<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 10, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game aired on ESPN</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Miami Heat</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(2-2)</span><span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Gary Payton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Dwyane Wade</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Antoine Walker</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Udonis Haslem</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Shaquille O'Neal</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Alonzo Mourning, James Posey, Dorell Wright, Jason Kapono</span><span style="color:#000099">New Jersey</span> <span style="color:#999999">(2-1)</span><span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Kidd</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Richard Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Collins</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Nenad Krstic</span><span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Antoine Wright, Marcus Williams, Bostjan Nachbar, Mikki Moore</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#000000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Jason Williams will not play (recovering from knee surgery)</span><span style="color:#000000">MIA:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shaquille O'Neal is a gametime decision (left knee)</span><span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Eddie House will not play (recovering from left knee surgery)</span><span style="color:#999999">NJ:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Boone will not play (shoulder)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#FF0000">Dwyane Wade</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 23.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Shaquille O'Neal</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Antoine Walker</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Jason Kidd</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 12.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 5.0 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 27.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.0 apg</span><span style="color:#000099">Richard Jefferson</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 apg</span>Rookie Watch <span style="color:#999999">SA:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Marcus Williams</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 22</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Miami's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">James Posey</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 42% 3FG</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Big Game James has to come in and play good defense on VC and Jefferson. He will be key in this game defensively.</span><span style="color:#000099">New Jersey's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000099">Nenad Krstic</span><span style="color:#999999">Last Season's Stats: 13.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 56% FG</span><span style="color:#000099">Krstic is the only good big man in New Jersey. Shaq is Shaq, Zo is a defensive force, Haslem is a double-double threat, and Toine does a little bit of everything. Krstic needs to be effective for NJ to get a W, especially if 1-2 of Miami's bigs are having good nights (Toine is due for one).</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Dwyane Wade</span> <span style="color:#000099">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000099">Vince Carter</span><span style="color:#000000">Both of these are top wings in the league, and both are capable of absolutely exploding on any given night. It's always a treat to watch a head-to-head matchup with to All-Stars.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesNew Jersey hasn't been able to get it done vs. Miami the past 2 years in the playoffs, but this year I think they can compete with them much better. New Jersey has gotten better while Miami is banged up and getting older. Should be a good one. CelticBalla's PredictionThis is tough to predict the winner, it's going to be a good one. I'm going to say New Jersey takes it at home in a game that comes down to the last minute.
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">Dammit... Nets blew a 10-point deficit in the 3rd quarter. Plus, RJ got injured! How lame!</span>
Come on, don't act like you're surprised. You know we always own you guys. :winkglasses: Anyways, Wade had a great night with 34 points and 10 assists. Also, was nice to see Shaq back.
I only got to see the very end of the 3rd, and the 4th (Celtics were in a tight one with Utah), but a few observations:- I saw RJ's ankle injury on the replay - OUCH. I have no idea why Frank decided to let him back in the game - stupid move.- GP and Toine hit some big buckets down the stretch.- Good to see Shaq back.- VC was VC.- I love Antoine Wright.Any update on Jefferson's injury? Again, stupid move by Lawrence Frank to put him back in the game. But is he day-to-day (looks more than that) or what?
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">On ESPNews, the reporters were saying that RJ is "injured indefinitely". :no3: </span>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Illosophee @ Nov 11 2006, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-family:Tahoma">On ESPNews, the reporters were saying that RJ is "injured indefinitely". :no3: </span></div>I really hope not. The guy is a fantastic basketball player. It would really take a hit on the Nets if he's out indefinitely.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Illosophee @ Nov 11 2006, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-family:Tahoma">On ESPNews, the reporters were saying that RJ is "injured indefinitely". :no3: </span></div>All that means is they don't know. I hear reports about injuries all the time, saying they are out "indefinitely." That makes it sound like a loooong time, right? Well, half the time the player returns 3 days later, so I wouldn't hold ESPN to that comment.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 11 2006, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Any update on Jefferson's injury? Again, stupid move by Lawrence Frank to put him back in the game.</div>It wasn't a stupid move to let him back in the game. Most times when you twist your ankle you are able to walk/run it off and it is fine. he tested it out for 2-3 plays, didn't work out, and he went back to locker room.HUGE hit to Nets, but Nets showed back in 04-05, with a worse overall team, that they could weather the storm without RJ.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 11 2006, 04:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>All that means is they don't know. I hear reports about injuries all the time, saying they are out "indefinitely." That makes it sound like a loooong time, right? Well, half the time the player returns 3 days later, so I wouldn't hold ESPN to that comment.</div><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Umm... I already knew that. You're acting like I don't know what indefinitely means. You should have quoted TSpark.</span>
