Does Deron Williams even care? That is the question that is on the minds of a lot of NBA fans and, in particular, Brooklyn Nets fans going into the Nets first round matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

Once upon a time, Williams was widely regarded as one of the top two or three point guards in the NBA. Now, when you look him play, he looks like a player that is satisfied. Williams hunger appears to have completely vanished. What happened to Williams?

At one point Williams was a double-double machine. 20 points and 10 assists could be penciled in for D-Will simply by him walking into the gym. But those days seem to be long gone. You would have thought that he would have a chip on his shoulder or had something to prove after being stamped as a coach killer due to the falling out between Willams and coaching legend Jerry Sloan in Utah. When you allegedly are the reason why a coaching icon is handed his pink slip, you have to respond with greatness to prove whatever point it was that you were trying to make. 

If you let BK fans tell it, Williams is stealing $98 million from Mikhail Prokhorov's pocket and not playing up to his elite level loot. Honestly, 14.3 points and 6.1 assists is not the kind of output you would expect for that kind of cheddar. NBA fans that have looked Williams put up those numbers would totally agree with the assessment that D-Will is stealing money. Maybe deep down inside, Williams would agree as well. 

But he can change the perception of a lot of people in these playoffs if he was able to lift his game from out of the ashes and help guide a very expensive group of veterans to an NBA Championship. Supposedly the Nets were put together for the postseason and not so much for regular season success. $100 million over the salary cap should get you a little more than a sixth place conference finish though. 

Deron Williams needs to start showing some kind of return on Prokhorov's investment and this is the time to do it. Williams needs to ball in these playoffs so he can get his respect in the league back. His status has totally fallen off. The way that he is playing it is hard to believe that he was considered All-NBA and an Olympian not too long ago. Williams needs to find his old form and resurrect his career now before he stays stuck in this rut of mediocrity he created forever. 

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About the author
James FitzGerald IV
I am just blessed to know that no matter what, all things you go through can be used for God's purpose. The good and the bad. That is really refreshing.