Featured Matchup: Nets’ Mason Plumlee vs. Nikola Vucevic
How will Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets’ center Mason Plumlee stack up against each other?
Friday, Jan. 2 vs. Brooklyn Nets
Vitals: Brooklyn is 15-16 (.484), 7-8 on the road, 10-10 vs. East, negative-1.8 point differential; two-game win streak; 6-4 last 10 games
The Brooklyn Nets are the second toughest team in this four-game stretch. First off, the Nets have been heating up as winners of six of their past 10, including five of their past six.
While the wins did come over three poor teams in Detroit, Denver and Boston, wins are wins.
The Nets had suffered a three-game skid prior to the Pistons loss on Dec. 21, but two of the three opponents are Eastern Conference contenders (Toronto and Cleveland).
In the contest against the Celtics, Jared Sullinger rimmed out at the buzzer in a very makable shot. It was preceded by another jumper from the red-hot Jarrett Jack who finished with 27 points for the Nets. Jack got the start over the pathetic former superstar Deron Williams, whose enthusiasm and effort has evaporated entirely since signing the max-deal with Brooklyn.
Jack has proven to be an effective borderline starter throughout his career, and is at this point the Nets best option moving forward. Perhaps it even motivates D-Will; who knows?
Key Matchup: Center, Mason Plumlee v. Nikola Vucevic
Former Duke Blue Devil Mason Plumlee has seemingly leveled out this season, but remains a very efficient player, posting the highest PER of any Net.
He averages 9.1 points and 6.5 rebounds, but he rarely turns the ball over (1.1 per game) and shoots 53.8 percent from the field.
Plumlee’s only true downfall is his 43 percent mark at the stripe.
The Magic just played hack-a-Drummond, but Plume is not integral in the offense enough to make this a strategy.
Still, not letting Plumlee dunk in transition may require a friendly hack or two.
It is strange to think that the most promising Net is not the “boardophobic” Brook Lopez, but Plumlee, who was selected in the bottom-third of the first round (22nd) in 2013.
The story in his last 10 games speaks of a far more dominant young player.
Plumlee averaged a much more significant 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while swatting away 1.6 shots per game in about 32 minutes per contest. The Nets have heated up as a result of his strong play, evidenced by the team putting together two short win streaks in its last 10.
Plumlee does not rebound as well as Vucevic, but he protects the rim better and he finishes stronger.
That is pretty valuable for an NBA center. He also has great hands, which helps him both rebound and catch tougher passes. Essentially, he has some tools, to say the very least.
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Possibly, he is on his ascent towards being David Lee with better defense, which bodes well for a rather nice and long career.
He will have his struggles against Vucevic perhaps, but given his recent play there is no reason to expect the Magic’s franchise player to dominate the 6-foot-11 Plumlee.
The matchup is much more even than most would care to admit, in other words. It is a preview of two up-and-coming centers whose talents will render them both in the league for a long time. While Nikola Vucevic may be on his way to his first All-Star team, Plumlee may not be far behind him some day.
Stats via ESPN – accurate as of Jan 1, 2015.