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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to miss 30 more games, won't return till March

By Net Income
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

As Rondae Hollis-Jefferson blogs --and Mike Mazzeo tweets-- he won't be back on the court for the Nets until early March, meaning he will miss the next 30 or so games.  Added to the 11 he's already missed --the Nets are 3-8 over that stretch, the rookie will miss half his rookie season.

Hollis-Jefferson wrote on his blog: "It's looking like I'll be able to get back on the court after (the) All-Star break, probably around the beginning of March."  RHJ broke his right ankle during a Nets practice on December 5. He is still in a walking boot.

Mazzeo does the sad math...

Since he's been out, the Nets are giving up 108.1 points per 100 possessions which is sixth-worst, in the NBA.

RHJ wrote of his experience...

Once an injury happens, it happens. You can’t take it back. There’s no reason to sulk, and the quicker you can accept what happened, the better it is for you. Things happen for a reason. It’s part of life. So I’m taking it for what it’s worth and will learn from it. It’s a humbling experience that’s helping me grow as a person. I understand that everything isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. You have to go through the extra rain sometimes. I’m aware of that and I’m taking it one day at a time.

In addition to Hollis-Jefferson, the Nets expect to see Chris McCullough return to action around the same time.

The Nets won't be at home much after the All-Star Break. The team returns from break on February 17, has two home games vs. the Knicks and Hornets, then heads out on their longest road trip, the so-called "circus trip," eight games over 22 days.  They return to Barclays on March 13.  Teams don't get a lot of time for practice on the road.

Meanwhile, both Kevin Pelton and Chad Ford have Hollis-Jefferson in their top 10 rookies, based on potential, with Pelton placing him fifth, after Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, D'Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein. Ford has him ninth, behind those four, Justise Winslow, Myles Turner, Kelly Oubre and Mario Hezonja.

Neither mentioned McCullough.

Pelton writes, "Hollis-Jefferson is rebounding like a power forward and his steal rate this season is the same as Kawhi Leonard's. I'll take that."

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