Nets coach Avery Johnson often likes to talk about the Nets schedule in 10-game increments as ways to gauge the way his team is playing.
So, with that in mind, over the next week-and-a-half, I’m going to break down the Nets’ 2012-13 schedule in 10 game segments – seven sections with 10 games, with the eighth and final one containing the team’s final 12 games of the season.
Today, we’ll go through games 21-30, including the Nets’ first Christmas Day game in a decade and their first trip to Madison Square Garden as the Brooklyn Nets.
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(Record prediction through 20 games: 13-7)
Dec. 12 at Toronto, 7pm
The Nets head north of the border for the first time this season to take on the Raptors. It will be Brooklyn’s second look at the combination of Jonas Valanciunas and Andrea Bargnani inside, one that has the potential to cause a lot of problems.
Prediction: Win (14-7)
Dec. 14 Detroit, 7:30pm
Like Toronto, Detroit has an intriguing pair of young big men in Greg Monroe and rookie Andre Drummond. Combined with second-year guard Brandon Knight, the Pistons may finally be turning the ship around under former Nets coach Lawrence Frank.
Prediction: Win (15-7)
Dec. 15 at Chicago, 8pm
The Nets will get their first look of the season at the Bulls, who will be without the services of injured superstar point guard Derrick Rose. This will also mark C.J. Watson’s return to Chicago, where he played the past two seasons.
Prediction: Loss (15-8)
Dec. 18 Utah, 7:30pm
The Jazz are a team on the rise in the Western Conference, primarily thanks to their trio of talented big men in Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and former Net Derrick Favors, the key piece in the Deron Williams trade. Those big men could give the Nets trouble.
Prediction: Win (16-8)
Dec. 19 at Knicks, 7pm
The Nets will make their first trip as the Brooklyn Nets to the Garden, where Deron Williams has already famously suggested they will have some of their fans in the building. That remains to be seen, but it should be another excellent game.
Prediction: Loss (16-9)
Dec. 23 Philadelphia, 3pm
The Nets will get their first look at the Sixers, who have undergone a bit of a renovation during this offseason despite getting into the second round of the playoffs. They’ve shipped out Elton Brand, saw Lou Williams sign with the Hawks and replaced him with Nick Young.
Prediction: Win (17-9)
Dec. 25 Boston, 12pm
The last time the Nets played on Christmas Day was in 2002. That day, they blew out the Celtics. They’ll hope to do the same this winter, when they will host the first-ever Christmas Day game at Barclays Center and take on Boston for the third time already this season.
Prediction: Win (18-9)
Dec. 26 at Milwaukee, 8pm
The Nets will get another look at Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, this time in Milwaukee. Another player to watch could be Long Island native Tobias Harris, who impressed with Milwaukee in Summer League after an up-and-down rookie season a year ago.
Prediction: Win (19-9)
Dec. 28 Charlotte, 7:30pm
The hapless Bobcats, who were the worst team in NBA history last year, will likely be a little better this year. But they still have a long way to go before they become a representative NBA team – even the injury-depleted Nets blew them out last year.
Prediction: Win (20-9)
Dec. 29 Cleveland, 7:30pm
New Jersey native Kyrie Irving will make his first trip to Brooklyn, where he’ll continue to try and establish himself as one of the top point guards in the NBA against Deron Williams. The always-pesky Anderson Varejao will give Brook Lopez some trouble in the post, as well.
Prediction: Loss (20-10)
tbontemps@nypost.com