven times in the first round of the playoffs).

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[box]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Stop the losing mentality

“We’re kind of getting comfortable with losing and we’ve got to make a stand with that because when things get tough, do we just give in?” Nets coach Jason Kidd said. “And most of the time right now we do.”

Those were the correct sentiments spoken by the Nets head coach after the latest blowout loss at home and he completely justified in his statements.

This team does not seem to have the fight that everyone thought they would have with all of their acquisitions and when adversity hits they tend to fold like a cheap suit.

This team needs a big win on Christmas to gain some momentum and build some kind of identity to carry them into the next month.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Andrei Kirilenko – doubtful (back spasms)

Brook Lopez  – OUT (ankle)

BULLS

Kirk Hinrich – OUT (back)

Derrick Rose – OUT (right knee)

Luol Deng – OUT (left achilles)

Jimmy Butler – OUT (right ankle)

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