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The Nets made sure to credit the coach for his work in Tuesday's practice, which was Carlesimo's first with the team. Williams liked what he saw and heard in Oklahoma City, as well. "He did a great job of coaching tonight, of picking his spots, talking to me,” Williams said. “He’s definitely passionate, and Avery (Johnson) was too. Avery was more reserved, wanted to be more even-keeled on the bench, he didn’t want, I don’t want to say, people see him sweat. PJ is just one those guys who is just fiery. If he’s feeling a certain way, he’s going to tell you.” Sulia

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Deron Williams, PJ Carlesimo 

The matchup between the Nets’ Deron Williams and Thunder star Russell Westbrook tonight should be a battle between two of the elite point guards in the NBA. But given the way Williams has performed this season, it’s hard to argue more than one elite point guard will take the floor tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena. “I don’t think I’m playing like [an elite point guard],” Williams said before practice yesterday. “I think I can be. But I’ve just got to figure this thing out.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

In a typical off-season, Williams said he takes a one-month break. But last year, he kept training in advance of the Olympics and resumed personal workouts right after he returned from London. "I thought it was the best thing to do," Williams said Monday, "and now looking back, it probably would have been smarter to take some time off and get a little bit of rest, especially just on my legs, my ankles in general, because they took a lot of pounding over the last year." New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Rod Boone: Asked Deron at practice if he feels like an elite PG: "I don't think I'm playing like one. I can be. I've just got to figure this thing out" Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Jody Genessy: Millsap joked that he doesn't know if Kirilenko will get the Jimmer treatment (cheers) or the D-Will treatment (boos) Wednesday in Utah. Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap 

But all of the extra work Williams put in may be coming back to haunt him now, after going through yet another rough outing in last night’s 104-73 blowout loss to the Spurs. “I think we’re a little out of whack right now, as a group,” Williams said after going 3-for-11 from the field and finishing with eight points, two rebounds and an assist. “I know I am, individually. I’ve got to play better. I’ve got to find ways to get going. “Even on bad nights, I don’t play like this. I don’t even feel like it’s me out there on the court. I’ve just got to snap out of it.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

“I put a lot of pressure on myself early,” Williams said. “I was really excited about this year. Coming into the season, I felt like we had a good team. “I still feel like we have a great team. I want to be able to help the team more, and play better. Tonight was just another night I didn’t help.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Tim Bontemps: Deron on December finally ending: "Yeah, hopefully the New Year is better for us, because December was one of the worst I can remember." Twitter @TimBontemps

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

But the Nets insist, publicly and privately, that their decision to fire Johnson was independent of Williams' opinions. If Williams was so set against playing for Johnson, they ask, why did he re-sign with Brooklyn in the summer, when he could have easily signed with Dallas as a free agent and played in Rick Carlisle's "flow" offense, a much more compatible system? (There is the not-small matter of the $20 million or so more Williams made by staying in Brooklyn instead of going to Dallas.) NBA.com

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

Howard Beck: Didn't hear any boos for Deron Williams during intros, but hardly any cheers either. Crowd just doesn't care right now. (And PA is too loud) Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

Josh Newman: Deron Williams: "I don't feel responsible, as far as I was never consulted, nobody ever asked me what I thought they should do with Avery." Twitter @Joshua_Newman

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

Rod Boone: Deron on getting heat: "That’s how things go nowadays. As soon as something happens somebody has to take the blame. I guess that guy is me." Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

Rod Boone: Deron: "If they would’ve asked me, I would’ve said he needs to be our coach because he was a big reason why I stayed here." #Nets Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

Rod Boone: Deron said he was riding the stationary bike yesterday when Billy delivered the news that Avery had been fired. Says he was shocked. Twitter @rodboone

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

But it’s clear Williams has become a major detriment, a locker room lawyer poisoning the atmosphere now against a second coach. He had everything to do with Sloan leaving no matter what you might hear from the Jazz, Sloan or Williams. He still has value and there’s always a team that thinks they can change guys. So maybe if you are the Nets you see what he can bring. I assume it still would be a lot. He’s always been one of the more difficult people to deal with in the NBA, condescending and selfish. But now that he’s essentially quit on two coaches you wonder what is next. As for Sloan, yes he’d like to coach again but seems to be waiting for a certain opportunity. Though as you approach 70 it may not come. NBA.com

Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Deron Williams 

TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal blasted Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams on Thursday night. Following Nets coach Avery Johnson's firing, Barkley said it's time for Williams to "put up or shut up," while O'Neal said he needs to "look in the mirror." "He's got the reputation of getting coaches fired," Barkley said. "Whatever happened in Utah [head coach Jerry Sloan resigned], it happened. Whatever happened in Brooklyn, it happened. This is all on Deron Williams right now. It's time to put up or shut up." ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Charles Barkley, Deron Williams 

Howard Beck: Nets are calling Deron Williams a gametime decision (wrist). Humphries (abdominal) is out, along w/Shengelia (flu). Twitter @HowardBeckNYT

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Injuries 

“To pinpoint this all on Deron, that’s not fair. He wasn’t [consulted] in deciding this decision,” King said. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

By the time Johnson was fired, he had lost several members of the locker room. Williams was the most obvious one, and his decision not to play Wednesday night in Milwaukee — citing a wrist injury that he had played through all season — only fueled speculation that he had, as one friend of Johnson’s said, “totally quit on Avery.” Suspicion also surrounded Kris Humphries, who went on the inactive list this week — right after Johnson yanked him from the starting lineup — because of a previously unmentioned abdominal injury. New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams 

Just like in Utah two years ago, where coach Jerry Sloan retired following a reported rift with his point guard, Williams was blamed for the departure of Avery Johnson, who was abruptly fired Thursday morning by Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov. "I was surprised," Williams said in a telephone interview with Daily News. "I never had any conversation with (GM) Billy King about not liking coach, nothing about coach Johnson. Avery was a big reason I came back, because him and Billy. So I was surprised. "We've never had an argument, we've never had a fight, any disagreements, anything. So, I think it was more kind of what happened in Utah, people still saying I got coach Sloan fired even though he resigned and that's going to stick with me for a while." New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Deron Williams