The unwanted win

(Update – 1:15pm: Lebron is cleared to play.)

The Cavs take on Jay-Z’s New Jersey Nets Wednesday. Before we fall in line with a panicked article about how Lebron is such chums with Mr. Beyonce Knowles, let’s at least get to the game.

The Nets still have the slimmest of playoff chances, as running the table while the Hawks and Pacers take a nap would win them the opportunity to serve as sacrificial lamb to the Celtics. I know, you know and they know that not only have they given up the hope, but they’d much rather move up in the draft than embarrass themselves with an extra week of 20 point losses.

The Cavs, meanwhile, have their own reasons for not wanting to win. Nobody outside of a small monastery in the Himalayas is privy to those reasons, but there’s no other way to explain the on again, off again malaise that overtakes this team from quarter to quarter.

Most sign point to Lebron playing, but after missing practice again, the comes some encouraging words suggesting Lebron might get the rest I (and I alone?) want to see him get.

“I know he wants to play,” Brown said. “But we have to be cautious with him now.”

Despite the mid-season pseudo-blockbuster, the Cavs aren’t inclined to be a gambling team. It’s just such a darned tough decision about whether or not to bench Lebron. We couldn’t possibly go against his wishes. Chances are that means Lebron will play 25 unnecessary minutes. I expect to hear that he is a game time decision up until opening tip, but hope that after arriving at the arena, he puts up his fanciest suit for a photo-op with Jay-Z.

In the meantime, let’s see if the stats tell a story:

• The Cavs have been swept by the Nets in their first 3 matchups, with New Jersey cracking 100 each time
• The first loss came sans Lebron and served as Shannon Brown’s career highlight (20-4-4).
• The second loss, a close one, was largely the result of getting worked on the boards (45-35).
• The most recent and closest was slipped away because of shoddy defense (51% allowed) and sloppy offense (17 turnovers). It was also the only matchup after each team’s blockbusters.
• The Nets play at a slightly faster pace, averaging 90.1 possessions per game (15th fastest) compared to the Cavs 89.0 (22nd).
• The Cavs have the 19th best offense, scoring 107.8 points per 100 possessions, beating the 23rd ranked Nets (105.6).
• The Cavs also have the edge defensively, at 13th in the league, allowing 108.5 PP100, compared to 110.7 for the 21st ranked Nets.
• The Nets’ strong suits are shooting and offensive rebounding, at 11th and 10th in the league respectively, while the struggle the most at getting to the line (27th).
• The Cavs dominate on the offensive boards (2nd) and come in just behind the Nets in shooting. Our biggest weakness is a not-terrifying 21st in turnovers.

The numbers add up to the Nets being the far inferior team, but that’s why the play the game. Much like the Bucks, the Nets have had our number this year. We have one last chance at some redemption and payback. The Nets likely wouldn’t mind letting us have it, but do we care enough to take it?

Go Cavs!