Deron Williams, Dallas native, was low-balled by Mark Cuban last summer. now he's home. Dallas is three games out of the playoffs. They are an offensive powerhouse but less so on defense, as evidenced by their 127-113 victory over the Hawks.
YES Network put it all in perspective with a graphic laying out just how long the Nets road trip will be. It only missed one relevant stat: one circus. That's why the Nets are on the road. Detroit is the first stop on an eight-game, 17-day trip.
Since December 19, the Knicks have gone 19-20, dropping below .500 over that stretch with their fourth straight loss Sunday. The Nets are 25-15, and with a win Sunday over the Hawks, they would move into a virtual tie for first in the Atlantic.
The Nets and Hawks could wind up as a first round matchup. Or they could be tied, with only two games separating them now. So the game is important. It's also the last home game before a grueling road trip and maybe a chance to catch the Knicks.
If the knock-kneed Knicks lose Saturday night to the Clippers in Los Angeles, Nets will have an opportunity to tie for the Atlantic Division lead with a win Sunday vs. the Hawks. Winning the division is not just about municipal bragging rights.
P.J. Carlesimo played Deron Williams and Joe Johnson 77 minutes vs. the 76ers and now will face the young legs of the New Orleans Hornets. Don't expect them to play big minutes back in Brooklyn. The Nets remain two and a half behind the Knicks..
The Nets are 3-0 since P.J. Carlesimo shortened the rotation, benching Kris Humphries for Mirza Teletovic. On Sunday, in fact, Carlesimo shortened the rotation even further, dropping MarShon Brooks. is that a permanent thing? Nope, said the coach.
The Nets are hoping to extend their winning streak to four Monday vs. the woeful 76ers. The Sixers still have to get by the Magic on Sunday and that might not be easy. They've lost three straight and 11 of the last 12. It's been a bad season.
The Nets and Hawks battle in Atlanta, a game between teams in the fourth and sixth seeds. A Nets win would give them a 2-1 edge over the Hawks with a game to go. A Nets win and Knicks loss would move them to within a game and a half of the division.
The Nets have played two games vs. the Wizards. They couldn't have been more different. In the first, Joe Johnson burned the Wiz, 115-113, with a buzzer beater at the end of a second overtime. In the second, the Nets scored 74 points and lost.
