<div align="center"><u><font size="5"><font color="#0A355E">NEW JERSEY NETS</font> @ <font color="#B84056">CLEVELAND CAVALIERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">PROJECTED STARTERS</font></font></u> <u><font size="2"><font color="#B84056">CAVS</font></font></u> <font color="#B84056">C Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF Drew Gooden SF LeBron James SG Larry Hughes PG Eric Snow</font> <font color="#0A355E">C Nenad Krstic PF Cliff Robinson SF Richard Jefferson SG Vince Carter PG Jason Kidd</font> <u><font size="2"><font color="#0A355E">NETS</font></font></u> <u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">MATCHUP BREAKDOWN</font></font></u></div> <font color="#B84056">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font> v <font color="#0A355E">Nenad Krstic</font> – One of the veteran European big men is facing up to one of the new generation of such players. Zydrunas Ilgauskas should be able to take this matchup with added experience, height, weight and current ability. Krstic has future potential, but he’s not up to Ilgauskas’ ability level at the moment. <font color="#B84056">Drew Gooden</font> v <font color="#0A355E">Cliff Robinson</font> – The former 6th Man of the Year and 38 year old Cliff Robinson will be matching up with a new man on the block, ready to prove his worth in the League for the Cavaliers. Robinson was once a very valuable player on any team he played on, now he is more of a role player who really is meant to be there as a presence rather than for high statistics. Gooden to win this one. <font color="#B84056">LeBron James</font> v <font color="#0A355E">Richard Jefferson</font> – Jefferson has been coming up big this year, and I expect him to do so once more. He will need to bring his A+ game to The Q, and I think he is able to do that. He’ll crash the boards more than LeBron, who may well be forced to pass it more. If he doesn’t, he must ensure that he drives well and hopefully forces the foul. LeBron to surpass Jefferson here, but not by a long way. <font color="#B84056">Larry Hughes</font> v <font color="#0A355E">Vince Carter</font> – Like Jefferson, Larry Hughes will be the weaker player going into this matchup. Again, though, it’s not a huge margin due to Hughes’ form. I expect Vinsanity to reign supreme in this matchup, although it will be a relativelt close matchup, especially if Hughes can play defence like we all know he can <font color="#B84056">Eric Snow</font> v <font color="#0A355E">Jason Kidd</font> – Jason Kidd is a better point guard and all around player than Snow. However, Snow is capable to bringing any player’s stats down. I don’t think he will be anywhere near as good as Kidd, but I’d still look for Kidd’s stats to drop in places. . <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">OTHER NOTES</font></font></u></div> <ul> [*]The Cavs are coming off a 1-2 road trip and a 2-night rest. [*]The Nets have had a one day break after beating the Bobcats [*]The Nets are leading 5-2 since LeBron entered the League. [*]LeBron averages 23.7ppg, 5.1rpg and 7.9apg against the Nets. [*]The Cavs are 11-6. [*]The Nets are 8-9. [/list] <div align="center"><u><font size="3"><font color="#B84056">SCORE PREDICTION</font></font></u></div> <u> <font size="2"><font color="#0A355E">95</font> - <font color="#B84056">97</font></font></u>
