ailing theme at the outset is can Miami, the two- time defending

(SportsNetwork. Larry Csonka Black Friday Jersey .com) - The Miami Heat completed another exemplary regular season, but there was one team they werent able to conquer, not even in four tries. That team was the Brooklyn Nets. The two squads begin their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup Tuesday night in South Beach and the prevailing theme at the outset is can Miami, the two- time defending champs, beat the Nets? You can catch all of the action on TSN2 at 7pm et/4pm pt. "We know we can beat them, but theres a difference between regular season and the playoffs. Its going to take a collective effort," Brooklyn All-Star guard Joe Johnson said. The Nets won this seasons four regular-season matchups by a combined 12 points and three of the games were decided by a single point. Brooklyns four victories this season snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Heat. Miami swept an injured Charlotte Bobcats team in the first round. The Heat played decently, but theyve been out of action since Monday night. The long wait can work as a positive in that players can get fully healthy, but also a negative if the team loses it sharpness. "Weve been waiting around for a while," said LeBron James. "We dont have a choice, The schedule, it is what it is. Guys are definitely getting their bodies right." The Nets played Sunday afternoon and barely hung on to beat the Toronto Raptors in a Game 7 at the Air Canada Centre. They flew right to South Beach to get started on preparation for this second round. Paul Pierce blocked a Kyle Lowry attempt for the win just before the horn to preserve their season. Pierce and Kevin Garnett, two future Hall of Famers, were brought in at a steep price to give this Nets team championship credibility. With first-year head coach Jason Kidd on the sideline, the team needed leadership. The move didnt bring the kind of expected regular-season success, but the Nets are one of eight teams that can still wear the crown. "This was a very difficult series," Garnett said. "It tested everybodys will here. If anything, I think we grew up a bit during this series." Theyll need growth when they face the Heat. During the Bobcats series, James averaged 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals. Chris Bosh was decent versus Charlotte with 14.5 ppg, but he shot a ridiculous 69 percent from 3-point range. Dwyane Wade, who missed a lot of time in the regular season, averaged 17.5 ppg during the Charlotte sweep, which was down a touch from the campaign. The Nets backcourt of Deron Williams and Johnson has All-Star pedigree, but appeared to slip a little during the campaign. That was until the postseason hit. Johnson averaged 21.6 points against the Raptors and dominated the post against the smaller guards trying to cover him. Williams improved his play tremendously, averaging 17.1 ppg and staying aggressive throughout, at least in Brooklyns victories. Williams tweaked his chronically bad ankle in the Toronto series, but played through it. This is the third time the two franchises will meet in the postseason and the results have been one-sided. Miami swept the Nets in the first round in 2005, then dispatched them in the second round one year later, 4-1. The Heat have won nine consecutive postseason series, which is tied for the eighth-longest in NBA history. Game 2 will be in Miami on Thursday night. Caleb Sturgis Black Friday Jersey .J. -- After getting permission from his 7-year-old daughter, New York Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has retired after an 11-year career that included two Super Bowl championships. Derrick Shelby Jersey . It kind of breaks up the week for me and sets the stage for the upcoming week.ORLANDO, Fla. -- Rookie Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 20 points and Glen Davis had 18, leading the Orlando Magic to a 112-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Josh Smith scored 25 points for the Pistons, who trailed by 20 points in the third quarter. Maurice Harkless had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who held a 44-36 advantage on the glass over the NBAs top rebounding team. Kyle OQuinn blocked six shots for Orlando, including two straight by Brandon Jennings when the Pistons were attempting to come back in the third quarter. Jennings shot 5 for 23 for the game and scored 15 points. He was one of six Pistons in double figures. Oladipo, Arron Afflalo and Davis scored in double figures in the first half, when the Magic took a 14-point lead by shooting 51 per cent. The third Magic player off the bench Wednesday night, Oladipo made 8 of 10 shots and all four free throws, added ffour rebounds and three assists and turned back a Piston rally with a steal and dunk midway through the fourth quarter. Ryan Tannehill Black Friday Jersey. The Magic led by two points when Oladipo entered the game with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter. They made 13 of 23 shots in the second quarter and led by double figures after Davis 8-foot jump hook with 2:53 left in the first half. OQuinn hit a jumper from the free-throw line midway through the second quarter to start a 21-9 Orlando spurt that left the Magic with a 57-43 halftime lead. The Pistons had 15 turnovers and missed nine of 23 free throws. Afflalo finished with 15 points and seven assists and Jameer Nelson had 11 assists and seven points. NOTES: OQuinn became the first Magic player since Dwight Howard to block six shots in a game. ... Kyle Singler, starting only his second game of the season for Detroit, made 3 of 4 3-pointers. ... The Magic had 29 assists on 44 field goals. ' ' '