How to Net the W: Nets vs. Miami Heat 01/25/17

Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat 01-25-17

Time: Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Barclay’s Center | Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network, Fox Sports Go

Projected Starters:

Brooklyn:

Spencer Dinwiddie, Randy Foye, Bojan Bogdanovic, Trevor Booker, Brook Lopez

Miami:

Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, Rodney McGruder, Luke Babbitt, Hassan Whiteside

Absences:

Brooklyn:

Jeremy Lin, Joe Harris

Miami:

Tyler Johnson

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The Brooklyn Nets look to rebound after being the only underdog team to lose a game Monday night when they got blown out by the San Antonio Spurs. Coming to town is the second to last worst team in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat.

While the Heat are having a bad year, they are currently on a four game winning streak after the incredible game-winning shot Dion Waiters made against the Golden State Warriors Monday night. Waiters has been on fire as he is the only player in franchise history to have back-to-back 30+ point games while also making 5+ three-point shots.

If Brooklyn wants to win this game they need to diminish Waiters’ confidence. Force him into tough and contested shots and disallow him form getting into a rhythm. Waiters has been the main source of their offense of late and, if you could shut him down, you have a solid chance at winning.

Waiters is not the only player on the Heat that Brooklyn will need to focus on. Hassan Whiteside is a beast down low. Whiteside is averaging 17.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season. Brook Lopez and Trevor Booker will surely have their hands full both on defense and on the glass.

Brooklyn will need to around a second-half meltdown. Whether it be the third or fourth quarters, Brooklyn will need to come out ready to play hard and defend their home court. This Heat team, especially if near-Net Tyler Johnson is sitting out like he did against the Warriors.

Brooklyn needs to start taking advantage of games like these. These are the other not so great teams in the league and Brooklyn needs to come out and be ready to play and win these games if they want to surpass last seasons’ win total.