The Nets are scuffling of late, having dropped 11 of their last 13 games.
The road doesn't get any easier for Brooklyn, as the Los Angeles Lakers -- owners of the NBA's best record in the West at 35-9 -- come to Barclays Center for a matchup on Thursday.
Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie know the challenge of trying to slow down LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the high-powered Lakers.
"It's a great opportunity to compete against a great team," said Atkinson. "I think it's two-fold, but slowing them down, and really scoring with them, they're an elite defense."
"Obviously, they're one of the best teams in the league," said Dinwiddie. "They've got great shot-blocking, rebounding, obviously a couple star players, so it's going to be a great challenge."