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Utah Jazz (0-3) @ Brooklyn Nets (1-2)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN  660/101.9[/box]

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS

The starting lineup will be Deron Williams playing alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the man in the middle Brook Lopez up front.

Garnett is averaging a paltry  7.3 points and shooting 33.3 percent from the field and said he needs to be a more assertive.

[box]“I need to be a little more aggressive at times,” Garnett said. “I don’t really think about the offense. Defense is where I’m trying to make sure that we’re cohesive, and we will.”[/box]

[box]Game Notes:

A victory over the Jazz would snap a four-game losing streak at the hands of Utah (the Nets last beat Utah on 1/19/11)

Williams playing his old team:  Williams was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 2005 draft by the Jazz … Williams was in his sixth season with the Jazz when he was traded on 2/23/11 to the Nets in exchange for current Jazz Derrick Favors

Richard Jefferson’s Return: RJ played his first seven NBA seasons (2001-08) with the Nets and went to back-to-back Finals with Jason Kidd.

[quote_simple]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Learning a lesson

The Nets got a wake-up call in Orlando and the realization should have set in that every team thinks the Nets are a benchmark game and they will get everyone’s best shot.

All the offseason hype did not go unnoticed by all the other teams in the NBA so when Brooklyn comes to town it is like a playoff game and they need to realize that.

[box]”The win against Miami doesn’t mean a thing when you come here and lay an egg, which is what we did,” said Williams.  “We had to be ready to match their intensity and we weren’t. They looked like they wanted it more and that is unacceptable.”
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JAZZ STARTERS

The struggling Jazz franchise is pinning its hopes on improvement from frontcourt youngsters Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.

Favors is averaging 13.7 points and 10.7 rebounds and Kanter has two double-doubles while averaging 16.7 points and 10 boards.

[box]”We got to realize it’s a long season,” forward Gordon Hayward said. “We’re right there, we just have to figure out whatever it is that will help us push over that edge and get the ‘W.'”
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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Brook Lopez – probable (sprained right ankle)

Andray Blatche – probable (sprained left ankle)

JAZZ

Andris Biedrins – NWT (left ankle sprain)

Trey Burke – OUT (right index finger surgery)

Jeremy Evans – OUT (right rotator cuff strain)

Brandon Rush – OUT (left knee rehab)

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