Lopez is at the center of the Nets' future

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The center matchup at IZOD Center on Saturday night pitted the best center in the East, and arguably the NBA, against the rookie big man that gives the Nets a reason to be optimistic about the future.
 
Brook Lopez isn't in Dwight Howard's class and may never be. Lopez is not nearly as athletic and doesn't have the shot-blocking presence of Howard. But, Lopez is more skilled offensively and has been the brightest spot in a Nets' season that once again will end with zero playoff games.
 
"The big fella," Devin Harris said, "he's going to be great."
 
On the night that the Nets handed out "Brookie of the Year" T-shirts to promote Lopez for the Rookie of the Year award, the big man had 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a 103-93 New Jersey win over the Magic.
 
Lopez probably won't win top rookie, but he blocked a Howard drive in the third and outplayed the Magic center last night. Howard played for only 26 minutes, finishing with seven points and seven rebounds.
 
This may be a little premature, but the prediction here is Howard and Lopez could be the East's top two centers for the next 10 years or so. The Nets would love that, and, really, it's up to Lopez.
 
If he continues to work hard and get better, then it could be a reality.
 
The Nets are banking on it, although they don't want to put too much pressure on Lopez. He just turned 21 and is a big kid. Lopez only got his driver's license two months ago.
 
But, Lopez is 7-foot, a willing worker and learner and has had a better rookie season than just about everyone expected.
 
"I think he's had an awesome year," Vince Carter said. "He's really developed and he's going to be an All Star."
 
That would be an accomplishment for a Nets center. They've had just one -- Jayson Williams in 1998. Lopez could and should be the second and multiple times. Williams did it just once.
 
Aside from learning the NBA game, developing a go-to move, Lopez needs to get nasty. He could be dominant if he combines his jump shooting, with some post moves and with a Howard-like, pick-and-role game where if anyone gets in Superman's way he winds up in the rim.
 
It's something Carter has been stressing all season. He's gotten much better at it since Dwyane Wade blocked Lopez not once, but twice, when he was rolling to the basket.
 
Then on Friday, Lopez showed a little of his nasty side against Detroit's Kwame Brown. Lopez had the scowl going, huffed and puffed a little and smiled at the absurdity of Brown talking smack. It was good to see him go at the veteran big man.
 
"He was visibly upset and it turned his intensity up a notch," coach Lawrence Frank said.
 
"It just gave me fire to go right at him," Lopez said.
 
You'd like to see more of that. But, all in all, Lopez has done a great job and will wind up with probably the best rookie season for a Nets' center. Mike Gminski averaged 13.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.79 blocks in 1980-81.
 
Lopez's numbers with two games left are 13.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.83 blocks -- and they've only recently been calling more plays for him
 
Then, when you look at who's played the center position for the Nets, Lopez could end up challenging for the best in the team's history.
 
In no particular order, these are some of the better Nets' centers: Darryl Dawkins, Gminski, Joe Barry Carroll, Sam Bowie, Shawn Bradley, Williams, Jason Collins and Nenad Krstic.
 
It's been some time, but it looks like finally have a big man they can post and go to 25 times a night. They should have done that more this season. His standout rookie year may have been even better.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.).