The New Jersey Nets shocked the NBA world by trading Devin Harris/Derrick Favors and some draft picks for point guard Deron Williams on Wednesday.  This is a great trade for New Jersey, considering they rank just 28th in the NBA in terms of offensive efficiency, scoring 99.4 points per 100 possessions.  Without changing anything, the Nets are already a better team offensively, but if coach Avery Johnson wants to take full advantage of Deron Williams and his skills, there are a few things that he can do.

Keep Current Pace

The Nets’ pace is the first clash of styles between Williams and coach Johnson.  Even back with Dallas, Avery Johnson preferred a slower pace, and he has brought that to New Jersey, as they currently have a pace of 91.8 possessions per game, good for 4th slowest in the NBA.  Deron Williams, on the other hand, is a guy who wants to get out and run, trying to score in transition.

So what pace should the Nets play at now?  In my opinion, the Nets need to stay closer to their current pace rather than turning Nets’ games into track meets.  The reason why is because Deron Williams is a worse player in transition when compared to the half court.  In the half court, Williams posts a PPP (points per possession) of 0.95, which ranks him better than 76% of NBA players (108th).  In transition, Williams posts a PPP of 1.12 good for just 191st in the NBA.

Williams struggles in transition because he tends to force the issue, trying to create transition opportunities when they aren’t there:

Here Williams gets the basketball and he starts to push it against the defense.  All five defenders are back, Williams is unable to get a lane, gets caught in the air, and ends up turning it over.

On this play, Williams gets the basketball and all five defenders are back on defense.  He still tries to take it to the rim, a help defender steps up, and he is forced into a bad pass.

These are just a few examples.  I am not saying that the Nets should never run, but they need to take only the transition opportunities that are there (because when Williams does this, he is a fantastic player).  However, once Williams starts forcing things, that is when he gets himself into trouble.

Post Williams Up

As a bigger point guard, Williams will have a size advantage over most of the defenders that will be covering him.  This size advantage means that he should be successful in the post, and the numbers this year prove it.  In the post, Williams has posted a PPP of 1.07 while shooting 50%.  A lot of this is because of the position he gets due to the size advantage he has:

Here, Williams enters the ball to the wing and gets a backscreen (one that isn’t too good), the ball gets entered to the high post and Williams turns his back to his man and holds his position in the paint.  He gets the ball and is able to turn right into a basket.

In addition to scoring in the post, Williams’ advantage usually forces a double team to come.  Once that happens, his point guard ability takes over.

Here, Williams is posting Stephen Curry, who is much smaller then him.  Once the pass is in the air, the defense sinks in on him, and Williams is able to make a touch pass for an open jumper.

Play Deron at the 2/More 2 PG Lineups

In addition to being able to post up, Williams’ size and scoring ability allows his team to use him as two-guard.  In fact, according to Basketball-Value, two of the top five Jazz lineups in terms of Adjusted +/- (2nd and 5th highest +/-) feature two point guards with Williams playing off of the basketball.  This isn’t a foreign concept to the Nets’ either as their best lineup in terms of Adjusted +/- feature point guards Jordan Farmar and Devin Harris playing together.

A lineup consisting of Jordan Farmar running the point with Deron Williams working off of the basketball, something Williams is very comfortable doing:

On this play, Deron Williams is working as the two-guard with Raja Bell running the point.  It seems to have been a broken play, but Williams stays under control, spots up to the wing, and knocks down the jumper.

In addition, Williams is very comfortable running off of off ball screens, spotting up, and getting good looks.

Here, Gordon Hayward brings the ball up with Deron Williams working off the basketball. As the ball gets entered to the high post, Williams comes off of a staggered screen, spotting up, and knocking the jumper down.

More 1/5 HIGH Pick And Rolls

As a rookie, Brook Lopez was one of the best roll mans in the entire NBA, posting a PPP of 1.35, which was good for 13th in the NBA.  This year, Lopez’s numbers have dropped in the pick and roll, as he is only posting a PPP of 0.995.  The biggest reason is the location of the screens.  During his rookie season, 75.3% of the pick and rolls ran involving Lopez were high pick and rolls (pick and rolls that take place at the top of the key).  Lopez was terrific at getting to the rim while the defense worried about the offensive man coming off of the screen:

Here, Lopez sets a screen at the top of the key, and Lopez’s man has to defend against Harris coming off of the screen, allowing Lopez to get to the rim.

Again, because there is proper floor balance as the pick and roll gets ran, the defense can’t keep Lopez out of the paint, allowing him to get to the rim and finish easily.

This season, Lopez has only set a high pick and roll 56.6% of the time, running the PNR on the side/wing 44.4% of the time.  The reason why the side pick and roll doesn’t work is because the defense can naturally load up the paint, keeping Lopez from getting to the rim:

Here, Lopez sets a ball screen on the side of the court and then rolls to the basket.  However, because the ball is on the side, the help defense is naturally protecting the paint in help position.  Lopez makes the catch, but he is unable to get to the rim and has to settle for a floater that misses.

Here is another side pick and roll, and again, you have the same result.  Lopez rolls to the rim, but the help defense prevents him from rolling as deep as he would like, and he is forced to take another contested floater.

With Deron Williams running the pick and roll on the top of the key, the defense needs to worry about him pulling up or penetrating towards the rim.  To defend against that, you are going to start seeing hard hedges, and that will allow Lopez to get to the rim.  If the Nets start running their 1/5 pick and rolls at the top of the key, you will see Lopez match his rookie year success in the pick and roll.

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If Avery Johnson wants to get as much as he can from Deron Williams and his ability, he is going to have to change some things.  To me, these four suggestions makes the Nets better by playing to Williams strengths, which is what allows him to play at his best.