KEEP THE PACE: Deron Williams (8) and the Nets fared much better vs. Nate Robinson and the Bulls in Game 5 on Monday in part because of a faster pace. (
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It was easy to overlook, given how the Nets collapsed in the final minutes of regulation in Game 4 in their eventual triple-overtime loss in Chicago, but the Nets spent the entire game controlling the pace of play.
Now, after controlling Monday’s 110-91 victory over the Bulls in Brooklyn in Game 5 in a similar fashion, the key to going into United Center tomorrow night and coming away with the win, which the Nets need to bring the series back to Brooklyn for Game 7 on Saturday, could be making sure they control the tempo again in Game 6.
“We would always like to play at a quicker pace,” interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said on a conference call. “I just think that we’re getting a few more stops, maybe making a more concerted effort to push [the ball] … it’s not like we’re going to get 2-on-1s or 3-on-2s and run a layup line against them.
“But it’s even beneficial to get inbounds and up the floor quickly so we have more clock with which to work in the halfcourt.”
The Nets haven’t been confused with any of the league’s fast-paced teams this season, and actually finished the regular season ranked 28th out of the 30 NBA teams by averaging 91.23 possessions per game.
But against a team like the Bulls, who lacked scoring punch even before having to play Game 5 without starting point guard Kirk Hinrich, getting out into the open court and allowing for more time to work the ball around the court offensively, to try to get Chicago’s stout defense out of place long enough to get an open shot, can be the difference between pushing the series to a seventh game or going home for the summer.
“I do think we’re changing sides of the floor better. I do think we’re getting up the floor a little better,” Carlesimo said. “[But] it’s subtly better. It’s not like we’re beating them down the floor for layups, or that we’re doing a smooth job of changing sides of the floor each possession.
“I just think we’re doing it a little better the last couple games.”
The Nets have also helped themselves offensively by getting on the offensive boards, allowing them to extend possessions and get extra shots. The Nets finished Game 5 with a 44-33 edge overall in rebounding, including grabbing 17 offensive boards that led to 24 second-chance points — more than half as many as they had in the first four games of the series combined (38).
But they also benefitted from Deron Williams not having to spend the entire game getting away from Hinrich like he did during the first four games of the series. With Hinrich, a capable floor general and dogged defender, out with a bruised left calf in Game 5, Williams was able to take advantage of a much smaller Nate Robinson, finishing with 23 points and 10 assists.
“Kirk is a good defender,” Williams said. “You know he is tough. He fouls, he gets into you. … He does what he’s supposed to do. It’s definitely a different look between Nate and Kirk.”
But for all of the momentum the Nets built in Game 5, and the confidence they gained from controlling much of Game 4, it will all go away quickly if they are unable to sustain it in Game 6.
“There’s a lot of good things that happened offensively for us in Games 4 and 5,” Carlesimo said. “I hope it continues, but like I said, you could be looking at a 75-72 game also, so we’ll continue to play that way. Whether we will be able to do that remains to be seen.”
tbontemps@nypost.com