Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams told reporters he’ll definitely play against the Boston Celtics tomorrow, marking the first time he’ll see the floor since November 20th against the Charlotte Bobcats. Williams hasn’t played in a full game since November 13th, a blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings, and was expected to return today.
More interestingly, the other Nets starter out of the rotation said he might make a return. Forward Paul Pierce, who was ruled out for 2-4 weeks with a broken bone in his right hand sustained on November 29th, practiced with the team today and told reporters that he might make a return tomorrow against his former team, ten days after the original diagnosis.
Pierce says "good chance" he plays tomorrow.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 9, 2013
Pierce was seen shooting around before the team’s Saturday night victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. If he plays, it’ll be the first time he steps on the floor against the Boston Celtics, where he spent fifteen seasons. Pierce is the franchise leader in three-point field goals and steals, and his 24,021 points in Celtics green ranks second behind Hall of Famer John Havlicek.
Pierce also said unprompted he’d be welcome to playing off the bench if it helped the team, according to Newsday’s Rod Boone:
Pierce said he's willing to do whatever it takes to help this team. Even said, unsolicited, that'd he'd be willing to come off bench. #Nets
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) December 9, 2013
Asked Kidd if Pierce off bench is an option. Said they haven't discussed it, but admitted he worked with 2nd team today to see how he looked
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) December 9, 2013
In our latest episode of #BKConnect, Rod said that it may be good for Pierce to come off the bench when he returns, to give the second unit a scoring punch.
Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko and guard Jason Terry did not practice. Kirilenko hasn’t played in a game since November 8th, fighting what he calls the worst back spasms of his career. Terry is nursing a bruised knee.
