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Deron Williams noticed when the chant of "Brook-lyn" filled Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night. "I like that ‘Brook-lyn’ chant," Williams said. "Hopefully, that’s a motto this year. That was only 2,000 fans. So imagine 18,000."
He might get his wish Monday vs. the Wizards when a sell-out crowd or close to it packs Barclays Center for the Brooklyn Nets' first home game, starting at 7:30 p.m. While tickets are still available, arena management has alerted the community that the Nets expects sell-outs at all three of the team's home pre-season games, two of which are this week.
The game will be televised by YES. An hour-long special entitled, "Nets 2012: Hello Brooklyn," will air before and after the game on YES.
The bench, which couldn't hold an 18-point lead vs. the 76ers Saturday, will see more action on Monday and presumably that includes Andray Blatche, amnestied by the Wiz in July Avery Johnson had said he hoped to play his starters between 18 and 24 minutes Saturday, but they played so well together he kept them on the court for longer than he expected. Even Brook Lopez played 28 minutes. That's unlikely Monday since the Nets play four games in five days this week. No word on whether Tyshawn Taylor will be available.
The Wizards are devastated by injury. John Wall (left knee) is out until the end of November. Entering Saturday's game vs. Cleveland, Nene Hilario (left foot), Trevor Booker (left hamstring), Emeka Okafor (stomach virus) and Chris Singleton (left shoulder) all were out. Kevin Seraphin had to leave the court when he felt a sharp pain in his right leg. Washington won the game. Bradley Beal, the rookie shooting guard, will be asked to share a lot of the load.
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
- Washington Wizards Game Notes - Washington Wizards
- Nets open Barclays vs. Wiz - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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Deron Williams has soft spot for Brooklyn chant he heard at Atlantic City game - Stefan Bondy - NY Daily News
- Brook Lopez, Deron Williams find some rhythm for Brooklyn Nets - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Blatche happy as Net ‘zero’ - Zach Braziller - NY Post
- Some takeaways from Nets' preseason win over Sixers - Tim Bontemps - NY Post
- Kevin Seraphin the latest big man to go down in preseason - Michael Lee - Washington Post