The Brooklyn Nets have been one of the most disappointing teams of the season with a 11-21 record but surprised the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night with a 95-93 victory by playing with a small line-up that featured Paul Pierce at the power forward slot and Deron Williams at the shooting guard position.
Now that they are without center Brook Lopez for the rest of the season, the Nets have no other option but to join the small-ball bandwagon. Teams like the NBA champion Miami Heat have been using a smaller line-up in recent years.
"Maybe what you saw tonight was gonna be the future lineup," Pierce told NY Daily News. "Maybe it's gonna be me playing (power forward). We spread the court. I told them in the back, that was the second time we used that lineup and we're 2-0 with that lineup. Maybe it's a position change in the making for me-something that's gonna work for us."
Pierce said this is not the first time he has played the '4' spot instead of his usual small forward position. "I've played a little bit (power forward) in my career. I played more in college, but I played some in Boston for a couple of years, too," said Pierce, who scored five of his 18 points in the fourth quarter Friday, when the Nets went on a 14-0 run and staged their biggest comeback win of the season.
The line-up adjustment likewise benefited star guard Williams, who scored a season-high 29 points. With Shaun Livingston playing the point guard, Williams was able to become more aggressive on offense and looked for his shots.
"I've been wanting to do that a little bit more. I get into a rhythm by coming off screens, playing like that. It's good to have Shaun out there and being able to roam out there and being more aggressive," Williams said. "I like to come off screens, not to do everything off the dribble. I get into a rhythm like that. That's how I like to play."
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