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The suppose to be payback game went the wrong way for the Cavaliers. The Nets handed the Cavaliers their 7th loss in eight game, 105-97.

This time it wasn’t the offense that cost the Cavaliers the game, it was the lack of defense. Mike Brown is very concerned with the lack of defensive efforts:

‘We have not defended all year,” said Cavs coach Mike Brown, ”I’m not happy with the way we’re playing right now.”

”We didn’t do a good job anywhere,” Brown said. ”We have to figure out if we are going to defend this year or we’re not.”

”They did a great job of executing,” said LeBron James, who had 29 points. ”They took advantage of some of the weaknesses we had defensively.”

Daniel Gibson returned to the starting lineup after having a wisdom tooth pulled on Monday. He almost had another tooth extraction with 6:20 to play when he did a header for a loose ball at half-court.

The Nets shot nearly 49 percent from the floor, out-rebounded the the Cavs by 15 boards and made 16 more trips to the free throw line.

Larry Hughes played 33 minutes and went 4-15 from the field and score only 9 points. Lebron scored 29 points and Ilgauskas added 21 points.

NBA Game Recap | Box Score

Reaction from local media:
Defense missing again for Cavs by Brian Windhorst
The Cavaliers have all of their offensive weapons back, but their defense remains on hiatus.

Offense falters as Carter lifts Nets by Branson Wright
LeBron James promised a difference in Friday night’s second meeting of the season between the Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets.

Reaction from New Jersey media:
The kids are alright as skid ends (The Star-Ledger)
The Nets snapped their four-game losing streak by getting superb performances from eight strong, and as a fringe benefit they might have stumbled upon their new power rotation.

Carter comes through (North Jersey)
Vince Carter came through on his promise to do more and the Nets may have found a lineup with which they can do more.

Daniel Gibson was able to take part in practice yesterday but  is still listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Nets.

He skipped last game against the Indiana Pacers because he had to take care of a wisdom-tooth problem.

“It’s been bad from the headaches and just feeling out of it, and I got a little cold from it,” Gibson said with a towel wrapped around his face. “I feel a little better each day. I’ve been getting a lot of ice cream and popsicles, but I miss my hamburgers and french fries.”

According to the 2007 Forbes “NBA Team Valuations” list,  the Cleveland Cavaliers are now worth $455 million, up 20 percent from last year. The gain was also a result of a new cable deal with FSN Ohio worth $25 million a year, more than double the old contract. The agreement kicked off last season.

The Cavaliers are ranked 7 right after Dallas. New York Nicks made the top list with $608 million.

The 1-Yr Value change for the Cavaliers is the highes with 20% followed by Toronto Raptors.

The Annual revenue for the Cavaliers is $152 million. The Pistons($154 mil), Bulls($161 mil), Lakers($170 mil), and Knicks ($196) are ahead of the Cavaliers.

NBA teams posted an average profit (in the sense of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $9.8 million, on revenues of $119 million. This is the highest income since Forbes began tracking basketball team finances 10 years ago.

The NBA’s financial success is a result of three components: a steady increase in gate receipts; bigger TV deals,and the collective bargaining agreement.

1 New York Knicks  $608
2 Los Angeles Lakers  $560
3 Chicago Bulls  $500
4 Detroit Pistons  $477
5 Houston Rockets  $462
6 Dallas Mavericks  $461
7 Cleveland Cavaliers  $455
8 Phoenix Suns  $449
9 Miami Heat  $418
10 San Antonio Spurs  $405
11 Boston Celtics  $391
12 Sacramento Kings  $385
13 Philadelphia 76ers  $380
14 Toronto Raptors  $373
15 Washington Wizards  $348
16 Utah Jazz  $342
17 New Jersey Nets  $338
18 Indiana Pacers  $333
19 Orlando Magic  $322
20 Denver Nuggets  $321
21 Golden State Warriors  $309
22 Minnesota Timberwolves  $308
23 Memphis Grizzlies  $304
24 Los Angeles Clippers  $294
25 Charlotte Bobcats  $287
26 Atlanta Hawks  $286
27 New Orleans Hornets  $272
28 Seattle SuperSonics  $269
29 Milwaukee Bucks  $264
30 Portland Trail Blazers  $253

The Cavaliers blew out the Indiana Pacers 118-105, ending a six-game losing streak.

Lebron wanted to protect his teammate and asked Mike Brown to come of the bench. It was a shock to the Cavaliers fans and no one knew why Mike Brown decided to do that and it just didn’t make any since.

Lebron was asked about that in the press confrence and this is what he said:

“I thought it would raise the intensity of the fans, having me, Larry and Andy come in at the same time, and it worked,” James said. “I thought by coming in with Andy, it might stop the boos Andy might get; just protecting my teammates.”

Brown sent James, Hughes and Varejao into the game together midway through the first quarter and that brought the crowed to its feet. The trio made 22-5 run in the first quarter that gave them a huge cushion they never gave up.

Varejao made an instant impact. He scored just six points but grabbed nine rebounds in 24 minutes.

“We got our guys back now,” James said. “It’s a different ballgame.”

Larry Hughes played one of his best games that I can remember, he went off for 36 points in 26 minutes, sinking 13-of-17 shots.

“I thought they had two LeBron Jameses out there,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said.

Game Recap | Boxscore

Local News Reaction:
– Cavs back in business (Akron Beacon Journal)
– Cavs have plenty in reserve (The Plain Dealer)
– ESPN Daily Dime (by Brian Windhorst) 

Indiana New Reaction: 
– Defense disappears for Pacers (Indianapolis Star)
Indiana gives up 65 points in the 1st half, then can’t catch up to Cleveland and James