Rumor has it Brook Lopez is petitioning the NBA to play all 82 games against the Knicks.
Lopez put in a dominant performance against the Nets' crosstown rivals for the second time this season Tuesday night, scoring 23 points to go with eight rebounds and three blocks to help lead the Nets to a 98-93 victory over the Knicks.
"I think throughout the game we had fun out there," Lopez said. "We played with a lot of confidence, and showed a good effort.
"We have lots of room to improve, but I think a lot of guys are getting back to what they are known to do."
It was the kind of performance the Nets (7-9) hope to get more frequently from Lopez, coming off a second season-ending injury to his right foot in the past three seasons. And it also was the kind of performance — albeit against an awful Knicks team — that gives the Nets reason for optimism about whether their core of Lopez, Deron Williams, and Joe Johnson is capable of making noise in the Eastern Conference.
"If we're going to be anything," Kevin Garnett said, "it's going to be because of Brook and the other guys."
When that question was posed to general manager Billy King Monday, his answer was a simple, "We'll see."
Because the trio has one just first-round series victory on its résumé, has endured myriad injuries and is on its fourth coach in three years together, it would have been hard for King to say anything different.
But his answer also officially started the clock on the next big decision he and the Nets have to make: what to do with Lopez.
With a player option looming at the end of this season, Lopez is the only one of the "Big Three" that potentially could leave the team on his own next summer. And, because of the lingering questions about the long-term health of his right foot, the Nets will have to think long and hard about whether to move on from Lopez, as well.
Lopez's performance against the Knicks, however, was a glimpse into what the 7-footer is capable of. After scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the first meeting between these teams last month in Brooklyn, Lopez scored 19 points in the first half in this one, easily establishing whatever position he wanted on the court against whatever defender the Knicks tried to cover him with.
He also made a pair of key plays in the game's final two minutes, grabbing a defensive rebound and calling timeout and blocking a Cole Aldrich shot.
"Coach has been on Brook so hard, along with some of you guys," Garnett said. "I haven't been keeping up with it, but I hear it. But for the most part, he's been dealing with it really well. The fact he takes the criticism and comes through and plays with that fire, those are the things I think we're looking for from him.
"It's good. I'm glad he had a super game. He was a monster tonight."
When healthy, Lopez is arguably the NBA's best low-post scorer, and while he's never going to be Bill Russell defensively, he's become a more effective rim protector.
Though Lopez has his strengths, he also has significant weaknesses. He's a skilled scorer but limited when it comes to passing, and despite his massive frame is a below-average rebounder while also lacking in foot speed and athleticism in pick-and-roll coverages.
Then there are the obvious concerns about the long-term health of Lopez's right foot. He underwent a complicated surgery in January to reposition bones in the foot to better distribute his weight across it.
Because of his injury history, if Lopez remains healthy this season it almost assuredly would mean he would opt-out of the final year of his contract in order to secure a lucrative long-term deal, one he had undoubtedly get given the lack of quality big men around the league.
Lopez has looked like a player trying to round back into form so far this season, entering Tuesday's game averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while having his production fluctuate nightly. He also has had issues with new coach Lionel Hollins, who isn't afraid to speak his mind and has openly called for Lopez to do more, primarily in terms of defense and rebounding.
Because of the forgiving East, the Nets have plenty of time for Lopez and the team to round into form and make the playoffs. But simply making the playoffs isn't what King and the Nets had in mind when they put this group together in July 2012.
And, if that's the extent of what the Nets do this year, it will leave King, Lopez and the Nets with lots of questions to answer next July.
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