Vinsanity Reigns In New Jersey Nets Snag Cavaliers 105-97

Vince Carter tied his season high as he scored 32 points, as the New Jersey Nets stopped the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday even with LeBron James in the starting lineup 105-97. New Jersey rallied from a 7 point deficit at the half, as they outscored Cleveland by 15 points in the second half.

Cleveland coach Mike Brown used yet another starting lineup Friday night as Daniel Gibson and LBJ were back in the starting lineup, while Eric Snow and Larry Hughes came off the bench. Gibson did not play in the Cleveland victory Tuesday as he was recovering from having a cyst removed, as well as an extraction of a wisdom tooth. But Hughes scored 32 points as a starter, instead Brown went with Sasha Pavlovic as the starting two guard. At least you think that’s what his position is. However, when you get 8 assists, from your “small forward” James,and 6 from your center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and nobody else on the team has more than 2, who knows who is playing what position on the floor for Cleveland? As I have been saying since long before I was writing these columns, unless Cleveland gets a legitimate point guard, there will never be any consistency on the floor.

Cleveland, led 25-21 at the nd of the first quarter, and opened the lead up to 57-50, at the half. New Jersey grabbed the lead as they went 10-17 down the stretch in the third to take an 80-78 edge. The Nets then outscored the Cavaliers 25-19 in the final quarter to seal the win. It was only New Jersey’s second win at home, and both were against Cleveland.

Carter shot 13-22 from the floor, 2-2 from outside the arc, and 4-4 from the line, along with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. Richard Jefferson scored 24 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, Josh Boone came off the bench to score 15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and Bostjan Nachbar scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 steal. Jason Kidd scored 8 points, a game high 11 assists, (that’s what a point guard does) 8 boards, 5 steals.

LBJ scored a team high 29 points for Cleveland, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, Ilgauskas had a double-double, 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot. Drew Gooden scored 13 points, 7 rebounds, Gibson shot 12 points, 2 assists, (that’s not what a point guard does) 1 rebound. 1 steal. Both teams now sport identical records, 10-13.