Friday NBA Basketball Prediction: New Jersey Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, January 27, 2012
Frank Martin
The New Jersey Nets are finding things to feel good about despite winning just six games this season. Given the way they're defending lately, the Cleveland Cavaliers have plenty of reasons to smile.
The Cavaliers and Nets will meet for the second time this season in Cleveland on Friday. The Cavs won the first meeting, also at home, on New Year's Day. Since then, they have learned to defend the way coach Byron Scott demands.
Cleveland held the New York Knicks to 81 points on Wednesday, a season low for any opponent, and is allowing fewer than 11 fast-break points per game. After beating the Philadelphia Sixers in overtime on Wednesday, Nets coach Avery Johnson called it one of the team's biggest wins over the last two years and point guard Deron Williams said the team's new motto is, “I love it!” It began sarcastically when things weren't going well last week, but the players quickly embraced it and use it now as fuel to not get tripped up by mistakes.
The Nets will make plenty of mistakes this season, but Williams keeping a positive outlook would help keep everyone smiling.
- New Jersey Nets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, January 27, 2012
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, YES, Fox Sports Ohio
The Cavaliers have opened as 3.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
New Jersey Nets (6-13): Rookie MarShon Brooks has missed the last two games with a sore left Achilles and remains questionable for Friday's game. It's a concern because Brooks, averaging 15.4 points, had a similar injury in college, so the team isn't taking any chances. Johnson said Brooks won't play until he is at least 90 percent because the team doesn't want to risk worsening the injury by rushing him back.
Cleveland Cavaliers (7-10): Alonzo Gee has provided a tremendous lift at both ends of the floor as a backup small forward, but Scott said he still isn't going to move Gee into the starting lineup. That didn't prevent him from comparing Gee to Bruce Bowen. Scott said he thought Gee, an undrafted rookie who spent time in the D-League last season, had the potential to be a lock-down defender like Bowen, who was once regarded as the best defender in the league and will soon have his jersey retired by San Antonio.
1. Cavs center Anderson Varejao is averaging 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the league.
2. Cleveland is the worst team in the league at turning the ball over, averaging 17.2 per game.
3. Williams continues to struggle with his shot for the Nets. He is shooting just 37 percent from the floor and 33 percent on 3-pointers. He is a 46 percent shooter in his career.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Cavaliers 89, Nets 83
Bet on NBA Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!
Related Articles
- Vegas NBA Basketball Odds: New Jersey vs Cleveland
- Best of NBA 's Eastern Conference Odds: Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA Basketball Odds: Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA Hoops Picks and Tips: Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA Best Record Holders Chicago Bulls Visiting Cleveland Cavaliers
Category
Tags
alonzo gee - anderson varejao - avery johnson - bruce bowen - byron scott - cleveland cavaliers - deron williams - marshon brooks - new jersey nets - quicken loans arena
