April 10, 2015 Queens, NY Not too long ago, there was trade talk swirling around Brook Lopez. The highly-paid, often-hurt center was not playing up to his salary which was in excess of $15 million this season. Lopez played the pivotal role in the Nets’ lopsided victory over the Washington Wizards, 117-80, scoring 26 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, with one block and one steal.
The game wasn’t competitive from the jump (ball that is) and after one quarter, the Nets led 31-14. John Wall didn’t play which probably accounted for the sloppy play on the part of the Wizards. The Wizards turned the ball over 17 times compared to the Nets 6. The Nets also stole the ball 10 times to the Wizards 3. The Wizards outscored the Nets in the second and third quarters by a combined four points; however, the fourth quarter was a disaster for the Wizards as they were outscored 42-18.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points converting all six of his three-point attempts in 30 minutes. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson added 9 assists apiece. Thaddeus Young and Jarrett Jack scored 10 and 14 points respectively. The Nets displayed an urgency in the fourth quarter that made you contemplate what their record would be if they played like this 48 minutes per game for 82 games. It would be safe to assume (if assumptions can ever be safe) the Nets certainly wouldn’t be fighting for a playoff spot in the lowly Eastern Conference.
The Nets head to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks on Sunday. The game will air at 3 p.m. (EST). Then, they head back to Brooklyn for their final two home games against the Chicago Bulls on Monday and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Nets are in a four-team race for the last two playoff spots. Currently, they are tied with the Boston Celtics who beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-90. The Indiana Pacers, who are one game behind the Nets and Celtics, beat the Detroit Pistons 107-103 tonight. With three games to play, the Nets lead the Miami Heat, who lost yesterday, by two games. If the Nets win two of the last three games, they probably make the playoffs. And if Lopez continues his torrid play, you can virtually pencil the Nets in.
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at cliffb@puresportsny.com.