Nets @ Cavaliers Preview <div align="center"> <font color="Navy">New Jersey Nets</font> (29-20) @ <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (20-32)</div> Wednesday, Feb. 11, 7:00 pm Eastern Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: FSOhio, NBALP Vegas Line: Check back gameday Season Series: Cavaliers 0, Nets 1 01.02.04 Cavaliers 82 @ Nets 97 Previous Game Celtics 89 @ Cavaliers 97 76ers 87 @ Nets 99 (Plays Detroit tonight) Last 10 Games Cleveland: 6-4 (Won 1) New Jersey: 8-2 (Won 8) Head Coaches Paul Silas/Lawrence Frank Probable Starters Jeff McInnis/Jason Kidd LeBron James/Kerry Kittles Eric Williams/Richard Jefferson Carlos Boozer/Kenyon Martin Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Aaron Williams 6th Men Dajuan Wagner/Lucious Harris Injury Update Cavaliers Tony Battie Ruben Boumtje Boumtje Nets Alonzo Mourning Eddie Griffin Tamar Slay <div align="center">Players To Watch LeBron James/Jason Kidd James: 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.49 steals Kidd: 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 1.81 steals</div> Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Transition defense Limit turnovers Slow the game down, use Big Z Zone it up, keep the Nets shooting jumpers Attack the basket, make freethrows, run the floor and don't turn the ball over <u>Nets</u> Run the floor every possession Must box out on both ends Double Ilgauskas Play that shadow defense on LeBron, get him out of the ball game The King's Take Well this does not look good for the Cavs eh? The Nets destroyed a MicInnis-less Cavs early January, and I mean it when is aid it was not pretty from start to finish. The Nets without Byron Scott have been in fire, so it is clear the players wanted him out. Key to beating then is to lick up both painted areas and protect the basketball, not giving the Nets a chance to run the floor. Easier said than done however. I'll pick the Nets to win, but this time but under 10 points. So yes, I'm calling a close one, sue me. <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font>
Yeah, I think this game will be a close one, don't really know which team I want to say is going to win, but Nets are on fire now, so I would say Nets by 5!
Great preview KJ, I'd love to see your Cavs take this one and break Frank's streak though. Thank goodness Boumtje is injured, who'd want to use him? I just hope Wagner shoots like he use to and doesn't hog the ball if he gets some playing time. K-Mart v.s. Boozer, battle of strength and boarding ability, that'll be entertaining. If you guys are to win Z, has to keep up with the tempo, even Collins or Rodgers might be even faster then he is. McInnis is facing an awesome PG, it'll be very difficult for him to take him on, or even stopping him altogether. I just hope Kedrick doesn't goof up and get into foul trouble. Jefferson and Kenyon look like they'll carry the offense with Kittles and Harris. Maybe LeBron can see past Kidd's intentions, he's played him and learnt from him, maybe he picked something up that would be of some great help. As much as I want the Cavs to win, I agree Nets take this by around 7.
My heart is saying Cavaliers but my brain Nets. Z will be ours main weapon. If Nets won't double Iluglauskas we could won it. I'm Cavs fan so i will suport them and i hope that they will win it. Cavs by 4. :thumbsup:
You know, I'm going with the upset here. I say Cavaliers by 3, and I think it will go into overtime. Ilgauskas should have a pretty good game, and he is the key factor if the Cav's want to win this one.
The cav's just came out with a win against the celts, so they win be playing some good ball. As much as a want boozer and james to domante i don't see it happening. It wil be a close game i say nets by 3.
I so wanted to pick upset, because that nets streak has got to come to an end soon, I just did not have the guts, the Nets are playing awesome ball right now. Great heart people.
Cavs will break New Jersey's winning streak if it doesnt end today w/ Detroit. We are at the Gund, Cavs by 6 in freethrow mahem.
The Nets did an excellent team defensive job on Lebron in the last machup. But with the addition of Jeff Mcinnis at the point the cavs are a different team & lebron is a different player. Lebron is now able to move without the ball, which will allow him to get easier baskets cutting toward the basket. And Lebon will not have to create shots everytime down the court against the Nets perimeter defenders with quick hands like Kidd & kittles. So lebron will feel more comfortable in this matchup. His game seemed kind of forced the 1st game. I think he will have a good night tonight. But the Carlos boozer/Kenyon Martin matchup is the one that has my attention. They both had good games the last game. I expect them to go at it again tonight. Both of these cats love to bang, The matchup will be pyshical. For some reason boozer reminds me of K-mart except his offense game might stretch a little deeper than k-mart. And K-mart has the edge on defense. But they both get alot of scrappy baskets, and work all game long. Its fun to see these type of plays try & out work each other. I think that the Nets will pull this game out late. The cavs are still a young team & have a trend of making costly turnovers here & there(even with Jeff at the point). And that will play right in to the Nets game plan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cArMeLo15:</div><div class="quote_post">Nah, the Nets are too hot. Nets by 7.</div> I do agree. I know that Z will have his way in the paint with COllins out. However, will Silas be willing to keep Z in the game and slow the Cavs down? They have more thatn enough problems keeping up with the Nets' break and much more with Z in the game. However, they don't have a choice with Battie out with an injury. Look for the Nets to take advantage this. I think the focus will be K-Mart vs. Boozer. Some people are saying that Boozer deserves it over K-Mart. K-Mart will try to prove it otherwise while Boozer will prove that he at least deserves some consideration. Jason Kidd will have a heydey if Jeff will be the one to guard him. Bron will have to earn his points with almost 3 players capable of guarding him. Even Jason can guard him. He'll have his numbers though. Sorry Cavs fan. Nets by 10+.
I want the Cavs to shut the Nets out but I know it isn't going to happen. If the Cavs can make the Nets slow diwn they have a real good chance at winning this one. But I'll have to say Nets by 4.
I'd love to pick upset, but the Nets are too hot as of now to be stopped by the young Cavs. I expect the youngsters to put up a fight though. The Nets will take this one by 10+, the deficit way wider than the game was.
As I have said before, so i'll say it again everytime i pick the cavs they will lose, But i will have to break the curse sometime. Cavs I think will go right at K-Mart who will get picked apart by Boozer because K-Mart is overrated. I say that Boozer has a great game, Diop will get more mins then Z, and LeBron will score..........what the heck, 40 points.
I'm going to go with common sense over heart in this one. Cavs are a border line awful defensive team. Kidd, Kittles, and Jefferson will be getting to the hoop over and over again. Our perimeter defense can't keep anyone in front of them, hence our big guys have been getting in foul trouble a lot lately since Battie went down and we are thin in the front court. Z will have a big advantage in the low post, but if the Nets are able to get out and run like they love to do, he'll probably have to be pulled out of the game because he can't keep up with Williams. If Lebron's outside shot is falling, Nets by 5. If its not, Nets by 12.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Amherstcavsfan:</div><div class="quote_post">As I have said before, so i'll say it again everytime i pick the cavs they will lose, But i will have to break the curse sometime. Cavs I think will go right at K-Mart who will get picked apart by Boozer because K-Mart is overrated. I say that Boozer has a great game, Diop will get more mins then Z, and LeBron will score..........what the heck, 40 points. </div> Overrated? Boozer AND Z can pick K-Mart apart. K-Mart will have to defend Boozer AND help out with Z. If Boozer comes out better from this match-up, it's because of that reason. Oh and I don't know if you're serious about Bron scoring 40 points. But you did call K-Mart overrated so what the heck. I don't think Bron will score 40points. Not with the Nets defense.
I say Cavs will win the nets play today also and i think they will be fatigued tomorow. Also there win streak has to end sooner or later. We have to cut down on turnovers to beat them and we will go out with a W.
The reason I say Boozer is better than K-Mart is because HE IS!!! Boozer PPG: 14.8 RPG: 11.0 FG% .520 FT% .761 Martin PPG: 18.0 RPG: 9.9 FG% .499 FT% .674 Martin has more points, but Boozer has more rebounds, not to mention Boozer has better range and a better free throw shooter and The Cavs can't win w/o him. Martin does have all-star numbers but so does Boozer, But after seeing the stats I don't think he is as overrated but as I thought, but still overrated.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Amherstcavsfan:</div><div class="quote_post">The reason I say Boozer is better than K-Mart is because HE IS!!! Boozer PPG: 14.8 RPG: 11.0 FG% .520 FT% .761 Martin PPG: 18.0 RPG: 9.9 FG% .499 FT% .674 Martin has more points, but Boozer has more rebounds, not to mention Boozer has better range and a better free throw shooter and The Cavs can't win w/o him. Martin does have all-star numbers but so does Boozer, But after seeing the stats I don't think he is as overrated but as I thought, but still overrated. </div> Maybe...just maybe...you'll soon realize that stats isn't everything. But since you've posted some stats, let me post some for you. These are the stats that K-Mart is ahead of Boozer and for some weird reason, you didn't include them. 1.27 spg 1.37 bpg 2.5 apg .316 3P% Oh, and K-Mart is a better defender. K-Mart is better all-around. I also sure hope that you're not one of those guys who's jumping on to the Boozer bandwagon after he pulled off those straight great games.
Martin is so much better defensively It's not even close, in terms of pure offense It is very close, Boozer is a better rebounder but that alone doesn't make you a better player. Boozer is getting better and better, but better than Martin? no
