Inspired Effort: Williams’ halftime speech helps Nets stop skid
It wasn’t exactly “Hoosiers”-like, but Deron Williams delivered what proved to be an inspirational pep talk to his Net teammates just prior to the second half of an eventual 94-88 triumph over the league-worst Toronto Raptors Wednesday night before a crowd of 18,847 at the Air Canada Centre.
“We’ll take a win any way we can get it right now,” Williams admitted after Brooklyn (12-9) snapped a season-high five-game losing streak less than 24 hours after enduring a gutwrenching home loss to former Net Jason Kidd and the Atlantic Division-leading New York Knicks at Barclays Center. “It’s good to get back on a winning track. It’s something we needed in the worst way.”
Williams, the Nets’ undisputed team leader — both on the court and off it, watched the previously hapless Raptors (4-19) run out to a 45-37 halftime lead despite missing starters Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry. As the Nets slumped off to the locker room, even coach Avery Johnson felt they needed some type of boost to shake off what had been a dismal 1-5 stretch without injured center Brook Lopez.