Injured Nets guard Deron Williams won’t play in Wednesday’s preseason game at Boston, and neither will ex-Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Brooklyn hasn’t had all its pieces together this preseason, but according to Pierce, health is more important than quick cohesion, the second half more important than the opener.
“[Williams] has got to get healthy. That’s the number one priority,’’ Pierce said Monday night at his cover party for DuJour magazine at the Palm-Tribeca. “The most important thing is his health. Whether it’s now, whether it’s later, only he knows when he’s going to be ready. Right now we’re at the point of getting repetition until he gets 100 percent healthy.’’
Pierce and Garnett had Hall of Fame-caliber careers with the Celtics before coming to the Nets in an offseason trade, and had planned all preseason to sit out their return to Boston until the regular season. But Williams sprained his right ankle in the offseason and still hasn’t scrimmaged or taken part in full-contact practices.
“Truthfully, if Deron is there at the beginning or not, the most important time is after All-Star break, anyway, to start peaking,’’ Pierce said. “We’re not going to reach our potential in the first week, second week of the season. I don’t think any team is. The only team that is [are] teams that’s already there, like the Heat. It’s important for us to just get healthy right now, and peak at the right time.’’
Williams, who also attended Pierce’s event, hasn’t been medically cleared for contact but still hopes to play in the regular-season opener Oct. 30 in Cleveland. Tornike Shengelia (right knee rehab) won’t play Wednesday, although both Pierce and Garnett do actually plan to make the trip, just not take the court.
“No, we’re not playing. We’re saving it for the one trip in January,’’ Pierce said of the Nets’ Jan. 26 game at TD Garden. “Right now we just want to go to go out there and enjoy some of our favorite restaurants. But I probably won’t go to the game. That’s been the plan (all preseason).’’