New Jersey Nets (13-12) vs Miami Heat (13-12) Projected Starters Stats Streaks- Nets: W1 / Heat: W1 Leading Scorers- Nets: Devin Harris (23.8 ppg) / Heat: Dwyane Wade (28.0 ppg) Leading Rebounders- Nets: Brook Lopez (7.4 rpg) / Heat: Udonis Haslem (8.9 rpg) Assist Leaders- Nets: Devin Harris (6.3 apg) / Heat: Dwyane Wade (7.2 apg) Field Goal Percentage- Nets: 44.1% / Heat: 44.5% 3PT Percentage- Nets: 36.6% / Heat: 34.0% Free Throw Percentage- Nets: 78.0% / Heat: 74.1% Nets Keys to the Game -Both teams are coming off very impressive wins: the Nets routed the Mavs in New Jersey while the Heat handed the Lakers their 4th loss of the season in Miami. Both teams will have positive momentum and will probably come out strong. The real test will come in the 2nd half, which has been the Nets' weaker one on numerous occasions. The Nets need to take advantage of the Heat's fatigue after a game+flight to snowy NJ in the 2nd half. Last time these two teams met, the Heat outscored the Nets 38-26 in the 4th to win the game. Let's not let that happen again. -Defend the perimeter. The Heat have numerous scoring threats at the 1/2, including Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook and Chris Quinn. Carter, Harris and Dooling will have their hands full tonight and they will need to do a good job on defense. Wade, Chalmers and Cook alone combined for 59 of the Heat's 89 points against the Lakers. -Clog up the lane. We all know how opposing teams try to stop Devin Harris; this time, the Nets will have to apply similar tactics to slow down Dwayne Wade. -Rebound. The Heat have a huge, powerful 3/4/5 combo of Marion, Haslem and Anthony, not to mention the talented Michael Beasley off the bench. -Drive to the basket. The Heat's backup big men are Mark Blount and Jamaal Magloire. They need to be on the court as much as possible, and foul trouble for their starters will cause that. Also, Harris needs to take Wade to the rim again and again to try and get him out of the game and out of his rhythm early because of fouls. X Factor Devin Harris. His matchup with Dwyane Wade will be the focus of tonight's game and the winner will probably lead his team to a win as well. Prediction Nets 103 - Heat 93
LEt's go Nets this would be a huge win. Its a divsion game and will be big this year. I hoe we come out hot and stay hot. the key to the game is keeping d-wade out of the paint and making sure the matrix doesnt get off...and simmions defense.
First we get Kidd's return to the Izod center, now Jamaal Magloire! What an emotional couple of days for Nets fans
^ lol i'm sure not too many people thought the hawks would be 16-10 or that Orlando and Cleveland have a better record that every western team besides LA
Its a small front line that kinda soft so Yi should have another good game tonight, but that is of course if the coach plays him right, and all the other players on the nets team pass him the ball and if the refs calls are right, and the lighting is proper, and if ah i think there was something else but i forgot it already. Lets go YI!!! Who cares if the nets win we only care if yi scores a bunch...
Is Beasley hurt or just not starting anymore? I really haven't been paying attention to teams other then the nets and whoever they play for the last couple weeks.
Beasley isn't starting anymore. He's a tweener forward that can't defend properly. This isn't my criticism, this is what I've been reading. I also heard Marion might have hurt his neck. Beasley stats has dropped considerably.
Hassell in the starting line-up for Simmons. Both shoulders hurting Simmons. Don't know if he's inactive but that's what it said in the pre-game show.
