Several times during what eventually became a 97-77 Nets win over the Magic, the Brooklyn fans began chanting “All-Star” at Brook Lopez.
It was an honor many had expected Lopez to earn last week, before he was passed over by the league’s coaches in the voting for the All-Star reserves, but one that is potentially back on the table now that Celtics star Rajon Rondo will be out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
“I’m just thankful we have fans out here like that who will support us and continue to support us night in and night out,” said Lopez, who had 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds and a blocked shot in just under 28 minutes. “I’m not really thinking about it, honestly.”
With Rondo’s spot now available, the task of filling it falls to the commissioner’s office, and a league spokesman said yesterday that there was no timetable for the decision.
If the decision is made to select the most worthy player available, then Lopez has a very strong argument to be selected. If, on the other hand, a guard is selected to replace Rondo, then either Deron Williams or Joe Johnson could have a case, as well.
But, as far as Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo is concerned, he’s just hoping one of his players will be given the opportunity to make the trip to Houston next month.
“I’m equal opportunity,” Carlesimo said. “I just hope it’s one of our three guys. Obviously I don’t want to be the one to pick, [but] I don’t know what the commissioner will do. I don’t know what will guide him in his decision.”
* After a pair of terrific performances with the Nets’ D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, Tornike Shengelia will now be out indefinitely after suffering a concussion.
“He’s still got concussion symptoms so he’s not even close,” Carlesimo said. “The protocol hasn’t even started yet. You have to get to some line, then they start the protocol and he hasn’t even started the protocol yet, so he’s going to be out for a little bit.”
Shengelia was named the D-League’s Performer of the Week after averaging 31.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two games.
* Last night’s win improved the Nets to 11-3 in January, tying the franchise record for wins in the month, which they’ve hit twice before, and makes it twice now that the Nets have won 11 games in a month this season after going 11-4 in November.