This probably wasn’t the beginning Ziaire Williams envisioned after re-signing with the Nets on a two-year deal in September.
After posting profession highs final season, with 10 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation throughout 63 appearances and 45 begins whereas taking pictures 41.2% from the sphere and 34.1% from 3-point vary, each the numbers and the attention take a look at counsel Williams has opened his second marketing campaign in Brooklyn in one thing of a hunch, if not an outright regression.
The 24-year-old’s efficient subject purpose share is all the way down to .490 in contrast with .511 final season, and whereas his turnovers have dropped by means of his first 14 appearances, his factors, rebounds, assists and steals are all decrease than a yr in the past, and he’s scoring with far much less effectivity.
Williams missed two of Brooklyn’s first 5 video games this season, then made 11 straight appearances off the bench earlier than Monday’s matchup towards the Knicks at Barclays Heart, when he logged a DNP-coach’s determination for the primary time since arriving in Brooklyn. The stunning half is that when head coach Jordi Fernández was requested why Williams didn’t play, he stated the selection had nothing to do with offense.
“I wanted to challenge him with his defense,” Fernández stated. “Last year he was elite with a lot of the things that we want… I haven’t felt that energy this year… The numbers are not there. I wasn’t all the way happy with the last two games.”
It’s no secret the Nets have been a multitude defensively this season. And whereas Williams’ defensive score of 117.3 ranks third amongst gamers who’ve appeared in a minimum of 10 video games, that isn’t saying a lot and opposing groups haven’t felt his affect the way in which they did a yr in the past. Over his final two appearances, he’s posted a 120.5 defensive score, which ranks sixth on the staff in that span. He’s proven he’s able to extra.
Fernández couldn’t care much less whether or not Williams is making or lacking photographs. Protection must be Williams’ major focus, and if he locks in on that finish, Fernández believes all the pieces else will observe. And that’s how Williams will get his minutes again.
“I think if he impacts the game defensively the same way he did last year, which he was elite at pressuring the ball and deflections and pick-and-roll defense, all those things, the shots are going to go in,” Fernández stated after Williams shot 0-for-8 towards the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 11. “You can build your confidence in many different ways, and sometimes if missing shots affects you, which I understand we’re all emotional and it can affect you, but it cannot affect your defense. So that’s my challenge for him is to bring his superpower to every game because he can control that.”
Williams scored 25 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures and hit six 3s in Brooklyn’s second recreation of the season towards the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s reached double figures in seven of his first 14 video games, so it could be a stretch to say he has been terrible offensively, particularly in a reserve position. However his worth has all the time began on the defensive finish. That’s what helped him carve out a rotation spot final season, what earned him a brand new contract in September and what pushed followers to view him as a possible long-term piece slightly than a wage dump from Memphis.
His confidence could also be down after a gradual offensive begin, however protection is meant to be non-negotiable in Brooklyn, and it’s the space the place he can nonetheless separate himself.
“And then keep letting it fly,” Fernández stated. “And if it’s 0-for-8 one day but he helps us win, I’ll take it… A missed shot is not a bad thing. A lot of times a good, missed shot is an offensive rebound. A good, missed shot is not a turnover. All those things. I’m not concerned about his missed shots because I know once again, he works at it. I know they’re going to go in, in the long run and all that stuff. So, I just want him to bring his contagious energy that impacts the game and impacts his teammates.”
