Deron Williams changed Paul Pierce’s tune about him pretty quickly.
In Game 4 of the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, Williams erupted for 35 points (16 in the 4th) to lead the Nets to a 120-115 win in overtime and tie their series with the Hawks at 2-2.
Before the playoffs started, Paul Pierce shared his thoughts on how Williams handled (or shied away from) media pressure when the Nets added Pierce and Kevin Garnett last season. His criticism of Williams wasn’t as much personal as it was reflective, and wasn’t taken as out of context given Williams’ visible regression over the last several years.
But Pierce had no choice but to give Williams his props after his performance in Game 4 on Monday, from CSNWashington.com:
“I think it’s great. I know that’s what he’s capable of. That’s probably why I said a lot of things I said because I know what Deron Williams is capable of. The player you saw last night, that’s what you expect out of him. It’s all a mind-set. You got to go out there and will yourself every night, I believe.”
That sense of belief has seemed to allude Williams in recent years. His incessant injury palette hasn’t helped that cause either. Williams’ teammates Jarrett Jack and Joe Johnson each respectively came to his defense, which has to be encouraging for the former All-Star.
Pierce better watch himself. His Wizards will face the winner of the Hawks-Nets series in the conference semifinals. He may have the more elite point guard at the moment, but if Williams has somehow returned to that mindset of belief, the Nets become a much different threat.