Playoffs Definite With Lopez

NEWARK,NJ—Ten years.  Ten painful years.  Thats how long it has been since the New Jersey Nets were a legitimate contender for an NBA Title.

Now, with superstar Deron Williams, the Nets came into the season poised to retain at least a playoff birth if not more.

However, Brook Lopez's right-foot had other plans.

Lopez has been out since Dec. 23, when he had surgery on his broken right-foot. 

Despite Lopez's inability to grab rebounds, the Nets would be a playoff team if he was healthy.
Crazy, I think not.



First off, the Nets currently sit in 11th only four games out of the eighth and final playoff slot.

That isn't too shabby for a team that has been without its fill-in center Mehmet Okur who has been out the past six games.

However, there has been little to zero post-play from the Nets offense since they realized Okur is more of three-point shooter than a center.

While Kris Humphries has done a formidable job, averaging a double-duble with 13.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game, the Nets are without their consistent post threat.

Lopez has become the mainstay for the Nets in the post since he entered the league in 2008.

He showed a huge leap in production last season averaging over 20 points per game despite the dip in rebounding, thanks to the overaggressive Humphries.

However, the Nets were built around a prominent post player this season.  Look at all the three point shooters on this team.

The Nets have five players that have shot higher than 37 percent from the three-point line currently on their roster.

Not to mention sharp-shooter Anthony Morrow who is averaging 45 percent from three for his career.

With Lopez, inside it forces the attention away from the three point slinging Nets, who lead the league in three-pointers made and attempted.

Lopez has become a dominant post threat in the NBA and with him the healthy the Nets would currently be in the playoffs.

Enough said, even without Dwight the Nets would still be a threat with their home-grown post threat to make a solid run through the playoffs.

However, Howard might be the guy to return them to the Jason Kidd days.