Brook Lopez: Modest showing in preseason opener

As was the plan, the big man played a modest amount of minutes, as the Nets will not overly exert the most vital piece of their team during the exhibition slate. Lopez should once again be in for another high-usage role and will have even more scoring responsibility on his shoulders following the offseason departure of Thaddeus Young, who served as an excellent complementary presence down low last season. Therefore, a repeat of the 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals that Lopez provided last season is certainly conceivable, with the very real possibility that those numbers could be exceeded.