Game 25 | New Jersey @ Cleveland | December 15, 2009 | 7:00 PM EST

[MoFlo]

Game #25

Shaq Bobblehead Night

(2-22)

@

(17-7)

Venue

The Q

Coaches

Kiki Vandeweghe

Mike Brown

New Jersey Nets

Projected Starters:

Josh Boone

Trenton Hassell

Brook Lopez

Courtney Lee

Devin Harris

Bench Bunch:

Chris Douglas-Roberts|Rafer Alston|Eduardo Najera|Bobby Simmons|Sean Williams|Terrence Williams|Tony Battie|Keyon Dooling

Cleveland Cavaliers

Projected Starters:

J.J Hickson

LeBron James

Shaquille O'Neal

Anthony Parker

Moooooooooooooooooooo Williams

Bench Bunch:

Anderson Varejao|Zydrunas Ilgauskas|Delonte West|Daniel Gibson|Jamario Moon|Darnell Jackson|Danny Green|Jawad Williams|Coby Kar

Injury Report

New Jersey:
Yi Jianlian - Out
Jarvis Hayes - Out
Chris Douglas-Roberts - Questionable
Tony Battie - Questionable
Keyon Dooling - Questionable

Cleveland:
Leon Powe - Out
Daniel Gibson - Questionable​

Nets Cheerleaders

Keys to the Game:

-Contain Devin Harris & dribble penetration: Since making his season debut, Harris is averaging 16.5 ppg, but only on 36% shooting. The Nets as a team shoot just 26.5% from behind the arc. If we can keep them out of the paint, this game will be over quickly.

-Defense: This is a great game to get our defense back on track for 48 minutes. New Jersey is dead last in the NBA in points per game at just 88.5 ppg, shooting just 26% from behind the arc

-Control the paint: This is another opportunity for Shaq to show why we acquired him. It's not a premier team we're playing against, but it is an up & coming star in Brook Lopez.

-Avoid disappointment: The Nets are obviously struggling, but we cannot take them lightly. They do have a ton of talent on this team that can hurt you inside the paint. Stay aggressive & don't let up once we get the lead.

-Avoid careless mistakes: Careless mistakes lead to easy fast break points for the opposition. This team could be dangerous if we allow them to get easy buckets.
​

 

[Karma]

CDR is out with a pea heart. Trenton Hassell is starting in his spot.

We should monster this team. Harris is the major concern with his blistering speed and Mo's ordinary defense this season.

I think we are overdue for a blow out.

 

[linelson13]

Great job!
Blowout x Nets

 

[Backstage]

Home court advantage. Last year's best record vs. holders of recorded worst NBA start ever. Don't know how much I will cry/puke/flip/etc. if we can't pull this one off.

 

[Gordon Bombay]

Nets Cheerleaders

Keys to the Game:

dribble penetration:

ok, at first glance, i thought this said "double" penetration especially after looking at pictures of the nets cheerleaders lol

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

RCF can't handle a loss to the Nets. This game is a must-win for this site's collective mental health.

 

[MoFlo]

CDR is out with a pea heart. Trenton Hassell is starting in his spot.

We should monster this team. Harris is the major concern with his blistering speed and Mo's ordinary defense this season.

I think we are overdue for a blow out.

Thanks.

Saw on his espn player page where he might practice today, so I put him as a probable starter & listed him as questionable.

Fixed in the original post.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

This game should be a good test of this teams focus. Last year we buried bad teams like this before the 1st half was even over.

We need to start cleaning up some of the sloppy turnovers and rebounding problems and start playing some good basketball. Especially with some cupcakes coming up on the schedule, we need to win ALL these games.

 

[SonofKemp]

I'm pretty sure we can take this one, New Jersey hasn't played up to their potential as a team. Considering that they have arguably one of the three best rookies from last year in Brook Lopez, and an all-star point guard in Devin Harris, you'd think they'd be flirting with .500. But that's not the case, and that's all the more reason to mop the floor with this team.

 

[Chris]

Thank god we're playing the Nets, we need an easy-

Wait. I refuse to jinx it.

 

[Powerslave]

This is a statement game...that we don't suck.

 

[-Akronite-]

If we aren't up by 20 when garbage time rolls around there is something seriously wrong with our "championship caliber" team.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

If we aren't up by 20 when garbage time rolls around there is something seriously wrong with our "championship caliber" team.

Come on Akronite...you're better than this.

Take a second and look at your post again. That's just a ridiculous, dumb, wrong statement.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291107017

Boston was DOWN by two going into the fourth quarter against these guys.

Orlando was up by like, six, going into the fourth of one of their games.

Come on now. Let's be reasonable.

If we lose, then this site will explode and obviously some thing will have to go very wrong...but these are professional basketball players with a quick point guard and some very streaky guys that can have hot shooting nights. Being up by 20 after three quarters isn't something to be expected, it's nice..but ultimately it means nothing.

 

[Andrew]

I want a bobblehead

 

[Cratylus]

Harris is the major concern with his blistering speed and Mo's non-existent defense this season.

Fixed.