Charting The NBA’s Atlantic Division: Raptors Look To Continue Its Roll

Brooklyn Nets

Current Record: (16-22)

(End of Week) Predicted Record: (17-24)

The Brooklyn Nets opened their week by dropping last night’s game to the Houston Rockets (27-11) 113-99, the first of four games the team will play this week. The Nets have plunged near the bottom of the NBA offensively thus far this season. As one would expect, that has resulted in them struggling mightily against top-tier defenses they go up against. And that’s what they ran into last night against the Rockets.

Next up, they’re home once more, this time against the Memphis Grizzlies (26-11) Wednesday. Despite the strong start the Grizzlies have gotten off to this year, they’re not as strong a team defensively as the Rockets. They’ll have a chance for an upset.

Following that matchup, they’ll play back-to-back games against the Washington Wizards (25-12). The first meeting will come on the road in our Nation’s capital Friday, and the second will be on Saturday back at the Barclay’s Center. The Wizards, like the Rockets, are among the top-10 defensive teams in the NBA. This will pose serious issues for the Nets. Also with the backcourt missing Deron Williams, it’ll be that much tougher to contend with John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Player to Watch: Deron Williams’ rib injury means he’ll likely be out for a considerable amount of time. In his absence Jarrett Jack will move into the starting lineup, something he’s already done on 12 different occasions thus far this year. It’ll be up to him to run the underperforming offense in Brooklyn as smoothly as possible in order to give the Nets a chance at pulling out a win in any of their games in the upcoming week.

Next: New York Knicks