Here’s my look at last night’s 99-96 Nets win over the Pistons in the return of Lawrence Frank to New Jersey:
– First, a comment on Frank, one of the nicest guys I’ve come across. I haven’t come across anyone who doesn’t think he’s a great guy, and he’s a proven to be a very good coach, as well. As I tweeted last night, the best way to sum the guy up is stopping his media session to say hello to longtime athletic trainer Tim Walsh, and then immediately ask him how Brook Lopez (the only player remaining on the team from when Frank was fired) was feeling.
– That said, anyone who enjoys watching basketball has to feel for Frank and fans of the Pistons right now. The team is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, and is now 4-20 on the season – second only to Charlotte’s 3-20 record in the race for the NBA’s most futile team – and are trying to cope without Charlie Villanueva, Will Bynum and Ben Gordon.
Still, they played hard Wednesday night, especially when you consider it was their third game in three nights. Of course, as Frank said before the game, his team got “plenty of rest” during their 113-86 blowout loss to the Knicks on Tuesday.
– When Anthony Morrow talked to reporters before the game after being scratched with a sprained left ankle, dropping the Nets’ active roster to eight players, he was asked if he’d ever played with sch a small compliment of players.
He immediately recalled a game when he was with the Warriors in 2009, when Morrow, Monta Ellis and Vladimir Radmanovic all played 48 minutes and the Warriors only had six available players and beat the Mavericks, 111-103.
The Nets had a couple more guys than that available last night – though one of them, Keith Bogans, just was signed yesterday – but played equally hard. Avery Johnson said that every guy who played made significant contributions to the win, and he was right.
– Deron Williams, again, was sensational, going over 24 points for the fifth straight game, and finishing with 26 points and nine assists, continuing his run of terrific form recently.
“I’m just trying to get as many wins as possible,” Williams said. “Early on in the season, I was letting it effect me too much. I was getting too down, so I was trying to be positive.
“I know it’s a tough situation we’re in, with all of these guys going down and being hurt. I’ve got to take it upon myself, as a leader of this team, to try and step up and make plays at both ends of the court.”
– For his part, Bogans had an impressive debut, basically walking in off the street and playing 17 minutes, including making a critical play late in the game, cutting to the basket and converting a layup after a great pass from Williams with less than two minutes to go.
“I saw the back of my defender’s head, so I cut and [Williams] hit me,” Bogans said.
Bogans also admitted he was surprised to be on the court with less than two seconds to go and the Pistons were lining up for one last chance to tie the game.
“That shows coach has some confidence in me,” he said before adding, with a smile. “It was defense … probably if it was offense, I wouldn’t be on the floor.”
– Shawne Williams is known for his 3-point shooting. But he played strong defense on Tayshaun Prince in the waning moments of the game, forcing Prince to brick a jumper that would have tied the game for the Pistons.
“It was fourth and inches – that’s what I call it when the game is close,” said Williams, who scored 11 points in the first half and hit three 3-pointers. “I know he can score. He’s a great player. But coach did a great job with the Xs and Os preparing us. I know he likes to go left, so I had to force him right and make his shot as tough as possible.”
– Once again, Jordan Farmar played well, including hitting a pair of huge 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He finished with 15 points, including going 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
– Jordan Williams had a strong showing, getting nine points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes. He had his moments where he struggled, but he was aggressive going after rebounds, something he needs to do if he wants to try and earn consistent playing time.
Another guy who hasn’t seen much time of late, Sundiata Gaines, also played well. He finished with nine points, six rebounds and six assists, and two steals, though he missed one of two free throws late when making both would have clinched a win for the Nets.
tbontemps@nypost.com