NETS GAMENIGHT: #Pacers (22-5) @ #Nets (9-17)

Indiana Pacers (22-5) @ Brooklyn Nets (9-17)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup will be shuffled around again and tonight it might 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 devastating news that hit after Friday nights loss to the 76ers, Brook Lopez being ruled out for the season, hit on Saturday morning and the Nets have been trying to pick up the pieces of their season ever since.

Their best offensive player is now gone so the rest of the team needs to pick up the slack and “not let go of the rope” as Jason Kidd would say.

Brooklyn has been playing much better offensively lately although the defense and rebounding have been major disappointments.

They have been manhandled in the paint on the glass in the past five games so the effort on that end of the floor will have to be ramped up to have a chance against the Pacers.

[box]Injury News: In a surprise to everyone, the Nets have announced that Jason Terry is now active for tonight’s game.

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]

PACERS STARTERS

The Pacers starting lineup will be George Hill and Lance Stephenson in the backcourt with Paul George,David West and Roy Hibbert playing in the frontcourt.

The Pacers come to Brooklyn playing very well having blown out their last two opponents in  Houston 114-81 and  a 106-79 win over Boston on Sunday.

George is playing at an MVP level with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists per game leading Indiana to the leagues best record to date.

Hibbert will licking his chops to play against anyone other than Lopez and if he plays well the nets may not have a shot.

[quote_simple][box]Game Notes:

The Pacers had dropped four straight to the Nets before winning 96-91 at Barclays Center on Nov. 9.

The Nets three highest assist totals of the season have come in their last three games.

Deron Williams (season-high 14 assists) and Shaun Livingston (season-high 11 assists) combined to register 25 assists on Friday night.[/box]

[box]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Next man up

With the loss of their best player the old saying “next man up” has never been so true for a basketball team than the Brooklyn Nets.

This has been going on all season long with the myriad of injuries that have plagued this “ready to win now” team. Frustrating is the word.

Whether it be DWill in preseason, AK47 only playing three games, Lopez out seven games with the other ankle or Pierce out with a broken hand, the Nets have figured out a way to make it very hard on themselves.

Every single player should have looked in the mirror this past weekend and told themselves that they need to do more to make up for the big guy.

Can the Nets replicate the heart and resiliency that last years Celtics did when Rondo went down?  — We will surely see.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Andrei Kirilenko – doubtful (back spasms)

Jason Terry – doubtful (bruised left knee)

Brook Lopez  – OUT (ankle)
PACERS

NONE

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