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."

NBA stars dribble 'Carol of the Bells' to promote new BIG Color uniforms

If the stress of Thanksgiving dinner or the door-busting crowds of Black Friday shoppers don't get you into a holiday mood, maybe the sound of a popular Christmas carol played by NBA stars dribbling basketballs will do the trick.

The NBA is giving fans the first look of its new and ingenious "BIG Color" marketing campaign — the one that features single color with the stencil-font letters that will be worn during the Christmas Day NBA quintuple-header — as a teaser.

The ad — which will be released Wed. — features Lakers center  Dwight Howard, Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Nets guard Joe Johnson Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Heat guard Dwyane Wade dribbling basketball to the tune of "Carol of the Bells."  The players are all wearing the monochromatic uniforms and take turns hitting the various notes of the carol.

You know a couple of elves probably did a lot of editing to pull off this Christmas miracle.



Not surprisingly, all five players are scheduled to play during the holiday marathon featuring the Celtics at Nets, Knicks at Lakers, Thunder at Heat, Rockets at Bulls and Nuggets at Clippers.