No rest for gimpy Nets;LeBron, Cavs up next with Harris nursing shoulder
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CLEVELAND ? LeBron James probably doesn?t think about the Nets too often, but tonight will be one of those times. Only the reigning MVP?s thoughts will be on beating them, not joining them.
It might be different this summer, if the Nets win the NBA draft lottery and the right to draft John Wall, and hire a coach who could pique James? interest in free agency. That?s the Nets? long-term dream.
Their short-term goals are to get through the next two games and into the All-Star break as healthy as possible and without any more damage done to a team that has just been bulldozed since opening night.
"Adversity can be good," Devin Harris said Monday. "We?ve had a lot of it. It?s going to make us stronger. Whatever they throw in front of us, we try to overcome it as much as possible."
The latest is the likelihood that the Nets (4-46) will face James? team at less than 100 percent, which is nothing new.
Harris and Jarvis Hayes collided in the closing seconds of Saturday?s loss to Detroit and neither practiced Monday. Hayes expects to play on his bruised left shin, but Harris is questionable with a sprained left shoulder. He is able to lift his arms over his head, but still unable to shoot because of pain and stiffness.
"It?s 50-50 for [today]," Harris said, "but I?ll almost bet I play on Wednesday" against the Bucks.
Chris Douglas-Roberts, who sat the second half Saturday with back spasms, will be back tonight.
The Nets will need any help they can get against the Cavaliers, winners of 11 straight. But the Nets have been playing harder and more competitively lately. It hasn?t resulted in a win in the past six games, but they feel they?re close to getting over the hump.
Harris said their effort is being noticed by opposing teams and that he isn?t concerned the Nets are turning away prospective free agents with their record.
"We?re out there playing hard," he said. "They can see it. Coaches have told me. Players have told me. We?re out there battling every night. The last five or six we?ve been right there. I continue to see things getting better for us. We?ve got to continue with this effort that we?re giving.
Odds are against the Nets tonight when they play the NBA?s best team, but if they continue their improved play they could get a win Wednesday against Milwaukee. That?s another short-term Nets? goal: not to go into the break on another losing streak.
"We?ve had a good stretch of effort," interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe said. "Guys have played well. We?ve put ourselves in a position to win, which is the first step. That?s what you have to do."
E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com
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