After making huge news this year for acquiring Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Brooklyn Nets have become the NBA’s biggest disappointment. Now, they are without center Brooke Lopez, possibly for the entire season. The Bulls are all too familiar with injuries. They are without Derrick Rose for another season, Luol Deng will likely sit today, and both Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich are game time decisions.
The Bulls are currently on a four game losing streak, but look to turn things on around on Christmas. They will need their two veterans, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer to play as well as they did Sunday against the Cavaliers. With Lopez gone, the Nets do not have an adequate backup as Garnett’s minutes are limited. The Nets are coming off an ugly loss at home to one of the most dominant teams in the league, the Pacers. Paul Pierce was ejected during the game, but in more disappointing news, he was 0 for 7 from the field.
This game was expected to be a big Eastern Conference showdown, but now it is just a game to end one of these teams losing streaks. The Nets have looked lost under new coach Jason Kidd’s leadership, but Chicago has so many injuries to key players. This game will likely be sloppy, but at least it is only game one of Christmas Day basketball! Bulls vs. Nets- who you takin?
