OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Ziaire Williams performed properly all via the Nets’ summer time open runs, and carried that via coaching camp.
Now the Nets’ newest reclamation venture adopted that up with a robust outing in Tuesday’s 115-106 preseason-opening loss to the Clippers.
“I’m making an attempt to reinvent myself, present people who I belong on this league,” Williams stated. “I’m making an attempt to work my hardest day-after-day. Simply put all my coronary heart, my soul on the market on defensive, and carry that over to the offensive finish.
“I’m simply making an attempt to play arduous. I’m a scholar of the sport. I work arduous. I’m the primary one in, final one out; so I simply belief in my work, belief in God and simply permitting all the pieces else to circulate.”
Williams, a 2021 lottery choose in Memphis who was primarily acquired as a wage dump, had 10 factors on 5-of-9 taking pictures with three steals in 23 minutes.
His athletic open courtroom play and reducing capability is an ideal match for the best way Jordi Fernandez needs to educate and Ben Simmons needs to play.
“Shoot, that’s like bread and butter to me,” Williams stated. “I positively wish to run quick, play within the open courtroom, velocity the protection and velocity the opposing group up, choosing up fullcourt.
“So I adore it. I performed a bit of quick at Memphis, and I’m glad we’re enjoying quick right here. I’ve been enjoying quick all my life, whether or not it’s sprinting, racing mates or enjoying quick on the courtroom, that is positively what I love to do greatest. And I really feel like that’s the place I thrive the perfect.”
The Nets performed with out Nic Claxton, with Jordi Fernandez saying the beginning heart must be again by Opening Night time on the newest.
“We’re not involved,” Fernandez stated. “It was a minor difficulty with this hamstring. And he’s been working actually arduous.
“We’re aiming for the start of the season, however that doesn’t imply that he’s not going to play preseason video games.”
Day’Ron Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Bojan Bogdanovic and Killian Hayes have been all out, the latter a late scratch with hip soreness.
“Nothing main,” Fernandez stated. “Simply ensuring he’s OK.”
Kawhi Leonard was out for the Clippers.
“The largest factor for us is ensuring we do proper by Kawhi, not getting him damage as an alternative of making an attempt to get again early. We will’t skip steps. We’ve bought to comply with the method,” Ty Lue stated. “We’re doing all the pieces the correct approach earlier than we get him on the ground, so if it has him being pissed off at us as a result of we protected him, then so be it.”
