STILL ALIVE: Brooklyn Nets 110, Chicago Bulls 91 (Game Grades)

Deron-Williams78

Deron Williams POINT GUARD

When Deron Williams is having fun, he’s so much fun to watch. Hit a pull-up three in transition and waved three fingers to the crowd because this is Brooklyn and he can do that. Excellent, efficient double-double (23 points, 10 assists). Big fan of the way he flung passes around tonight, most notably a fourth-quarter dime to a sneaky Brook Lopez for a dunk and-one. Attacked noticeably more in transition and semi-transition. The Nets will take this effort from Williams any day.

Joe Johnson SHOOTING GUARD

Scored four of the team’s first eight points before firing an airball and sleepwaking his way through most of the rest of the game.

Gerald Wallace SMALL FORWARD

CONFIDENCE BACK. Hit three-pointers above the break in the first half, then put together the two biggest plays of the game, hitting a corner 3, then coming up with a steal and fast-break one-handed slam to put the Nets up 103-91 with two minutes left.

Kris Humphries POWER FORWARD

Hit four jumpers in the second quarter, because what the hell why not. Thought he gave the Nets some good minutes in the first half, though he got stretched more than I would’ve liked in the fourth quarter.

Brook Lopez CENTER

Another monster offensive game from Lopez, who didn’t have to do much outside of the paint for success. Tip-ins, free throws, baby hooks, some surprisingly good passing out of double-teams, and some big dunks (including a late and-one in the fourth quarter) for yet another fantastic offensive night. Ended the game with a huge double-double: 28 points, 10 rebounds.

Andray Blatche POWER FORWARD

Big 4th quarter. Played early with Lopez and looked good in tandem, though he was a step behind on a couple of defensive plays. Had one nice slam through (a little) contact to get an and-one in the first half and a bunch of buckets in the fourth as he abused Carlos Boozer’s drunken defense.

Reggie Evans POWER FORWARD

Had his struggles but LOOK AT THIS

Also, scored in Carlos Boozer’s face once, which is all I really need. But the Nets lineup was noticeably better with Blatche in at power forward late in the fourth quarter.

C.J. Watson POINT GUARD

Had issues hitting from outside but attacked the lane well, and on one of the smarter plays of the game, Watson slid under a flailing Joakim Noah and picked up a big offensive foul call.