Deron Williams doesn’t deserve to be called a ‘superstar’ – Part 2
According to Deron Williams, Avery Johnson’s system did not allow him to play more pick and rolls, as he used to do back in Utah Jazz under Jerry Sloan’s flex system. As a result, he had to play isolation offence and hence the decrease in his shooting figures. However, it really ceases to amaze that how a person who has the ball in his hands more than anybody in the team can blame the coach for his poor showing and that of his team.
As far as I can remember, playmaking is done more often by instinct than on the basis of the script laid out by the coach.
That was exactly what Shaquille O’Neal questioned recently. He urged D-Will to look into the mirror before pointing fingers at others for his failures;
"Sometimes before great players point fingers, they should look in the mirror," Shaquille O'Neal said. "This is the first time I've heard the guy with the ball at all times say that he doesn't like the offense. My advice is for him to look in the mirror and see if he's doing enough. At times, I think he's trying to do too much. There are only 24 seconds on the shot clock and he spends 10-12 seconds dribbling between his legs. He needs to get everyone else involved and himself involved. ... He's not really playing that well."
Amidst all the mess, D-Will has also raised the issue of his swollen right wrist. That is the same wrist responsible for his struggles ever since he was shipped out of Utah Jazz. And, I don’t need to say much after that.
The cold truth is that Williams was never a star. He has always been an over-rated player, who excelled under the system of the legendary Jerry Sloan. The fame and money got to his mind, and rather than improving on his game, he has been content on cashing in. This is not what superstars do, not even close. For them, the urge to become better never dies out and for that they keep on working and improving their game. Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley were two such players and when they have a reason to rip apart Williams, you have got to take notice.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: