Nets players see P.J. as more than 'interim' coach

The Brooklyn Nets are the NBA's only undefeated team in 2013 and, if you ask the Nets players, they think "interim" head coach P.J. Carlesimo is a big reason for their recent run.

The Nets improved to 8-1, since Carlesimo replaced Avery Johnson in late December, after they defeated the Indiana Pacers 97-86 at the Barclays Sunday.

Now, as high profile names like Phil Jackson and Stan Van Gundy have taken their names out of the running for the Nets head coaching job, some Nets players think it wouldn't be surprising if the Nets take the prefix "interim" from P.J.'s title.

"I don't know how much it matters (removing the interim tag) to P.J., but I don't look at him as an interim ," Joe Johnson told The New York Daily News.  "He's our guy right now. I have 100% faith in him.  I don't look at him as, 'He's just going to be here for a little while.'  I'm figuring he's the coach."

The Nets are even winning while Carlesimo lets point guard Deron Williams take it easy while nursing various injuries.

"Early on, I wanted to practice so much," said Williams.  "I've just been a lot smarter about it.  It's just been one of those things where either you want it in practice or you want it in games."

Carlesimo has given the team a whole new outlook this year.

"When we had that loss in San Antonio (New Year's Eve), we wanted to put that whole thing behind us," said Johnson.  "It just shows because we came into OKC (on Jan. 2) and we were a whole different team."

Deron Williams: I'm not playing like an elite point guard

On Tuesday, following his poor performance against the San Antonio Spurs the night before, Deron Williams was still down on himself about how the Brooklyn Nets $100 million star was playing this season.

Tonight, Williams gets a chance to face one of the NBA's elite point guards in Thunder star Russell Westbrook but takes an inferiority complex onto the court at Chesapeake Energy Arena with him.

The word elite gets thrown around a lot in sports these days and Williams knows his play doesn't warrant that description so far this season.

"I don't think I'm playing like [an elite point guard]," Williams told The New York Post before practice Tuesday. "I think I can be. But I've just got to figure this thing out."

Williams was being honest about himself but it's hard to argue with his own assessment of his season — especially when he is compared with Westbrook.

In 30 games, Williams is averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 assists while shooting a paltry 39.9 from the field and 30.0 from three-point range.

Better than average but not elite.

Williams whined about ex-Nets head coach Avery Johnson's system hindering his play.  That is a moot point now. Johnson was fired last week and Williams is on his own.

Interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo has suggested that the pressure of being the $100 million face of the team could be contributing to Williams sub-par play.

"He is Deron Williams.  He was Deron Williams (on Monday, when he finished with eight points and two assists), and that's fine," said Carlesimo.  "Honestly, I don't want him thinking, 'I got to get 25 points, I got to get 11 assists, I got to get this, or I have to get this.' He's just gotta play"

But Williams is giving it some thought — maybe too much.

"I'm just overthinking," Williams admitted. "I've never been a player that can go out there and play and think ... I just react.  Now, it's like I come off [a screen] and I'm thinking, 'Should I shoot this? Should I not?'

"I'm just ... I'm not playing the way I should be.  That's all I mean.  It's not injuries.  It's just in my head, and I've got to get it out."