The stage is set. Today, it was reported by Al Iannazzone that the Brooklyn Nets will open the 2012-2013 season at home against their rival New York Knicks. Neither team will play during the first two nights of the NBA season, instead they will open up the Barclay’s Center on Thursday, November 1st. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.

When asked if he was excited to open up Brooklyn against the cross-town rival Knicks, Deron Williams had this to say:

“I would be more excited if we were playing Miami.”

Is this a slight against the New York Knicks? Possibly. Deron could be suggesting that the Heat would pose a far more daunting challenge than the Knicks would. Regardless of what he meant, he won’t have to wait long to see how his new look Nets fare against the defending champs, as they play Miami in their second game of the season. It will be one of just three games that Brooklyn will play against Miami during the regular season.

The magnitude of the opening night game against New York can not be understated though. The world is awaiting the battle for New York and this will be a historic game, no matter the outcome. A loss here would be catastrophic for Brooklyn after all the stones they have cast this offseason. I may be in the minority, but I was sincerely hoping that the Knicks would not be the opening night opponent in Brooklyn. If enough Knick fans get tickets to this game (You know they are going to certainly try.) it will take away the Nets home court advantage and mar the beginning of the Brooklyn era of Nets basketball. Anyone who has been paying attention would know that Nets vs. Knicks games in Jersey have essentially been a bonus home game for the Knicks in recent years. Ticket sales and fan support suggests that this will not be the case in Brooklyn, let’s hope this holds true.

How will the Nets brilliant backcourt fare against the Knicks and their big money frontcourt? We will get our first glimpse into this  on November 1st.

May 4, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Joe Johnson (2) controls the ball during the third quarter of game three against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 90-84 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

The Atlanta Hawks agreed to send perennial all-star guard Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for a package of expiring contracts on Monday. Atlanta will receive Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams, and Jordan Farmar, who will be bought out by the Hawks.

The deal was first brought up on draft night but it was held up for several days because Atlanta insisted that Brooklyn include promising guard, Marshon Brooks in the package. Eventually it appeared as though they would settle for Gerald Green instead, but somehow Nets general manager Billy King managed to keep both Green and Brooks. This has to be viewed as a huge steal for Brooklyn. The near $90 million owed to Johnson over the next four years is going to worry some people, but the Nets now have the best backcourt in the NBA if Deron Williams re-signs. Sources indicate that Deron is very excited about the acquisition of Johnson.

This trade makes any potential Dwight Howard deal next to impossible right now. The Nets believed that Orlando refused to deal with them so they quickly moved on towards securing a star they knew they could get. This is a continuously developing story, so keep checking in with FromRussiaWithDunk for up to date information on the Brooklyn Nets.