Nets vs Raptors, Williams and Lopez remain out

The Brooklyn Nets hit the road to play the Toronto Raptors at 7 pm ET.  Brooklyn is currently on a five game losing streak, and have started the season 3-10.  Brook Lopez and Deron Williams will not play as they continue to be sidelined by sprained ankles.  Lopez is Brooklyn’s leading scorer at 20.5 points per game, and Williams leads the team with 6.0 assists per game.

Toronto will be looking to extend its winning streak to three games.  The Raptors are led by shooting guard DeMar DeRozan who is averaging 21.2 points per game.  Point guard Kyle Lowry is putting together a good season with 12.4 points and 6.5 assists per game.  Rudy Gay has been a force averaging 20.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.  Toronto is a solid team, and the Nets will need players to match the production of DeRozan, Lowry, and Gay.

Without Lopez and Williams, the Nets will rely on the veteran presence of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Joe Johnson.  Johnson has been doing his job well, but Pierce and Garnett have not, and much of the blame has been aimed at new head coach Jason Kidd.  Coaches are fair game to criticize, but Pierce and Garnett should be doing a better job shooting the basketball.

The Nets probably won’t be able to defend Gay and DeRozan, making shooting an important aspect of tonight’s game.  Garnett and Pierce need to shoot well for Brooklyn to have a chance in the fourth quarter.

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