The Nets made it look easy in routing the Bulls Saturday night in Brooklyn in Game 1 of their first-round series, but Deron Williams is expecting things to be much more difficult tonight.
“The first one’s easy,” Williams said. “You’re ready for it, the fans are excited … [Game 2] is the one to see where we’re at, to see if we can play with that same energy, the same pace, that we did in Game 1.”
It would be hard for the Nets to play much better than they did Saturday, a game in which they shot just under 56 percent from the field and committed only eight turnovers. The Nets never trailed and led by as many as 28.
That being said, interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, like Williams, expects to see Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau make the necessary adjustments to see the Bulls be much more ready to play tonight.
“The even number games are the hard games to get ready for,” Carlesimo said. “When one team has that advantage, which is usually the even-numbered games, that’s usually the hard one. One team has the advantage, and the desperation level decides the game.
“You still have to go play the game, but if one team wants it more, or is a little more desperate, that sometimes carries the even numbered games. If they come in and get one, they can say, ‘We got one on the road, and we took home court away from them.’ We need to play like we’re down 1-0, not up 1-0.”
Williams is expecting the Bulls, in particular, to be much better defensively.
“We know to expect that,” he said. “We’ve got to continue to work offensively to get open, to execute, to be disciplined.”
* Williams admitted he’s very much enjoying the fact that, after sitting at home and watching the playoffs the last two years with the Nets, he’s back in the postseason this year.
“A lot,” he said with a smile. “A lot. It’s not fun sitting and watching people compete in the playoffs when you’re sitting at home. It’s a lot better feeling to be playing meaningful basketball.”
Brook Lopez, who had 21 points and three blocked shots in his first postseason game, said the experience hasn’t changed much for him than getting ready for regular-season games.
“I don’t know if there’s any normal way you go about this, but it’s status quo for me as far as this is concerned,” Lopez said. “I think we’re going to come in, go over film and it’ll be a normal day.”
tbontemps@nypost.com