Deron Williams Counters To Kobe Bryant’s Comments of ‘Psyched Out of Game’
It may have been said six months ago, but the message is still the same. Deron Williams is just the type of guy not to let go of critical comments, much less those targeting his reputation.
The Brooklyn Nets starting point guard responded to comments that were references in a Sports Illustrated article that revealed how Kobe Bryant criticized his 0-9 Game 2 playoff game against the Miami Heat last May.
According to The Brooklyn Game, The Los Angeles Lakers superstar was quoted by Gotham Chopra, the team's resident director of documentary as saying, "'I would go 0-for-30 before I would go 0-for-9. 0-for-9 means you beat yourself, you psyched yourself out of the game." Apparently, Deron will not take the criticism, no matter how old, a relayed second hand, lying down.
"I'm a point guard," Williams responded to Bryant's frame of mind. "If I'm 0-for-f**king-9, I'm not shooting 20 more shots. Not going to happen. I'm a point guard. I'm going to find somebody else. Kobe Bryant, that's what he's supposed to do. He's got that mentality. That works for him, I got my mentality, it works for me."
The comments were not actually a response or attack on Bryant himself, but Williams was just clarifying that his job is to involve his teammates. Even newly minted coach Lionel Hollins was on his ward's side, saying that he does not want Williams or any of his players to keep on firing on all cylinders for the sake of shooting. For the meantime, he just wants Deron to concentrate on playing good basketball given that there are many expectations resting on his all-star's shoulder.
With Paul Pierce gone to the Washington Wizards and Kevin Garnett nearing the sunset of his career, Hollins is looking upon his talented distributor to take up the mantle of leadership. This is understandable given that centre Brook Lopez is still recovering from foot injury and Joe Johnson is called "Joe Cool," for having a more laid back approach to the game.
Williams for his part has admitted that he was troubled by confidence issues in the past year mainly because his body could not do what his mind was projecting to accomplish. With the former Utah Jazz guard coming to camp healthy, the team is optimistic that he can return to the Deron Williams of old and once again join the discussion of the better crop of current point guards in the league.