In anticipation of their Friday night showdown with the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, Deron Williams is already throwing down the gauntlet, declaring to ESPN that his remade Brooklyn Nets are better than the champs.
Despite Brooklyn having lost its last 13 games against Miami, the last three by an average of 21 points, Williams boldly declared "we have to feel we're a better team and I think we do."
Williams later added "I don't know if we felt we were a better team than the Heat last year. Our mentality has changed. That is how you got to attack if you want to win a championship. You got to feel like you are the best team.
The offseason acquisitions of veteran forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have emboldened the upstart Nets all the more.
"I think it will definitely be a statement game," added center Brook Lopez. "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 be doing down the line."
During the Nets 86-62 preseason win over the Heat in Brooklyn on Oct. 17, Pierce delivered a hard foul to James as he was heading to the basket after James had made comments asserting he felt both Pierce and Garnett were out of place to criticize former teammate Ray Allen over his decision to join the Heat two summers ago.
"Tell LeBron to worry about Miami," Garnett bristled after the game.
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