It could be the shoulder, injured nine games ago on a reach-in against Detroit. It might be the aching back, which flared after he was banged around rebounding four games ago.
Either way, Nets’ Yi Jianlian has struggled badly lately. Suffice to say, his shooting has been downright Net-like.
But not for long. Yi promises.
“Not going to happen again,” said Yi, who also vows to play when the Nets face Memphis at the Meadowlands tonight (6:00, YES, WFAN 660 AM), which also happens to be an the “Evening of Chinese Culture” promotion, featuring pre, postgame and halftime entertainment with artists from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The shoulder is no longer an issue, the back is sore but Yi said he doesn’t “think it needs a rest.”
“I’ll play if it feels good,” Yi said.
While both insist they will play, Yi and Devin Harris (left knee) didn’t work at yesterday’s light practice. Harris said he suffered a slight sprain during Friday’s loss against Toronto.
“I’m playing,” the guard said.
Yi, who missed 24 games earlier with a sprained knee, has shot 28-of-90 (.311) in nine February games, coinciding with the shoulder injury. He’s 10-of-38 (.263) since hurting his back. Yeah, he’s missed more shots than an inattentive photographer.
“I don’t mind the 2-of-13,” interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe said of Yi’s Friday line. “I went through them. The only ones that upset me and coaches I played for were 1-of-3. If you’re a shooter, shoot.”