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Brooklyn Nets: The Return Of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Highlights Matchup Vs. Hornets

The Brooklyn Nets invite the return of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tonight at home against the Charlotte Hornets.

  • Brooklyn Nets (19-50)
  • Charlotte Hornets (40-30)
  • NBA, Today, 7:30 PM on YES, Full Preview
  • Barclays Center, New York, NY

The news of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson‘s potential availability for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets came down yesterday. He was listed as probable after missing 50 games with a fractured ankle.

This afternoon, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer tweeted that Hollis-Jefferson will play tonight.

Fans shouldn’t expect to see much of the rookie, but getting Hollis-Jefferson any playing time before the end of this lost season is a plus. It will give him an opportunity to work on a jump shot during in-game situations, of which there is no substitution.

The Nets have been looking forward to this day, as they are adding Hollis-Jefferson to their group of other young talents.

https://youtu.be/ofxbumDJGlM

D-league call-up Sean Kilpatrick, 26, has been excellent during his stretch in Brooklyn, earning himself a guaranteed deal for next season. Fellow rookie Chris McCullough, 21, has shown flashes of the potential that had scouts gushing during the draft process, and Bojan Bogdanovic, 26, has been on fire since replacing the departed Joe Johnson in the starting lineup.

A big story tonight will be the defenses. The Nets and Hornets are on the opposite end of the spectrum. In defensive efficiency, the lowly Nets rank 29th and the playoff-bound Hornets rank 8th. The Nets are last in opponent’s FG%, 29th in opponent’s eFG%, 25th in opponent’s 3P%, and 20th in defensive rebound percentage; while the Hornets rank 11th, 12th, 14th, and 1st in the same categories respectively.

At home in Brooklyn the Nets could be motivated by the return of Hollis-Jefferson, but they are playing a far superior team. This one could be ugly.