The Essentials:
Wizards (14-30) vs. Nets (4-40)
8 p.m.
IZOD Center
TV: CSN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
Notable Nets numbers this season
30th in expected winning percentage (.142)
17th in pace (92.5 possessions per game)
30th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (97.5 points/100 possessions)
28th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (110.9 points allowed/100 possessions)
Pre-game links
Nets Daily, SB Nation's Nets Blog
Nets Are Scorching
NaS: Nets need to play to win
Devin Harris out, Courtney Lee in
Mike Wise on all the Wizards' struggles
GameDay New Jersey
| Tonight's Projected Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wizards | vs. | Nets |
| Randy Foye | PG | Keyon Dooling |
| Mike Miller | SG | Courtney Lee |
| Caron Butler | SF | Chris Douglas-Roberts |
| Antawn Jamison | PF | Yi Jianlian |
| Brendan Haywood | C | Brook Lopez |
The New Jersey Nets display the extreme case of what happens when you completely blow things up. In the short term, losing happens. Maybe not this much losing, but losing nonetheless. It's probably unbelievably frustrating for Nets fans to sit there and watch this year's team.
However, the Nets have a great situation for a rebuilding team. They have young players that are building blocks. In Brook Lopez, they have a young center, the most coveted young type of player you could have. They have several mid-level prospects, ranging from Yi Jianlian to Terrence Williams. Finally, they have tons of cap room that they could use this year or save for the future (here's hoping they don't use it now). There's no guarantee it all works out, but the pieces are starting to fall into place even as they lose.
Trading away all our big contracts will result in a Nets-like season in the short-term (though hopefully not THAT bad). However, it'll also put us in good position to make positives steps going forward. The Nets could easily be in a very good spot going forward, or it all could have failed, but they at least gave themselves a chance at real long-term success. That's all you can do. Startups lose money before they succeed. Relationships are best when they're done slowly. You can't make up 18 points with one shot. And ... enough metaphors.
Regardless, the Nets are on a one-game winning streak. No Devin Harris tonight, but this Wizards team can't take anything for granted.
I'll be watching this on delay tomorrow. For everyone else, here's your thread.
GO WIZARDS!