Here are three thoughts on the Nets’ 110-99 victory over the Knicks Friday night in Brooklyn:
1. It looks like Deron Williams is back.
Yes, it’s only been five games, and the Nets have only played teams that either aren’t likely to make the playoffs or, in the case of the Thunder, is riddled by injury. But all you have to do is watch Williams, and ignore who he is playing against, to see this is a different player.
Williams looks explosive again – something that hasn’t been the case for most of the last two seasons, when he’s dealt with myriad ankle issues. But after offseason surgery on both of them, he appears to have his bounce back and, most importantly, his confidence has followed suit.
Iman Shumpert is a big, physical guard, a good defender and someone you would think would be able to at least give Williams problems. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Williams destroyed him all night and in a variety of ways: posting him up, driving past him, shooting over him.
When asked if there would be more he could do in coming weeks, Williams said that there would be, as more scar tissue breaks up in his ankles. But the Deron Williams the Nets saw Friday night is the one they gave a max contract in 2012, and one that will make this team a dangerous one if he sticks around.
2. Brook Lopez got abused by Nikola Pekovic in Wednesday’s loss to the Timberwolves. Nets coach Lionel Hollins said it, Lopez himself said it, and his teammates tried not to say it afterwards. It was a rough night for Lopez, who went 5-for-14, scored 10 points and committed two huge fouls in the final minute that helped cost the Nets the game.
But Lopez did what he was supposed to against the Knicks: dominate a weak frontline and get himself back on track. Lopez finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, and had little trouble against Samuel Dalembert, Amar’e Stoudemire and whomever else the Knicks threw at him.
There are times when Lopez can get a bit passive, but he came out with a point to prove against the Knicks and played well, earning praise from Hollins. It was the kind of showing the Nets need from Lopez consistently.
3. Before the season, I was asked to make three “bold” predictions, and one seemed obvious: that Mirza Teletovic would finish in the top 10 in both makes and takes from 3-point range.
Through five games, Teletovic is tied for fourth in makes at three per game, and tied for 11th in takes at six per game. He has become a lethal option off the bench for Hollins.
Teletovic has never seen a shot he doesn’t like, and only needs a sliver of space to load up and launch one from deep. Defenders are quickly learning that, and trying to stay near him. Doing so is going to open up space for other players to operate.