Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Pre-Game Report
Nov 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) dunks the ball as Los Angeles Lakers players watch Julius Randle (30) and Nick Young (0) and Brandon Ingram (14) react during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Nets 125-118. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Barclays Center Wednesday night and will wrap up the season series against the young West Coast team.
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In their previous matchup, which was the second loss during their seven-game skid, the Nets fell by just seven points, largely due to D’Angelo Russell‘s huge night. Yet again, the former Buckeye lit up Brooklyn for 30-plus. He ended the night with 32, and Julius Randle also had a huge night that ended with a 17-point, 14-rebound, ten assist triple-double.
Brooklyn had a nice night offensively and hung 118 points on the Lakers. Brook Lopez was the high-man with 30, and Bojan Bogdanovic was next with 29. As I type this sounding like a broken record, the Nets defense was a huge problem in their last meeting, and it has been for the entire season.
Their most recent games against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets resulted in 130 and 122 points for their opponents, respectively. The game against Houston, however, was a nail-biter and went down to the wire. With 118 points, the Nets took advantage of lackluster defense from the Rockets, and they’ll look to do the same to a Lakers team that’s on a seven-game losing streak.
Nov 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Nets 125-118. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nets’ Keys To Victory
Exploit LA’s Porous Defense
The Nets need to turn this game into a shootout to have a fighting chance, and the Lakers have been exceptionally bad during their skid. Not only are they allowing about 116 points a night, but their margin of defeat is also more than 16. A sure-fire way to exploit that differential is with ball movement and motion, but isolation plays can’t get ruled out, especially when someone has Brandon Ingram matched up against them.
Among all the Lakers, the rookie from Duke is having tremendous struggles, and he’s far from a lockdown defender. Whether it’s Bogdanovic, Kilpatrick or Lopez, that is the one matchup that needs exploitation.
Jeremy Lin will also make an appearance most likely, and that allows Kenny Atkinson to put the ball in the hands of someone who can go out and make a play.
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Force Turnovers
Brooklyn’s defense won’t be good, but that doesn’t mean they can’t force the Lakers into making bad decisions. It’s no surprise Los Angeles is sloppy with the ball during their streak (18 giveaways per game) and turnovers allow their opponents to get easy buckets.
Take advantage of that.
Swarm the ball handlers, trap at half-court, have hyperactive hands, do whatever necessary to get some easy points. Trevor Booker and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson are going to bring it defensively, and it falls upon everyone else to follow their lead.
Players To Watch
Brooklyn: Jeremy Lin – 10 points, seven assists, +17 plus/minus in first game back from injury.
Los Angeles: D’Angelo Russell – Career average of 29 points on 62 percent shooting against the Nets.
Nov 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters
Nets
Lakers
Injury Report
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Lakers
Key Matchup
Brook Lopez vs. Timofey Mozgov
In the last meeting, Lopez went for 30. It should be more of the same this game. Mozgov, who’s a respectable player, has issues when pulled away from the basket, and Lopez is becoming more and more confident on the perimeter. This matchup heavily favors the seven-footer from Stanford, but he’ll also have his hands full with Mozgov on the other end.
The game will be broadcast at 7:30 PM EST on YES. Join the conversation by tweeting @NetsBlogFS.