Nets not losing confidence in Deron Williams
If the Nets are going anywhere else this season, it’ll be up to Deron Williams to take them there.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Trailing the Miami Heat by two games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Brooklyn Nets have more problems than Deron Williams. We know that. We also know none of them really matter if the All-Star point guard doesn't regain his footing in this series soon.
January 30, 2006. That’s the last time Williams went scoreless for an entire game before Thursday night, when he shot 0-of-9 from the field, missed all four three-point attempts and didn’t take a single free throw. Since joining the Nets a couple years ago, consistency hasn’t been Williams’ calling card, but Game 2 was a disaster.
NBA Playoffs
“I’ll definitely be thinking about this one,” the point guard said after the game to USA Today.
Indeed, it’s been a while since Williams had a performance this bad. Over seven-plus years, to be specific, all the way back to his rookie season in Utah. Backing up the legendary Gordon Giricek, Williams played just nine minutes in a loss against San Antonio, and failed to score.
This time around, the context was a bit different. Williams played over 36 minutes against Miami. He’s one of the focal points of Brooklyn’s offense. Never before has he shown up so flat on such a big stage.
Just look at his shooting chart from Game 2 -- it’s the stuff of horror films and your worst pick-up teammate ever:
If it wasn’t for Roy Hibbert’s recent explosion against Washington in Game 2, we might assume the Nets are done. But the funny thing about All-Star players is their talent. Guys like Hibbert and Williams don’t suddenly lose what made them so special -- sometimes, you’re just not feeling it (for like three months, in Roy’s case).
Maybe you sleep through your alarm clock. These guys missed basketball shots. It happens.
"I thought he had some great looks," Brooklyn head coach Jason Kidd said in his postgame press conference. "Some were around the rim. But the other thing I thought he did well was he set the tone. He was attacking, getting the ball in the paint."
The silver linings ultimately give some reason to believe Williams could bounce back. First, there’s the pedigree, which will remind you that Williams is actually a supremely talented athlete. Then there are the little positives from Game 2, as Kidd mentioned.
Never before has Williams shown up so flat on such a big stage.
Williams didn’t curl into a ball once his shots weren’t falling. He finished the game with solid rebound, assist and turnover numbers. The coach isn’t wrong by suggesting a few made shots would’ve rendered this entire conversation moot.
But the Nets can't win this series without Williams' scoring. The Heat are too good, and guys like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett just can't do it on their own anymore. So when a three-time All-Star lays an egg like that, we need to talk about it. Williams couldn't even finish at the rim, where he shot a solid 61 percent during the regular season.
Brooklyn can’t panic though, because there’s nowhere else to turn. Shaun Livingston continues to be a sneaky, solid role player, but he can’t replicate what Deron brings on his best nights. So the Nets will just need to cross their fingers and hope Williams pulls a Game 2 Hibbert on everyone soon, because otherwise it’s time to pack up for the offseason.
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