The Nets have had plenty of success with Deron Williams coming off the bench, but don’t expect it to last forever.
Williams has spent the last five games coming off the bench — the first games he has played without being a starter since his rookie season in Utah — and the Nets have had success, particularly with the second group of Williams, Jason Terry, Andrei Kirilenko, Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche.
But Nets coach Jason Kidd said following Wednesday’s practice it’s just a matter of time before Williams is back in the starting five and being the last player announced during pregame introductions.
“Well, the second group has been great when you look at the stats,” Kidd said. “We’ll continue to look at it, but at some point we’re going to have to get him back with that first group. “
Kidd said Williams and Joe Johnson got Wednesday’s practice off as a rest day, so there wasn’t a chance to put him in with the first group. The coach hinted at the possibility of Williams rejoining the starting group for Thursday’s practice, but wouldn’t say whether Williams could rejoin the starters as soon as this weekend’s games against the Thunder at home Friday and in Indianapolis against the Pacers Saturday.
“We’ll see tomorrow how they feel, and if we have time to get [Williams] with that first group,” Kidd said.
Williams said the subject of returning to the starting five had yet to come up to him.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked when he thought he would be back in the starting five. “We haven’t talked about it. I’m going with the flow.”
Though Williams has spent the last few games coming off the bench — an idea the point guard brought to the coaching staff because of the success the Nets have had starting Shaun Livingston and Alan Anderson in the backcourt together — he already is playing starter-level minutes.
Williams played 35 minutes against Dallas Friday and 34 in Boston Sunday before playing 29 minutes — mostly because of foul trouble against Toronto — Monday.
“It’s really not [a big change],” Johnson said. “Obviously he’s not starting, but he’s playing starter minutes, big minutes. Just because he’s not starting, people look at him because he’s Deron and he’s basically a franchise player, so that’s obviously been the biggest question, but he’s in there in crunch time.
“When it’s time to close the game, and when he comes in everything is kind of orchestrated around him. It’s nothing different … he’s just been coming off the bench.”
The decision to initially bring Williams off the bench was made, along with keeping the starting five of Livingston, Anderson, Johnson, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett together in order to allow Williams to ease his way back after missing five games and sitting out for two weeks after undergoing a round of cortisone shots and platelet rich plasma treatment on both ankles. It’s a starting lineup that is now 8-1 after Monday’s tough loss.
Whether coming off the bench has influenced the way Williams has played since his return — he’s averaging 11.2 points and 8.2 assists while showing good energy in getting into the lane and attacking the basket — Johnson said his usual backcourt running mate hasn’t minded the change of pace.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to continue but I’ve kind of had a chance to sit and talk to him and he’s enjoying it,” Johnson said. “He’s seeing it from a different perspective. He gets a chance to sit back, see how the game is going, and then he’s able to go out and kind of put his stamp on it.”