The New Jersey Nets need Brook Lopez to toughen up in 2011-12
23-year old center Brook Lopez picked up his offensive game a bit last year but at the cost of his rebounding. The Nets want him to get back under the basket in 2011-12 and play tougher around the rim. Lopez played in 82 games (all starts) for the Nets last year and he averaged 35.2 minutes, 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 246 games (all starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 34.2 minutes, 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game. 25-year old Johan Petro will backup Lopez in 2011-12. Petro played in 77 games (1 start) for the Nets last year and he averaged 11.6 minutes, 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He has now played in 383 games (121 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 15.6 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
