Obviously, Brook Lopez and his surgically re-repaired broken foot won’t be back this season but in recent days, the Nets found themselves equipped with a full complement of players. Toss in a couple wins, both when Jason Kidd had not worn a tie, and there were even fashion jokes. Yeah, good times had returned to the borough of Brooklyn.
Enter Deron Williams’ left ankle. Again.
Williams, who missed 11 games and good chunks of two others earlier this season with a sprained left ankle, sat out Monday’s 91-86 win over Atlanta after experiencing swelling and soreness in the joint. Cue the gloomy music. Again.
Kidd explained Williams notified athletic trainer Tim Walsh Sunday night that something was wrong.
“His ankle swelled up and so this morning he went for an MRI. He wanted to play and we’re going on the cautious side of him taking the night off and we’ll reevaluate him [Tuesday],” Kidd said. “It’s a sprained ankle from what I’m getting from the medical side.”
The Nets had won their previous two games with Williams playing a huge part, scoring a season-high 29 against the Thunder and then 21 against the Cavs, combining to shoot 17 of 27 in those victories. Stretching back to the 13 games Williams had played since returning from a nine-game ankle-induced absence, the point guard — who was handling some off-guard chores of late — shot 76 of 148 (.514). But he sat Monday night against the team that owns the Nets’ next draft pick.
“It’s tough especially that he’s playing at a high level right now and then how much the team has gone in a different direction … winning games with his output,” Kidd said. “So him being hurt, he’s probably more or less frustrated.”
Ankles and Williams have had a rocky history. Williams played through injuries to both ankles last season and then sprained his right ankle in September during offseason workouts, causing him to miss the first six preseason games.
Alan Anderson was given the start Monday — “the next guy up,” in Kidd lingo — as the Nets stayed with a small lineup. Shaun Livingston, who had been playing in the backcourt with Williams, said he cannot allow the loss of his star running mate to alter his game or cause him to search for more offense.
“I’m a set-up point guard as well getting guys more shots but I still have to remain aggressive in my own offense as well and just make sure I put pressure on the defense,” Livingston said.
For backup and as a precaution, the Nets recalled Tyshawn Taylor who had been dispatched to their D-League Springfield affiliate for like the 113th time this season.
So all those happy, jolly feelings of late? Yeah, stick a fork in them. But it’s par for the Nets seasonal course.
“We’ve been faced with injuries all season,” Kidd said. “That’s kind of become, I don’t want to say the norm, but the next guy up [mentality]. … We’ve got to keep that same energy and effort no matter who’s playing.”
Kidd said his concern was with guys who are playing — but Williams obviously always has residency on the concerned list. Recently, Williams hinted — but refused to acknowledge — something was wrong. He was asked point blank Thursday in Oklahoma City if he were playing through an injury.
“Yeah, but nothing I’m going to talk about,” he said. “I’m out here playing, so that’s all that matters. That’s all that matters.”
And how important is a healthy Williams?
“For three games, he was playing at a very high level,” Kidd said last week. “We’ve got to get him healthy, but we still all believe that he can get to that level of carrying this team.”