National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets: Pistons vs. Nets Pre-Game Report

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:41 p.m. ET

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Mar 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) drives to the basket during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets open up their preseason slate against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center tonight.

Basketball is back in Brooklyn (well sort of)! The Brooklyn Nets open up their preseason slate with a matchup against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons team we saw last year had a lot in common with the Nets team from the 2014-15 season.

Both finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and looked to build off a first round exit against a good team. The only difference is that Brooklyn’s definition of improvement came by doing some subtractions, while Detroit made some additions.

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Following the 2014-15 season, the Nets attempted to improve by buying out the contract of Deron Williams and cutting costs. This, of course, put the Nets in the current state they’re in. They also let some quality players go last summer. Both Alan Anderson and Mirza Teletovic went off on their own paths to find themselves new homes in the NBA. Not to forget, the Nets also traded Mason Plumlee and Notre Dame project Pat Connaughton on draft night. So subtraction is only putting it lightly. Division might actually be a better way of putting it.

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Now, as far as this Pistons team goes, they have made some small additions this offseason. It’s safe to say they will continue to add and improve this young and tough core in front of them. The most notable addition for Detroit is the monster that is 7-foot-3 center Boban Marjanovic. Marjonovic really showed last year that he belongs in the NBA, and thanks to his freakish size, he can play some valuable minutes for Detroit. The Pistons also made some other solid additions to the team: former Sun, Jon Leuer, as well as veteran point guard and former Sixer, Ish Smith. Not to mention, the Pistons also added former McDonald’s All-American and Marquette Golden Eagle, Henry Ellenson, as well as Syracuse standout Michael Gbinije.

Both teams will certainly be looking to see how their new additions will turn out in their first dose of preseason action. However, for the Nets, it’s different as they added over 10 new faces, while the Pistons did the complete opposite, only adding six new faces to their already solid core.

With all the new additions on this Nets team, the matchups should be pretty interesting.

Jan 9, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) looks on during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Nets’ Keys to Victory

Next: Starting Lineups & Other Notes

Nov 29, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during second half at Barclays Center. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons 87-83.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Starting Lineups

Pistons

Nets

Injuries

Additions and Subtractions

Pistons

Nets

With all the new additions as well as injuries to this Pistons team, this preseason matchup will be a strange, yet exciting one. The Nets can walk away victorious if they do what they need to as well as finding their own brand of basketball under Coach Atkinson.

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