VS 
At the illustrious...
*Apologies for the outdated picture with J-Kidd
Starting Lineups
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T.J. Ford will be facing off against Keyon Dooling, who is starting in lieu of an injured Devin Harris, who is listed as day-to-day. Without Devin Harris, T.J. Ford should still play his brand of hounding defense, and work to really neutralize the point to disrupt a pass-oriented Nets offense. Vince Carter may spend some time at the point, so expect to see some defensive switches when that happens.
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Marquis Daniels is playing like a man possessed, averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists per game. His 3-point shot is suspect, heaving up 22 attempts and only converting 4 of them on the season. He will need to focus more on containing the explosive Vince Carter, the primary Net scorer, although it is likely that Granger will take Vince while Marquis marks Simmons. In either case, his hand should always be in the face, as both players can shoot the lights out.
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Granger has sunk his teeth into the season and is really becoming the face of the franchise. He is averaging 25 points a game, and playing excellent defense. He needs to watch his 3-point chances, because his shooting lately is iffy, and he is also fouling 4.3 times a game, fouling out of the game against Phoenix and only playing 30 minutes against Oklahoma. His last outing against the Nets resulted in 23 points despite a horrid 1-9 from beyond the arc. He should really consider attacking the interior of the Nets, especially because Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons aren't known for their strong inside presence.
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The Chairman is everything Jeff Foster is not: Freakishly athletic, an offensive threat from several places on the floor, and he has an aversion to defense and physical play. Foster should have no trouble boxing out against the skinnier athlete, but Yi's speed and range will prove to be a problem. He is coming off of a 24-10 performance in a loss to the Heat, so the Nets will be playing with desperation. With Murphy out with a stomach virus, look for the backup bigs to get more time.
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Not much moving and shaking going down in this matchup, although if Rasho plays, it'll be a big boost down low. Josh Boone is a double-double threat, although it would be safe to use some fouls on him. His free-throw percentage is a dismal shdae under 27% for the season. The matchup to watch will be that of Roy Hibbert and Brook Lopez, as they are both rookies who are making immediate impacts with their respective clubs.
The Key Reserves
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The Pacers lineup is depleted in the absence of Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, so it's up to Maceo Baston and Josh McRoberts to shore up the inside. Brandon Rush has yet to hit his stride, averaging a paltry 35% from the field. Danny might see some time at the power forward spot, making Travis Diener a factor off the bench when everyone else scoots up a position.
The Coaches
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In his second year as head coach of the Pacers, Jim O'Brien has emphasized defense while the team guns for more points. Lawrence Frank is strangely still head coach of a team that is rebuilding. His strategy of "packing the paint" leaves certain Pacer three-point shooters unguarded, but unless the Pacers can hit the threes reliably (more that the 33% they are now) they would be playing right into Lawrence Frank's hands.
Injury Report
Nets
Devin Harris: Day-to-day (Ankle)
Pacers
Mike Dunleavy: Out (Sore Knee)
Troy Murphy: Out (Stomach Virus)
Rasho Nesterovic: Probable (Ankle)
Final Points
-Hit the threes reliably. Look to work it inside to take advantage of Lawrence Frank's paint-pack plan and kick it out to the open man for the trifecta.
-Watch out for Yi Jianlian. He will be a matchup nightmare if he starts getting out of hand. Muscle him out, and make him use his range.
-Get rebounds. The Nets have a height advantage on the inside, but they're skinny dudes. Box out.
Tradition
Pacers and hot chicks just seem to go hand in hand, huh?
