Fresh off a win vs. the Charlotte Hornets, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel back home to take on the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are one of the worst teams in the NBA at the moment - only the Lakers and 76ers have fewer wins - and on paper, this is an easy game for the Cavs on the second half of a back-to-back.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, Ohio
TV: Fox Sports Ohio, NBA League Pass
Enemy Blog: Nets Daily
Music: Brooklyn's Finest - Jay-Z featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
Keys to the game
- As stated above, Brooklyn isn't very good. A playoff team a year ago, the Nets have been much worse this year despite not making any major roster changes. Lionel Hollins is still the coach. Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young still are both talented but flawed.
- The biggest dip for Brooklyn has been in the play of Joe Johnson. At 34, Johnson is shooting 33.5 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from three and his current scoring average (10.8 points per game) would be his lowest since the 2002-03 season. Back then, Johnson was 21 and playing for the Phoenix Suns.
- The biggest concern for the Cavs will probably stopping Lopez. Lopez is still pretty good as a post scorer and he's the second straight scoring center the Cavs have faced. This matters if only to see how Timofey Mozgov handles himself after playing well in the first half against Charlotte's Al Jefferson, but then struggling in the second half. Last night was Mozgov's first game back after missing a week with a strained deltoid.
- Kevin Love didn't play in the fourth quarter last night. It's really not a big deal. Cavs coach David Blatt said after the game that Love didn't see time in the final quarter - which was close - because the lineup he had on the floor had gained traction and he didn't want to mess with that vibe. Even so, Love scored 18 points and pulled down 16 rebounds vs. the Hornets.
- Reminder that Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev play for Brooklyn.
- Most fun Net to watch is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a rookie from Arizona. He's adapted to the game really quickly and is already the most fun player on the Nets to watch. And he has a cool nickname: the Brooklyn Bandit.
Fear the Sword's Fearless Prediction
The Cavs should, and will, roll here. Cavs 102, Nets 87.