Brook Lopez out at least 4 games for Nets with back strain
At least it's not the foot.
If the Nets were searching for a silver lining in assessing the latest injury to Brook Lopez, they'd have to squeeze that one in somewhere between exasperated sighs of 'here we go again.'
Brooklyn's center will miss at least the next four games, including Monday against the Cavaliers, because of a back strain uncovered by an MRI. Lopez suffered the injury prior to Sunday's practice, according to the Nets, and he'll be re-evaluated in one week.
'Is it a concern? Yes, absolutely when one of your best players is hurt there's concern,' said Kevin Garnett, who will likely move to center (a position he loathes) if Lopez can't play. 'We're hoping for the best with that situation.'
Hollins, whose squad (8-10) is coming off a blowout defeat to the Hawks, characteristically shrugged his shoulders at the injury.
'We can't do anything about it. If he can play, he will. If he can't, he won't and we'll move forward.'
Lopez is coming off his best three-game stretch since the 2012-13 season, averaging 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds as the focal point of the offense. Brooklyn's leading scorer has spent more time on injured reserve than on the active list over the last three years, mostly because of foot fractures.
It has sabotaged his ability to establish consistency and continuity with teammates, as well as his trade value if the Nets decide to unload one of their few enticing assets. After missing contests this week against the Cavs, Bulls, Sixers and Hornets, he'll have sat 140 games since the 2011-12 season.
The timing of his latest injury is unfortunate heading into a marquee matchup that has the attention of folks outside of basketball. Not only is LeBron James coming to town on a six-game winning streak, Prince Williams and Kate Middleton are stopping in Barclays Center as part of league partnership with the 'Royal Foundation.'
On Sunday at Cavs practice, James made sure to note who the royal couple was coming to witness. Hint: it's not the Nets, with or without Lopez.
'To hear that they're coming to town to see me play, they wanted to see me do what I do best, it's a huge honor,' James said.
If Monday is anything like James' last appearance in Brooklyn, the Duke and Dutchess are in for a treat. James basically beat the Nets single-handedly in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semis, dropping in 49 points to give Miami control of the series.
James' scoring is down to 24.6 points per game this season while taking on the role of facilitator to Kyrie Irving, but the Nets will be hard-pressed to stop the four-time MVP without a strong wing defender or a rim protector. Joe Johnson has drawn the toughest assignments for the Nets, but he also missed Sunday's practice because of a stomach virus.
Hollins, who played in the 1970s and 80s as an All-Star point guard, agreed James belongs with the highest level of athletes and is an all-time great based on accomplishments 'in his era,' but the coach stopped short of putting him on the NBA's Mount Rushmore.
'Nobody could compare to (Michael) Jordan. Jordan is in a category by himself,' Hollins said. 'There's Jordan, there's Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), there's Wilt (Chamberlain), and then there's a bunch of guys who are really, really outstanding players, and how you rank them is up to your bias.'
A lot of the juice and vitriol of last season's Nets-James matchups were drained because of the departure of Paul Pierce, who represented James' longtime nemesis from battles with the Celtics. Before the Nets swept the Heat in four regular season matchups last season, James had beaten the franchise 17 consecutive times.
Brooklyn has been defined this season by the characteristic of a mediocre team: Inconsistency.
''I mean, they lost a championship player in Paul Pierce,' James said. 'That we all know. But it's a team that still plays with a lot of intensity, and that's always going to be a part of the DNA as long as Kevin Garnett is in the lineup. So, you've got to be ready for them.'
Garnett has also had his wars with James, but that's not going to stop them from exchanging compliments.
'He's human. Not saying he has flaws, but L.B. is good at understanding momentum,' Garnett said. 'He understands when to attack, when not to attack, he understands the game, the fouls, making sure other people involved, fouls, flow, confidence. He's able to take all those things and turn it into his own gumbo, if you will. He's very, very high IQ from day 1. And he has blossomed. He blossomed into what he is today.'
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