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For Brooklyn Nets, a great opportunity

Mike Stobe

The Nets are saying all the right things about Game 2 ... after doing all the right things on Saturday.

"The first one is easy," Deron Williams said before practice at the PNY Center. "You are ready for it. You are excited, the fans are excited. So, this one is going to be the one to get to see where we are at. We have to have that same energy and play with that same pace we did in Game 1 in Game 2."

Keith Bogans, who knows about the Bulls, says much the same.

"We’ve got to come back and play better than we played last night," Bogans said. "It’s going to be hard, but we can definitely do it."

The Bulls of course have more motivation. Being down 2-0 dramatically increases your chances of a first-round exit.

"You don’t ever want to get your ass kicked on national TV. Not to even mention in a playoff game," said Jimmy Butler.

The Nets dominated virtually every category, shooting (58.8 - 47.4), three-point shooting (42.9 to 25.0), rebounding (39-35), assists (18-15), points in the paint (56-36) and fast break points (12-3). P.J. Carlesimo also played Brook Lopez and Andray Blatche together throughout the game and the two combined for 33 points on 13-of-36 shooting.

But the big difference-maker was the guy with the ball. Deron Williams was not just dominant on the stat sheet. He led the team and with Kirk Hinrich hurting, he should be able to dominate ... again.