Andrei Kirilenko out week to ten days with back tightness

The "news" out of Sunday's practice wasn't good. Andrei Kirilenko, bothered by back tightness, was in sweats but had to sit out --and probably won't be back on the court until close to the Maccabi Tel Aviv preseason opener on October 7.  Kirilenko of course missed most of preseason and 25 of the Nets' 29 games last season with back spasms.

Kirilenko said he hoped the rest would help avoid a longer layoff during the season and he hopes to play against Maccabi. The next day, the Nets fly to China.

Kirilenko was careful to describe what he's feeling as "tightness" rather than "soreness," and one Nets insider was quick to point out the 33-year-old forward is in better shape than he was last season. Kirilenko has been working with strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Bettle, starting over the off-season at Kirilenko's summer retreat in St. Tropez on the French Riveria and now in New York.

Kirilenko said he's been troubled by back issues for "seven or eight years" and said last season's was "the worst of my career."

Lionel Hollins said he wasn't much concerned about AK-47's missing time, saying it's part of the game and "I have 16 other players."  As for practice Sunday, Hollins pronounced it "another great day", saying team played with "moxie."

• Kirilenko feeling tightness in back - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Andrei Kirilenko out 7-10 days with back injury - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
  
• Andrei Kirilenko’s back is already acting up - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Brooklyn Nets’ Andrei Kirilenko sits out second day of camp with back stiffness - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News