The Nets have won three of their last 10 games. The Magic have as well. The Nets have won three of their last five. The Magic have won only two. The Nets made a big trade and got back Sasha Vujacic and two first round picks. The Magic made two big trades and got back Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark. That's where the difference lies.
So far, it looks like the Magic got the better of their two big deals. They've beat the Spurs and the Celtics, the latter in dramatic come-from-behind fashion on Christmas Day. In both cases, they ended a double-digit winning streak, 10 for the Spurs, 14 for the Celtics. Now they'll road test their additions, starting in New Jersey. Jason Williams, the Magic's backup point guard, will not travel. The Nets expect to be slightly healthier. Quinton Ross is questionable. Brook Lopez, who hasn't had a lot of luck vs. Dwight Howard, will get another chance.
As for the weather, it's unlikely to postpone the game. The blizzard is expected to end during the morning rush hour.
- New Jersey Nets Game Notes - New Jersey Nets
- Orlando Magic Game Notes - Orlando Magic
- Getting Inside - New Jersey Nets - Sports Xchange
- Getting Inside - Orlando Magic - Sports Xchange
- Magic-Nets Preview - Stats LLC
- Johnson Needs to See More from Favors - Al Iannazzone - In the 'Zzone
- Johnson focused on improving Nets from within - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Favors not making case for starting lineup - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Avery's checkup may cure Nets - Joseph Staszewski - New York Post
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Avery Johnson to Derrick Favors: Give us a reason to start you - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
- Magic arrive in Newark; blizzard unlikely to postpone game vs. Nets - Josh Robbins - Orlando Sentinel
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Sentinel: Jason Williams' Arthritic Left Foot Not Improving, Could End His Career - Evan Dunlap - Orlando Pinstriped Post
- If the Magic want to keep Howard, they must play like title contenders - Chris Mannix - Sports Illustrated
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Midseason deals are a shot at finding Magic formula - Gary Washburn - Boston Globe