Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Deron Williams: No more frustration in Nets locker room

It looks like every act, show and performer out on the road these days will be making at least one stop at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center.  But if it were up to Brooklyn Nets star Deron Williams, the circus won't be one of them —  at least not in his Nets locker room.

Williams said he was frustrated at all of the losing he endured with the former New Jersey Nets during the 2011-12 season but really angered him was all the clowning around by a lot of his teammates after a loss.

The All-Star point guard said the locker room would turn into a comedy club after double-digit losses and — although he sometimes joined in the jocularity even as the losses mounted — it was eating him up.

"It was hard.  I've never been in that position before," Williams told reporters Tuesday following the Nets first day of training camp.  "So at times, I've shown frustration , but I think anybody would have.  I think no matter who it is, if you were there every day and you saw what was going on in the locker room you'd be pissed off too sometimes.  You're getting your asses kicked and then you're in the locker room laughing about the game afterwards .

"I don't think that stuff is funny.  That's what we had to deal with last year.  But I don't think we're going to deal with it this year, because we're just talking to the guys, that's not what we're about.  we're talking about not losing two games in a row. We were just trying to fight to win two games in a row last year."



Williams didn't make excuses for the Nets 22-44 record last season but could have pointed to the Nets injury-depleted roster, his contract talks and the Dwight Howard trade talks.

Asked about the the differences this year's squad will bring— only six players remain from last year's roster — Williams was optimistic.

"It's night and day, last year to this year, what we have in training camp," he said.

Williams re-signed with the Nets  — signing a five-year, $98 million contract — mainly because Nets GM Billy King wasn't reluctant to bring in some new players including All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson.

A new arena, a new team name,  a new leadership role and no clown cars pulling into the Nets locker room.  All things Williams can put in front of himself this season.

"I look forward to being that guy that everybody looks upon when things get tight, when things get close," he said.  "I like those moments."






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