Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams Holds Court During Opening Home Stand

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Opening Home Stand: 3-1

Atlantic Division

Toronto Raptors    5-1

Brooklyn Nets      4-2

Boston Celtics       3-3

N.Y. Knicks          2-5

Philadelphia 76rs  0-6

BROOKLYN NETS: Flatbush got their 1st look at the new and improved Deron Williams.  He averaged 21 points and 7 assists during the four game home stand, highlighted by 29 points against Knicks.

Brook Lopez Earns Coach Hollins' Attention

The Nets improved to 4-2 with Sunday afternoon's 104-96 victory over the Orlando Magic.

It marked the 5th time in 6 games the Nets scored above 100 points, and 5th time in 6 games they've held their opponent below 100 points.  They are averaging 104.6 ppg, and allowing 98.1 ppg.

The Nets were led by Bojan Bogdanovic's 22 points in Sunday's victory over the Magic.  Mason Plumlee turned in a double/double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes.

Deron Williams scored 18 points in a game high 41 minutes.  He and Kevin Garnett tied with a game high 7 assists.

Brooklyn out-rebounded Orlando 45-31, outscored them in the paint, and cleared a path to the free throw line.

In Friday's East River showdown against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center, Deron Williams held court, scoring a game high 29 points and dishing out a likewise game high 6 assists in Brooklyn's 110-99 victory.  Deron was an efficient 10/15 from the field and 2/3 from beyond the arch.

Brook Lopez tied (with Knicks Quincy Acy) for game high with 9 rebounds and scored 20 points.   Joe Johnson also contributed 18 points towards the cause.

Overall, the Knicks outscored the Nets in the paint, out-rebounded them, and had more assists, but Brooklyn shot 51.4% from the field, while the Knicks lagged at 41.1%.  The Nets were particularly effective from 3-point range, shooting 14/24, for 58.3%.

It was the Knicks 3rd straight loss.  No player struggled more than Carmelo Anthony.  He was limited to 19 points, on 5/20 from the field in a game high 36 minutes.

Brook Lopez Getting Schooled On The Euro:

Brook Lopez caught Coach Hollins' attention last Wednesday when he was outplayed by Minnesota's Nikola Pekovic (16 points, 11 rebounds), particularly late during the Nets 98-91 meltdown.  It was only Brook's second game of the season.

Lopez then bounced back with a physical performance against Jason Smith and the Knicks, and posted a near double/double.  However, Sunday's battle of centers went to Orlando's Nikola Vucevic, who dropped a game high 27 points and grabbed a game high 12 boards.  Brook Lopez was limited to 12 points and just 5 rebounds.

How Do You Like Me Now?

After surgery to both ankles, here are the early returns: In 6 games, Deron Williams is averaging 19.8 points and 7 assists per game, and is shooting 47.3% from the floor.

Over his career, he has averaged 17.5 ppg and 8.7 assist, with a 45.3% FG average.

He was a 47% shooter with Utah, but has only averaged 43% with the Nets.  After posting just a 41% average in 2011-12 (New Jersey's final season), he improved to 44% in 2012-13, and to 45% last season.  His career best came in 2007-08 at age 23 with Utah, when he posted a 51% FG average.

Deron Williams will turn 31-years old in June 2015.  He is beginning his 4th full season with the Nets and his 3rd in Brooklyn.

In New Jersey's last season, Deron averaged 21 points and 8.7 assists in 55 games.  First one, then two ankle injuries clearly took their toll.  He averaged 18.9 points and 7.7 assists in 2012-13, then fell to 14.3 points and 6.1 assists last season.

In 4 games during the now concluded home stand, Deron averaged 21 points and 7 assists per game.



Mike