Deron Williams Feels Brooklyn Nets are Better Than the Miami Heat


There’s a lot chatter coming out of Brooklyn prior to tonight’s showdown with the Miami Heat — Deron Williams says that the Nets are confident they’re now a better squad than the defending NBA champs. Per ESPN: “The Nets have dropped their last 13 encounters with the two-time defending champion Heat, losing the three meetings last season by an average of 21 points. But before the beatings even took place on the court, Miami had already won where it matters most — in the Nets’ heads. ‘I don’t know if we felt we were a better team than the Heat last year,’ Williams said. ‘And so I think in order for us to be able to beat them this year, we have to feel like we are a better team and we can beat them. And I think we do.’ Williams and the Nets face the Heat on Friday in their home opener. General manager Billy King said on WFAN on Thursday that Williams, still working his way back from an ankle injury, should see his minutes increase against the Heat, then be back to his normal playing time Sunday. Despite the fact that (Jason) Kidd will not be on the sideline due to a two-game suspension to start the season, the Nets want to show the Heat that things have changed. ‘I think it will definitely be a statement game,’ center Brook Lopez said Thursday. ‘It’s going to be a great benchmark for us. We absolutely believe we’re capable of competing with them and that’s something we’re going to want to be doing down the line, obviously, in the playoffs. So we’re definitely anticipating a high-energy, important game.’ […] ‘Our mentality has changed,’ said Williams. ‘That is how you got to attack it if you want to win a championship. You got to feel like you are the best team. I am sure they feel like they are the best team, the Bulls feel like they are the best team, Oklahoma City feels like they are the best team. That is the way we are going to attack it.'”