[123fakestreet]

How they got here: New Jersey was just beaten out of the 2nd spot by Atlanta, while Cleveland was in the midst of the 4-5-6-7 seeds battle and came out 6th.

Rosters: http://www.basketballboards.net/foru...d.php?t=310276

New Jersey:
Starters: Gilbert Arenas, Raja Bell, Jamaal Magloire, Darko Milicic, Gerald Wallace
BENCH: Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sean May, Matt Harpring, Tony Allen, Tony Battie

Cleveland:
Starters: Chauncey Billups, Bonzi Wells, Chris Mihm, Tim Duncan, Rashard Lewis
BENCH: Jay Williams, Brent Barry, Michael Olowokandi, Joe Smith, Yaroslav Korolev, Carlos Delfino, Wayne Simien

I encourage both teams to write a write-up of how they will handle this matchup. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR YOUR OWN TEAM.

Anybody is allowed to vote, regardless of conference, or whether you're in the draft or not. We invite everybody and anybody to vote.

[fruitcake]

my full roster is in my sig, the roster thing may be missing some players

New Jersey:
Starters: Gilbert Arenas, Raja Bell, Jamaal Magloire, Darko Milicic, Gerald Wallace
BENCH: Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sean May, Matt Harpring, Tony Allen, Tony Battie

Cleveland:
Starters: Chauncey Billups, Bonzi Wells, Chris Mihm, Tim Duncan, Rashard Lewis
BENCH: Jay Williams, Brent Barry, Michael Olowokandi, Joe Smith, Yaroslav Korolev, Carlos Delfino, Wayne Simien

The clear advantage for me in this series is my depth, and in any seven game series, you need depth. On the Cavs, Jay Williams is not even a NBA player (and he is terrible right now mind you, i watched him personally), and Olowokandi doesnt belong in the NBA. Others diasgree, but I still believe that I have one of the best benches in the league. With 3 starters, (AJ, Pietrus, May), and also the versatile Marr Harpring. I also have Tony Allen who can play both guard positions, Battie a banger down low and Aldridge who will be very good once he gets healthy.

Defense is the key to my team. Talent wise, Cleveland's starters are better, but my depth and defense will give them trouble. The offense will be run through Arenas. Bell will stretch defenses with his outside shooting. Wallce will play off the ball a lot like how Marion does, and should be a superb defender who would also give Rashard some trouble. Duncan will be tough, but I've got three seven footers to try to slow him down. The game will not be won by my starters, it will be won when the Cavs' second units come on, they are no match for my second unit.

Starters:
Arenas vs Billups
Wells vs Bell
Lewis vs Harpring
Mihm vs Darko
Duncan vs Magloire

Bench
Barry vs Anthony Johnson
Delfino vs Pietrus
Korolev vs Harpring
Simien vs May
Smith vs Battie

Olowokandi and Jay Williams vs Alridge and Allen

I see no capable backup for Tim Duncan, Rashard Lewis or Chauncey Billups. This should be a close series, but in the end the team with the deep bench will win. Nets in 6.

[ravor44]

The Nets have the better bench but the Cavaliers have the better starters...but the BENCH will play its role here...Nets in 6...

[crazyfan]

Cavs starters are real good, the nets are going to have a real tough time marking Duncan & Co.

But i the nets have the stronger bench.

If this was a one-off game, i'd fancy the cavaliers but over a long series, nets edge it.

[PureStreetzH2O]

I would only use a few players off my bench, mainly Joe Smith, Brent Barry and Michael Olowokandi to cover up for players in foul trouble, other than that my players would log alot of mins. Duncan can handle the mins, played 38 last year in the playoffs, Billups logged 39 mins, Lewis logged about 36 in the regular season, and in the playoffs two years ago, that average was bumped up to 39. So basically, my starters would rip it up, build a lead, get some rest in while we got the lead and come back on to finish off the game strong. And scoring will be very hard to come by on the Nets side, with Duncan and Mihm guarding the inside, and Lewis with his length can also help out down low, the Nets inside game will be hard to come by, and Billups has the speed to keep up with Arenas.

[jericho]

Originally Posted by crazyfan

Cavs starters are real good, the nets are going to have a real tough time marking Duncan & Co.

But i the nets have the stronger bench.

If this was a one-off game, i'd fancy the cavaliers but over a long series, nets edge it.

What he said.

I have a really hard time voting against Billups and Duncan in a playoff series, but I just don't have enough faith in their complementary pieces. The Nets have a very strong bench, which means in part that they can bang hard against Duncan and keep him often at the foul line, where he's not at his best. Arenas and Billups will give each other fits. A big hinge for the series is which Darko shows up, but I'm banking on the guy who emerged as a rebounder and big shot-blocker last season.

Nets in 7.

[fruitcake]

hey come on guys i have home court advantage!