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| Glen Davis of the Magic scored 19 points against the Nets the last time these two teams matched up. In order for Brooklyn to win the third game of the season series, they are going to have to stop Davis from scoring, plain and simple. |
When: 7:00 pm; Friday, November 30th, 2012
Where: Amway Arena; Orlando, FL
TV: YES Network
Simply put, the Nets and Magic are moving in different directions right now. The Nets, boasting a four-game winning streak, are tied atop their division just a few months after revamping most of their roster to build a team with the capacity to contend in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The Magic are currently riding a two-game losing streak, months after their own rebuilding summer. However, they got rid of most of the talent on their roster (i.e. Dwight Howard) and are feelings the effects of one of the weirdest rebuilding efforts the NBA has seen in awhile. Compound that with injuries to Al Harrington and Hedo Turkoglu, and you get a truly terrible Magic squad.
These teams have already met twice this season, in a home-and-home series that went to Orlando on November 9th and Brooklyn on the 11th. The Nets won both of those games, the first one going away (107-68) with the second one (82-74) being a little tighter than Coach Avery Johnson probably would have liked. The Magic, in those two games, just looked like a team that didn't have a leader to lean on or even much offensive–and defensive, for that matter–ability. I hate to say that because former Net fan favorite Jacque Vaughn is their coach and because of how terrible Dwight Howard treated them, but it's the honest truth.
It's easy for the Nets to look past tonight's game in Orlando because of the huge contest with the Heat coming up tomorrow, but without Brook Lopez due to the foot sprain, Brooklyn shouldn't take anything for granted and should be wary of the scary "trap game". Sure, the Magic stink, but they are an NBA team after all that can easily beat the Nets if they don't give their best effort with their center not on the floor. I'm sure Avery will do a good job of getting that through his team's head but it's always a risk when the significantly more talented squad, Brooklyn, goes on the road to face a vast underdog, the Magic.
For the Nets, getting a win tonight starts with the backcourt. Without Lopez in the lineup and with the recent news that Magic starting point guard Jameer Nelson will miss tonight's game, like he has for the other two meetings between these teams in November, the table is set for Joe Johnson and Deron Williams to lead the way for the Nets. Even though he has played poorly for much of the season, Joe showed something on Wednesday night in Boston, scoring 18 points on 6-14 shooting from the floor.
We've been waiting to see more of the player that he was in Atlanta with the Hawks and last game was a step in the right direction. As for D-Will, it would be nice to finally see him have a decent shooting performance, but against this battered and bruised Magic squad, Brooklyn would be perfectly fine with an assist-focused game from him. Compiling at least 10 assists shouldn't be extremely difficult for Deron with E'Twaun Moore, Nelson's replacement, guarding him.
Probable Lineups
BKN- Williams (PG), Johnson (SG), Wallace (SF), Humphries (PF), Blatche(C)
ORL- Moore (PG), Afflalo (SG), Harkless (SF), Davis (PF), Vucevic (C)
Final Thoughts
Must-win, plain and simple.
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