By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
November 9, 2010
Previewing tonight's Cavaliers-Nets game
THE DETAILS: Cavaliers (3-3) at Nets (2-4), 7 p.m., Prudential Center. It's the first of a rare back-to-back, home-and-home series as the teams play again Wednesday night in Cleveland. Fred McLeod and Austin Carr have the call of both on Fox Sports Ohio.
THE STARTERS: The Cavaliers expect to be at full strength for the first time this regular season. They're planning to have their starting lineup of Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao, plus Antawn Jamison is due back after sitting three games with knee swelling. Another key backup, Daniel Gibson, missed practice Monday due to a personal matter but met the team in New Jersey last night.
The Nets will likely go with Travis Outlaw and longtime Cavs-killer Troy Murphy at forward, rising star Brook Lopez at center and Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow. Rookie big man Derrick Favors, the third overall pick in last summer's draft and the youngest player in the NBA, is playing well off the bench.
THE SCOOP: Two road wins last weekend got the Cavaliers back to 3-3. They share first place in the Central with the Bulls and are playing with confidence as Williams is averaging 20.7 points since missing the first three games with a groin injury. Being in first place now means little, but the Cavaliers are making strides and have winnable games ahead. Varejao has been active on both ends, Hickson is averaging 16.5 and loves showing off his new jumpshot and Williams' return has paved the way for Gibson and Ramon Sessions to make plays and contribute quality minutes off the bench.
Gibson has been on the floor in crunch time in every game. He had 19 in the win in Washington last Saturday, including a big 3-pointer to push the lead to 5 in the final 90 seconds. He's averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game thus far.
The Nets have lost four straight after a 2-0 start. In fairness, two of those losses came against the Heat and one against Orlando. They're shooting well from beyond the arc but rank among the league's worst in points, rebounds, assists and points in the paint. The Cavaliers will have to keep Murphy and Morrow from heating up on 3-pointers, and Favors and Lopez will challenge Varejao and Hickson in the post. Rebounds might tell the story as the Cavaliers are one of the NBA's best in getting second-chance points at 15.3 per game, and Jamison's return should only help that number.
THE SERIES: The Cavaliers have won eight straight over the Nets, four straight in New Jersey. Following this home-and-home, they don't play again until late March.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Cavaliers have three straight at home with the Nets, Pacers and 76ers, over the next six days.
