Lopez Will Not Play Against Knicks, And It's Worth It

Brook Lopez has been a key component to the Nets offense and, surprisingly, defense. Sadly, it took yet another foot injury for fans of the Nets and analysts to realize much of an impact he brings to this team. In the five games that he has missed, the Nets have gone 1-4, and have posted on of the worst defensive numbers in the league.

With a battle against a top-notch Knicks squad, Nets fans hoped to see Brook Lopez return and once again bring them to victory and stop the sinking ship.

According to the Nets, that's not going to happen.

Brook Lopez will not play tonight vs NY

— Nets PR Dept. (@Nets_PR) December 11, 2012

Rod Boone and Stefan Bondy as well as several other beat writers tweeted out their thoughts.

Billy suggested Brook might not make the trip to Toronto after the game tonight. Sounds like earliest he'll play is Friday vs. #Pistons.

— Rod Boone (@rodboone) December 11, 2012

This game is more important than most (don't let the Nets fool you) but Lopez's foot is more important.

— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) December 11, 2012

A return on Friday would mean that Lopez would be on the day-to-day list for  12 total days before his return. That may seem like a lot for just a foot sprain, and conspiracies began to pop-up in the Nets community. Maybe the Nets front office is hiding something, just like last year.

But one should note that the circumstances are completely different. There is no reason for the Nets organization to hide any facts, because their center is not on the block. There is no longer an All-Star, defensive monster of a center looking to be traded. All there is now is hype and expectations. Stefan Bondy sums up a logical reason for Lopez's non-return in his tweet (above).

The game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks is indeed important. Yes, it is the second of a four game series they have against one another and down the road it can play a part in the playoffs. Yes, the Nets have been promoting a rivalry since the beginning of the Brooklyn Nets. Yes, the Nets are on a four game skid and need to right the ship once again. Yes, the team is sinking to a .500 win percentage.

No, this game is not as important as Brook Lopez's health.

It's expected that the Nets take precautions with Brook Lopez given the catastrophe that was last season. Lopez has been the offense of the Nets with the "Brooklyn Backcourt" slacking. He was, despite history going against this, also the interior defense. Blatche has managed to sustain Lopez's loss on the offensive end, but he isn't able to make up even half of Lopez's 2.5 blocked shots a game. He hasn't even been able to be an average defensive, interior presence. As of now, there really is none. In the last three games, the Nets are allowing 44.7 points in the paint, which, if representing the season, would have them as the second-worst interior defensive team in the league.

Howard Beck of The New York Times takes out the stats showing the decline in both the Nets offense and defense without Lopez.

Their offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) is 100.5 during the losing streak, down from 103.9 with Lopez in the lineup. Their defensive rating, a stout 100.1 with Lopez, has skyrocketed to 115.2 over the last four games, with opponents shooting 52.1 percent from the field.

After being bashed for so long about his defense, the tides have turned this season. Now fans are relentlessly awaiting Lopez's return not only to fix the offensive woes, but also the defensive collapses.

With Andray Blatche's upgrade to the starting slot, he's been averaging 16.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Why would this be detrimental  With him starting, the bench loses a key component to offense. The sparks that the "Bench Mob" used to bring off the bench is no longer there, because there is no longer an interior offensive presence. Reggie Evans and Kris Humphries sure cannot carry an offense. Evans is inept anywhere outside of eight feet and does not like to score regardless. Humphries' offensive arsenal is merely limited. The bench that used to keep the Nets in games when the starters rested is no longer doing that.

So why, if Lopez's absence causes such a negative impact, is it preferable that Lopez rest during such a crucial match-up? Because he's worth so much more than one rivalry game so early in the season. There are 60 games left, a four game skid now without Lopez is less harmful than a four game skid closer to the post-season. Losing Brook Lopez for seven to eight games now is more preferable than losing him for ten games down the stretch at a crucial timing, or possibly even for the season if he is rushed back too quickly and re-injures his foot. He's just too valuable to rush back. A loss to the Knicks and the blasphemy that could rise from Knicks fans is worth enduring to ensure a healthy Lopez.

So far, Lopez hasn't just been a max contract. He hasn't been just an all-star worthy center. Brook Lopez has been the team. He is the reason the Nets are seeded so highly so early. He's the reason they are getting respect. He's been living up to the hype with exceptions to his rebounding flaws. A game missed now is worth several games missed later.


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