NBA

Deron: Nets system to blame for awry shot

Deron Williams said he has not improved as a player since he arrived from Utah. Williams has struggled with his shot since becoming a Net, and the point guard pointed to a host of reasons why — from injuries to the offensive system to the roster composition.

Williams was a career 46.6 percent shooter when the Jazz traded him to the Nets in February 2011, but he has hit just 39.6 percent since. On the eve of tonight’s matchup against his former club — one Williams insisted was just another game — he was asked if he had become a better player here than he was there. His answer was blunt.

“No,’’ Williams said. “I was injured the first year. I really had injuries I was dealing with the whole time. And didn’t have the talent around me that I did there. And that system [in Utah] was a great system for my style of play. I’m a system player. I loved Coach [Jerry] Sloan’s system. I loved the offense there. We could’ve been a really good team, we just weren’t that good defensively as a group.’’

Williams underwent wrist surgery in his first partial season with the Nets. And an understocked roster may have contributed to his subpar record with the Nets — he is 38-52, after going 262-177 with the Jazz — but it was assumed he would regain his shooting touch after Nets general manager Billy King surrounded him with talent this offseason.

That hasn’t happened. Playing in Avery Johnson’s isolation-heavy system instead of Sloan’s pick-and-roll attack, the three-time All-Star is shooting a career-worst 38.8 percent this season. Asked if the Nets’ offensive system was better, Williams again didn’t hesitate with a negative answer.

“No,’’ Williams said. “It’s just more 1-on-1 isos. I grew up … in high school, my coach wasn’t one of those guys that just let us just throw out the balls and play. We were a system team. We had a staple of plays that we relied on for good execution.

“In college [at Illinois], we ran a motion offense, a lot of cutting, a lot passing, a lot of screening and making the extra passes. I’m used to just movement. So I’m still trying to adjust. It’s been an adjustment for me. But it’s coming along.’’

Johnson said there’s nothing wrong with Williams’ shot, and the point guard has simply experienced some bad luck.

“Nothing is mechanical,” Johnson said. “He’s had a few balls that’s gone in and out. Nothing’s wrong with his game. Everything is going to be fine.’’

Johnson added he could tell how excited Williams was to face his old club. He is 0-2 against the Jazz.

“I know he’s going to be excited,” Johnson said. “That’s a normal deal.’’

* Johnson will loosen the reins on center Brook Lopez, allowing him to exceed the 24 minute-limit he had in his first two games back from a foot injury. Jerry Stackhouse (right knee) does not play both games of a back-to-back, so he likely will be inactive and return to play tomorrow against the Knicks.

Johnson said he is unsure whom he will start at power forward with Lopez back in the starting lineup. The coach is pleased with Reggie Evans’ work as a starter, but is hesitant to break up Evans’ successful combination with backup center Andray Blatche.