D-Will gets grilled on 'Inside the NBA'

by Shums on Dec 18, 2009 2:05 AM MST

Since the Jazz are in Atlanta to play the Hawks tonight, Deron Williams made an appearance on the TNT broadcast of "Inside the NBA" with Ernie, Kenny and Chuck. And they didn't cut him any slack. Observe:

Wow. Is it just me, or did it seem like, after unanimously proclaiming him the best point guard in the league (even specifying "better than Chris Paul"), they all really went after Deron and the Jazz? And our ninja did NOT look comfortable. In fact, he starts getting a little feisty with Barkley, who keeps insisting (as he did during the Laker game last week) that there is "tension in y'all's locker room" and that "you KNOW what's going to happen [at the end of the season when Boozer is not re-signed]."

Deron dutifully gives the party line, that there are no chemistry problems now and that no one really knows what's going to happen next offseason. But as each of the hosts repeats essentially the same question -- "Why isn't this team better than it is, or as good as it could be?" -- D-Will has to just keep shaking his head, and you can sense his frustration growing as he admits "...I wish I knew" after an awkward pause.

Consider also Deron's Tweet after his appearance:

@d_will_8_4real: Segment is going to Air on the post game show! Kenny and Charles didn't let me off the hook at all! Had a good time

Deron's never really been one to hold back his emotions. If he's annoyed, you can usually tell, even if the words themselves don't show it. He was annoyed tonight.

So I'm left wondering what to read into this. Is he just sick of having the same questions fired at him and being expected to give the golden answer? Or is this indicative of the very internal "tension" that Barkley suspects and Deron denies? (Or am I overreacting? Because that sounds like something I would do.)

Final point: We know Deron (or his representation) is pushing more publicly to make the All-Star Game this year. (And again, you can tell in his voice when Ernie asks him about it that it would mean an awful lot to him, more than he wants to let on.) Kenny says that his goal shouldn't even be set there, but rather as a first- or second-team All-NBA selection -- a goal he accomplished as a second-teamer in 07-08. I think it's interesting that people around the league seem to have such respect for D-Will... at least to his face. But when it gets right down to it, he still hasn't made an All-Star team, and he still isn't recognized for his game by the public at large.

Lots of interesting things in that five-minute interview to parse out. Let's hear what you all thought about it.

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Comments

i think his discomfort

if in fact he was uncomfortable, could be the result of deron really and truly not having any explanation for why the jazz suck so often, which, as the best pg in the league, he very well should.’s

by moni on Dec 18, 2009 8:14 AM MST reply actions

yeah

I think he just gets asked that so often, and wants to win so badly, and feels responsible for it as the team’s leader and best player, I’m sure it must get really old having to deal with that question over and over.

Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?

by Shums on Dec 18, 2009 8:18 AM MST up reply actions

I agree w/ Shums...

I think it was brought up in the Minnesota game thread the other night, of who really wants to win above all else on this team? The answer seemed to be Deron, Millsap, and the coaching staff, that’s it. I think he is the type of player who wants to be known as a leader, as an all-star, as a 1st team all-NBA PG, and more importantly as a champion. My personal opinion is that will not happen with the way this team is currently constructed.

Whether he will admit it or not, there is a problem w/ the elephant in the locker room. I have always been against trading Carlos, but to hear Deron say that there was tension in the locker room at the beginning of the year (when Booz was struggling), but it is gone now is obviously a lie. This team knows that in order to be a championship caliber team they need people who want to win above all else.

If Booz leaves as FA, I think Millsap has enough talent to take the majority of the load at PF, but more importantly he has the will to win that is apparently not in Boozer’s DNA. It would be real interesting to see if the Jazz could trade Booz for a legitimate 2nd or 3rd scorer (depending on how you look at Millsap’s numbers w/ no Booz on the team). I think a deal like that could have the same impact as the Hornacek trade in ’94.

8 Hours To Kill is now on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/8hourstokill

by BC7 on Dec 18, 2009 9:25 AM MST up reply actions

Respect

It is interesting how many basketball experts in the industry favor DWill over CP3. Not all, but I’d say at least half. Kenny and Chuck represent what alot of them think – that Deron is better than Chris Paul, at least as a point guard. But stats mean more to fans than the experts and the fans see slightly better numbers for Paul and think he’s better. Unfortunately, Steve Nash’s resurgence makes this all the more difficult for Deron. I think he will be voted in, but won’t get to play much or won’t get much spotlight. Whatever! We all know who is the best!

by mcjazzman32 on Dec 18, 2009 10:41 AM MST reply actions

Deron will unfortunately never be 'voted' an All-Star

because voting for starters is done by the fans, and the fans will always, always favor Chris Paul. (Or whomever happens to be playing guard for the Rockets. Damn international voting.)

But as everyone not named Steve Nash continues to age, Deron will find it increasingly easier to be selected by the coaches as a reserve.

Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?

by Shums on Dec 18, 2009 11:09 AM MST up reply actions

A good discussion going on and nice post Shums.

I agree with what Moni, Shums, BC7, and mcjazzman have all said. It was sort of funny how they praised him and then just started pointing out all of the team’s flaws, which have to be reflected on Deron. I think he was uncomfortable/annoyed, because he doesn’t have the answers, and he can’t do anything much more to fix the problem. I think it’s also sobering to hear your team’s problems diagnosed by a national panel right in front of you. Deron knows and now he knows everyone knows, that this team has maturity issues when it comes to knowing how to win. And he gets tired of it, because what can he say or do? He is trying his hardest to win.

Along BC7’s lines…I was surprised that he admitted there was ever tension, because that is the first time I have heard anyone admit that Carlos’ comments made things awkward. I now believe him a bit more. It may not be an issue right now and that is why many Jazz fans are overlooking Barkley and Smith’s comments about “going through the motions.” But the reason it may not be a problem now, is because the team is winning most of their games currently. But just wait for the first 4 game losing streak. Or just wait til the Jazz drop another home game to the Warriors with 7 healthy players. It is going to happen once or twice more during this season. Last season, when times got hard, the Jazz pointed fingers literally on the court. I remember seeing people call other players out for bad defensive rotations. That is when the “issues” rear their head. Not when you have won 7 out of 10 games and believe you are a good team.

You can’t deny that last season’s team had chemistry issues and the team for the first 8 games or so. Those issues will return. Teams that are close and that have players without personal agendas, have closed-door meetings and lift each other up. I haven’t seen this team rally around each other during hard times since Derek Fisher left. So…that’s where I stand.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Dec 18, 2009 11:09 AM MST reply actions

well said

I remember when this topic came up last week during the Laker game, Kenny made this point: No one’s saying the Jazz aren’t a good team, locker room troubles or not. But an NBA season is long, and there are lots of up and downs. The less united you are as a team, the less you’ll be able to reach your potential. Then when those 4-game losing streaks come, they stretch into 7-game losing streaks. And when those 3-game winning streaks come, they stop at 3 games whereas a more unified and dedicated team would be able to push that to 6 games (e.g., not losing to the Peskies after beating the Magic and Lakers).

At this point, I don’t see that synergy, that unity, that sense of purpose, that desire, from the Jazz. For whatever reason.

But it is still a young season and a lot can happen.

Uh, do you think you could draw me like a ninja?

by Shums on Dec 18, 2009 11:17 AM MST up reply actions

right.

they’re good enough to win games right now which is keeping the elephant suppressed, but they’re not good enough to win tough/close games consistently, which means that ugly heads will be rearing down the line.

by moni on Dec 18, 2009 5:29 PM MST up reply actions