The Nets continued digging a deep hole for themselves Monday night, as they lost to the Utah Jazz, 101-89. They have now gone 4-20 after surprising everyone with a 4-5 start early in the season.
The previous two losses pretty much show how the Nets lose most of their games. Against the Jazz, they kept the game close for three quarters before faltering and getting outscored by 12 points in the final frame. Versus the Wizards, they were simply blown out and were on a hard chase all throughout the contest.
It’s no secret that the team is in a rebuilding process, and will be for at least couple more years. Their league-worst record and awful stats indicate as much. Along with inconsistent shooting (43.9 percent, 24th overall) and a 27th-ranked defensive efficiency, they also turn the ball over (17.2 per game) and give up the most points (114 PPG) in the league.
Brook Lopez (20.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.9 threes per game) is still their number one option, which is toeing the line of good and bad, because despite being a good scoring and shooting big man, he’s possibly one of the worst rebounding centers in a long time.
In addition, the Nets are also getting solid contributions from Trevor Booker (9.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG), Sean Kilpatrick (15.3 PPG), and Bojan Bogdanovic (14.2 PPG).
The Nets are 1-16 on the road this season (7-7-3 ATS), and have already lost to the Pacers by 21 in mid November.
After four consecutive defeats, Paul George and company have responded well, winning three straight games to put the team back in the .500 mark. They are now 18-18 and seventh in the East.
In their most recent win, they edged out the Pistons, 121-118, their most points this season through four quarters. George is providing a big lift in the said stretch, averaging 27.7 points on 50 percent shooting.
The Pacers are also enjoying the breakout year of Myles Turner. The second-year center is proving to have a great future and has shown good efficiency on both ends of the floor. In under 30 minutes of action per game, he’s putting up 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks.
With the aforementioned dreadfulness of the visitors, the two should have no problem doing what they do. Expect them along with the whole unit, to keep pounding it down low, especially with the Nets allowing the sixth-most points in the paint (40.8 per game).
Indy was also able to dominate the Nets in their previous meeting several weeks back. In that 118-97 thumping, six Pacers were in double figures and the team collectively shot 55.2-percent from the field. Remember, too, that George, the best player between both squads, sat out the game with an injured ankle.
The Pacers are 13-5 at home this season (10-8 ATS).
