Rookie Favors May Start Opening Night

Derrick Favors may be a starter in the League from Day 1, but only if a back injury keeps Troy Murphy Out. ESPNNY with the 411: “New Jersey Nets power forward Troy Murphy may miss the season opener because of a lower back injury. Nets coach Avery Johnson said Saturday that Murphy had a “bad disk” and would be sidelined indefinitely. He does not think Murphy will require surgery. Murphy will not accompany the Nets on their upcoming trip to Russia and China. He will be reevaluated when the team returns… Derrick Favors, the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, started for the Nets on Saturday in their preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson noted that Favors might be the team’s starting power forward on opening night. ‘It gives us a chance to prepare because we probably won’t have [Murphy] to start the season,’ Johnson said.”