W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Portland Trail Blazers

brooklyneagle.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 27th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Pre Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading to Portland to play the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, as the Nets will be looking to get another win on their circus road-trip, which they have gone (3-1) so far, only losing to the Los Angeles Clippers.

- Joe A No Go

Joe Johnson will miss his second straight game due to a right quadriceps contusion, and it is expected that Keith Bogans will get his second straight start filling in for Johnson. Johnson’s injuries are starting to add up on him late in the season, as he has been battling a sore heel, and now is being forced to sit out with an injury to his quad. Johnson’s health has to become a concern to the Nets, as he is only averaging 13.3 points in his last 10 games. MarShon Brooks is also feeling a bit under the weather, but is expected to play, and will be getting minutes with Johnson out.

- Rookie of the Year

The Nets and more specifically Deron Williams will have their hands full on Wednesday with the Trail Blazers young Point Guard Damian Lillard, who seems poised to win the Rookie of the Year award. Lillard has led the Trail Blazers to a very good home record at (22-11), and (33-37) overall. The likely Rookie of the Year is averaging 19.1 points per game on 43% shooting, with 6.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Williams has been playing very good lately, but so has Lillard, which should make this a very fun match-up to watch.

- Can Humphries Do It Again

Power Forward Kris Humphries had one of his best games of the season in the win over the Phoenix Suns, as Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo played Humphries 28 minutes after playing only 26 minutes in the entire month of March previous to the Suns game. While getting the extended minutes Humphries scored 17 points on six for 12 shooting to go along with snagging eight rebounds. If Humphries can start playing like he did against the Suns, which looked like the Humphries of the past two seasons the Nets might be able to do something in the weak Eastern Conference, as they have gotten almost zero production this season from Humphries, who signed a two year 24 million dollar deal in the off-season.

This game will be far from easy for the Nets, who will be playing their fifth game on the road-trip, and the Trail Blazers are a very dangerous team on their home court.