With a roster ravaged by injury and illness, the Nets walked from the locker room before tipoff last night. Shelden Williams, for one, stared at those in uniform.
“When we stepped on the court for the first time, we looked around and said, ‘Is this all?’ ” Williams said incredulously.
Yup, eight. But who’s counting. “The ‘Great Eight,’ ” coach Avery Johnson said.
With just eight available players, the Nets (8-15) found oxygen, sports drinks and whatever or whoever worked whenever as their chief allies in holding off the struggling but determined Pistons, 99-96, at the Prudential Center.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game for us, just with the lack of bodies,” said Deron Williams (26 points, nine assists), whose leadership, Johnson stressed, was as important as any number he posted. “Early in the season I was letting [losing] affect me too much. . . . I know it’s a tough situation we’re in with all of these guys going down, being hurt. I’ve got to take it upon myself, as a leader of this team, to step up and make plays at both ends of the court.”
And he did. The game wasn’t decided until Williams — Deron (there were Williamses all over the joint) — defended rookie Brandon Knight (15 points) into a heaved missed 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“We’re trying to make strides despite injuries, sicknesses,” said Jordan Farmar (15 points). “Whatever goes on we still find a way.”
Though at times it looked like it might be easy, it wasn’t. Whatever is for the Nets? The Nets led by 12 in the second half, gave up the lead in the third quarter, were tied in the fourth and then hung on.
“When I come into a game, I’m expecting the unexpected,” Johnson said.
But he never expected the Nets to have just eight bodies — including Keith Bogans who was signed earlier in the day — and half of them bearing the same last name. Already without starters Brook Lopez (broken foot) and Damion James (foot surgery), the Nets in recent days lost MarShon Brooks (broken toe — “It’s killing me,” Brooks said), Mehmet Okur (back) and then DeShawn Stevenson (sore knee), whose condition grew more ominous after Johnson said he would be lost for two weeks.
Then two more Nets, Anthony Morrow (left ankle, said he will play tomorrow) and Johan Petro (stomach virus), went down since the team returned from the loss at Indiana Tuesday. That left the Nets with the Great Eight.
It was better than even money that a Williams would arise for the Nets.
Safe bet. Deron was Deron. Shelden Williams (the only Net to play all 23 games) had 11 rebounds and played good interior defense against Greg Monroe (21 points). Shawne Williams (11 points) contributed at both ends, sparking a late first-half surge with his shooting and then defending Tayshaun Prince (21 points) into a miss with three seconds left when the Nets led by two. Even Jordan Williams (nine points, eight rebounds) posted career numbers.
“It was fourth and inches,” Shawne Williams said of his stop on Prince. “I know he can score. He’s a great player. I know he likes to go left, so I had to force him right and make his shot as tough as possible.”
The Williams gang had help. Farmar had some huge plays. Kris Humphries contributed 18 points and eight rebounds. Sundiata Gaines defended then hit 1-of-2 at the line with 1.8 seconds left forcing Detroit, now 4-20, to need a triple to tie.
Bogans also helped, playing 18 minutes and hitting a layup at 1:17 to put the Nets up six.