B. Lopez hurts back, set for MRI

Mad Guru · Post #1 » by **Mad Guru** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 7:51 pm

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez suffered a back injury before practice and will undergo an MRI, the team announced Sunday.

The severity of the injury is unknown at this point.

Also unclear at this point is how Lopez hurt his back, but it was definitely before practice, Nets coach Lionel Hollins said.

Trainer Tim Walsh came to Hollins and informed him that Lopez would undergo an MRI.

Lopez has had a history of injuries throughout his career -- mostly to his foot. Since 2011-12, he has missed 136 games.

Lopez, 26, is averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks this season.

If he cannot play, the Nets could consider going small, moving Kevin Garnett to center and playing someone like Mirza Teletovic at stretch forward. The Nets face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Barclays.

Mike Mazzeo
ESPN New York Writer
Covers the Brooklyn Nets for ESPNNewYork.com

Paradise · Post #2 » by **Paradise** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 9:06 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Shook Jones · Post #3 » by **Shook Jones** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 9:25 pm

Going to be very interesting if Nets play better without Lopez in the lineup. They should be able to run a little more. Lopez had 3 straight good games though, rebounding well too.

I want to see KG Mirza

Plumlee Jordan

Jefferson KG

on the floor.

jeff1624 · Post #4 » by **jeff1624** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 9:36 pm

Paradise wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Care to explain how?

The problem over the last 3-4 weeks has been the offense and our perimeter players inability to hit the three shot consistently.

We don't have the personnel to go small/long ball like last season. Mirza will probably start at PF, but who backs him up? Kirilenko will never play thanks to Hollins. Mason Plumlee who has arguably been the worst basketball player in the league this year? Cory Jefferson, the 60th pick from the 2014 draft? Do we go even smaller and go with Joe at the 4?

How are any of those options better than having Lopez on the court?

This isn't last years team, we actually need Lopez's offense to stay afloat.

DarkXaero · Post #5 » by **DarkXaero** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 10:41 pm

Paradise wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

No, it's not

MrDollarBills · Post #6 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 10:46 pm

I could give two ****.

Start KG and Mirza, primary option on offense is Johnson on the block. I'm good with that.

Let Jefferson and Brown play, and let Plumlee and Anderson sit. Plumlee's regression is his own fault regardless of Hollins' insistence in complicating his role on offense.

I'd rather take two 2nd rounders playing their asses off to make a name for themselves in the league than a bunch of ass holes playing like ****.

MrDollarBills · Post #7 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 10:47 pm

Paradise wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

If this team plays better during this stretch it will be an indictment.

Paradise · Post #8 » by **Paradise** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 10:52 pm

jeff1624 wrote:
Paradise wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Care to explain how?

The problem over the last 3-4 weeks has been the offense and our perimeter players inability to hit the three shot consistently.

We don't have the personnel to go small/long ball like last season. Mirza will probably start at PF, but who backs him up? Kirilenko will never play thanks to Hollins. Mason Plumlee who has arguably been the worst basketball player in the league this year? Cory Jefferson, the 60th pick from the 2014 draft? Do we go even smaller and go with Joe at the 4?

How are any of those options better than having Lopez on the court?

This isn't last years team, we actually need Lopez's offense to stay afloat.

We haven't really stayed afloat with his offense either and he would've gotten his ass kicked against Verajao, Noah, Jefferson this week on the boards and on defensively.

1. KG is significantly better defensively at Center. Lopez is not.

2. Mirza at PF starting opens more penetration and less poor spacing for Deron, Joe to operate much like last season.

3. I'm sure either Jefferson or Jordan will takeover the backup PF spot considering both have been getting minutes lately.

jeff1624 · Post #9 » by **jeff1624** » Sun Dec 7, 2014 11:48 pm

Paradise wrote:We haven't really stayed afloat with his offense either and he would've gotten his ass kicked against Verajao, Noah, Jefferson this week on the boards and on defensively.

Lopez just shut down Duncan. Horford wasn't a factor on Friday either. It isn't really fair to use a supposition as an argument against Lopez in this scenario. Besides, You'd rather have Mirza go up against Love and Gasol instead of Lopez?

1. KG is significantly better defensively at Center. Lopez is not.

And KG will continue getting only 24-28 minutes a night. What about the other 20 minutes? You think Plumlee/Jordan are better?

2. Mirza at PF starting opens more penetration and less poor spacing for Deron, Joe to operate much like last season.

Our Bench is already among the worst in the league, now we remove the best scorer of the second unit. It's gonna be a joy seeing a Jack, Anderson, Karasev, Plumlee, Jordan lineup as soon as the 2nd quarter.

3. I'm sure either Jefferson or Jordan will takeover the backup PF spot considering both have been getting minutes lately.

Not sure how this is an argument in your favor.

--

If Kirilenko were in the rotation then I'd be more optimistic because he's versatile helps the ball movement and has great chemistry with Deron. But with lopez out all this means is that jack, Anderson and Plumlee will be getting more shots. That is terrible.

Post #10 » by **NyCeEvO** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 12:00 am

Brook Lopez injured again?

I'm surprised...

DarkXaero · Post #11 » by **DarkXaero** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 12:06 am

NyCeEvO wrote:Brook Lopez injured again?

I'm surprised...

Not his foot though.

isekii · Post #12 » by **isekii** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 12:09 am

This really might be a blessing in disguise. Would love to see KG at the 5 and see how this team plays.

Paradise · Post #13 » by **Paradise** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 12:21 am

jeff1624 wrote:
Lopez just shut down Duncan. Horford wasn't a factor on Friday either. It isn't really fair to use a supposition as an argument against Lopez in this scenario. Besides, You'd rather have Mirza go up against Love and Gasol instead of Lopez?

Considering Love is a perimeter oriented player, I would prefer Mirza on him and in terms of Gasol, on defense I wouldn't want Mirza guarding someone much bigger and longer but Mirza can take advantage of Gasol on the offenisve end and as you saw last night against Golden State, Gasol cannot guard stretch fours. Brook finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds against Gasol last week. So, are we really sure he would have a better performance on the road? I doubt it.

And KG will continue getting only 24-28 minutes a night. What about the other 20 minutes? You think Plumlee/Jordan are better?

No, I don't but Jordan has been good enough to insert in spurts.

Our Bench is already among the worst in the league, now we remove the best scorer of the second unit. It's gonna be a joy seeing a Jack, Anderson, Karasev, Plumlee, Jordan lineup as soon as the 2nd quarter.

That's the downside of starting Mirza but isn't that what we've seen when KG is out resting and Mirza has to start? It's not that different.

Not sure how this is an argument in your favor.

My point is, Jefferson is an athletic rebounder and finisher. He should be matching up against Tristan Thompson, Taj Gibson, Cody Zeller this week. Players with the same skills.

If Kirilenko were in the rotation then I'd be more optimistic because he's versatile helps the ball movement and has great chemistry with Deron. But with lopez out all this means is that jack, Anderson and Plumlee will be getting more shots. That is terrible.

In theory, It should mean more shots for Deron, Joe and Mirza. We will soon enough learn how smart or how stupid Hollins is this week with the shot distribution and his anti-Kirilenko logic.

Post #14 » by **NyCeEvO** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 12:24 am

DarkXaero wrote:
NyCeEvO wrote:Brook Lopez injured again?

I'm surprised...
Not his foot though.

For me, it doesn't even matter that it's not his foot. Him being out for long periods of time is just not a surprise.

He missed a 14 days with foot sprain.

Now they're saying he's definitely out a minimum of 4 games and this is BEFORE the MRI. They better not find a herniated disk or anything.

With as bad as this season is going, the last thing we need are injuries to come back and drag us to the lottery, while the Hawks play well.

I can see it now...the Hawks become a tough out in the playoffs (like they were last year) and gain respectability while we gift them a lottery pick.

Gotta love Billy King and his trades! :banghead:

This is the blueprint for greatness no doubt...smh

F3LON · Post #15 » by **F3LON** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 1:59 am

It seems convenient that he has an arbitrary injury now. I secretly hope that the Nets have found a trade and dont want Lopez getting hurt before Dec 15th and ruining the deal like he did with the Howard trade.

Fingers crossed :pray:

MrDollarBills · Post #16 » by **MrDollarBills** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 11:26 am

F3LON wrote:It seems convenient that he has an arbitrary injury now. I secretly hope that the Nets have found a trade and dont want Lopez getting hurt before Dec 15th and ruining the deal like he did with the Howard trade.

Fingers crossed

Any trade involving Brook will also involve a jar of vaseline and billy king being caught with his pants around his ankles in an unflattering position.

Prokorov · Post #17 » by **Prokorov** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 3:21 pm

jeff1624 wrote:
Paradise wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/541691974278213632[/tweet]

This might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Care to explain how?

The problem over the last 3-4 weeks has been the offense and our perimeter players inability to hit the three shot consistently.

We don't have the personnel to go small/long ball like last season. Mirza will probably start at PF, but who backs him up? Kirilenko will never play thanks to Hollins. Mason Plumlee who has arguably been the worst basketball player in the league this year? Cory Jefferson, the 60th pick from the 2014 draft? Do we go even smaller and go with Joe at the 4?

How are any of those options better than having Lopez on the court?

This isn't last years team, we actually need Lopez's offense to stay afloat.

because lopez is trash, terrible on defense, and his offense has been pourous and even when its good it is in a completely ball stopping manner.

this wouldnt be the first time we lost him to injury and got better. Hollins has shown willingness to use joe at the 4, i can see that some in smallball lineups.

one thing is certain, if lopez goes down, our defense will get better.

Prokorov · Post #18 » by **Prokorov** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 3:27 pm

jeff1624 wrote:
Lopez just shut down Duncan. Horford wasn't a factor on Friday either. It isn't really fair to use a supposition as an argument against Lopez in this scenario. Besides, You'd rather have Mirza go up against Love and Gasol instead of Lopez?

Lol at lopez 'shutting those guys down'. especially when in atlanta he was the biggest reason for all our defensive breakdowns. every pick and roll their players had tons of airspace. 1 on 1 defense on bigs isnt really a big deal. its about team defense and playing the pick and roll. thats what matters in the league. this isnt 1995 when you dump it down on the block the big takes a hook and you go the other way. its all about team defense, and lopez is a bad team defender who has been awful this year on D

And KG will continue getting only 24-28 minutes a night. What about the other 20 minutes? You think Plumlee/Jordan are better?

yes, plumlee/jordan are better as far as team defense goes.

If Kirilenko were in the rotation then I'd be more optimistic because he's versatile helps the ball movement and has great chemistry with Deron. But with lopez out all this means is that jack, Anderson and Plumlee will be getting more shots. That is terrible.

kirilenko is trash. he isnt helping in either case.

im not sure how there are still excuses for brook lopez. we sucked with him last year. we have sucked with him to start this year. he has been flat out bad this season, in all aspects. yet still excuses left and right.

brook lopez isnt a winning player. him not being here would not be a major issue

MrDollarBills · Post #19 » by **MrDollarBills** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 4:43 pm

There was nothing positive to take away from the Atlanta game, we got the snot beaten out of us and Brook didn't help that cause.

Let's see what we can get from our other guys.

2Mas · Post #20 » by **2Mas** » Mon Dec 8, 2014 7:10 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:There was nothing positive to take away from the Atlanta game, we got the snot beaten out of us and Brook didn't help that cause.

Let's see what we can get from our other guys.

I was low on my better account. Cought pts & took them +4.5 thinking they were gonna win since they were coming off a scrappy win vs Sas. but of course not. & I lost a lot of money.