April 12, 2015, Brooklyn, NY The Brooklyn Nets hold the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, still fighting for a playoff spot in what has been a disastrous season. They play the Milwaukee Bucks this afternoon, another team that has been mired in mediocrity. The Nets however are still looking for their superstar, and they need to find him quickly so that he can lead them into the playoffs.
On February 11th 2011, Deron Williams was acquired via trade from the Utah Jazz. Boasting a 21 ppg and 9 ast average. The then New Jersey Nets and their fans got their superstar. At that time he was considered one of the best, if not the best point guard in the league comparable only to Chris Paul. The Nets and their fans were excited. They have traded for star players before, Stephon Marbury and Jason Kidd being the most recent and both coincidentally were point guards as well with both bringing the same sense of hopefulness to the franchise and their fans. Marbury failed to bring the success that the team envisioned, and Jason Kidd led the Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances and revitalized the franchise. Somehow Deron was different from his predecessors.
February 4th 2012 the New Jersey Net are in Madison Square Garden versus the crosstown rival New York Knicks. A virtually unknown and undrafted free agent Jeremy Lin with 25 points made a name for himself against Deron, coining the phenomenon Linsanity. February 20th 2012 The Nets and Deron returned to MSG and put an end to any notion that he began Linsanity. With 38 points and a dominant performance against Lin, Deron reminded the Nets, Knicks and the league who was the premiere point guard in this part of town. It was this type of passion that the Nets and their fans were seeking in a superstar. March 4th 2012 a great and masterful performance versus the Bobcats, Deron scores 57 points and again shows the Nets and the league what he is capable of on any given night.
The Nets rewarded Deron with a $98 million dollar contract to become the face of the franchise in the summer of 2012 while simultaneously moving the team to Brooklyn. The team invested a lot of money to make this move successful. In the first season Deron delivered, leading the Brooklyn Nets to their first playoff appearance and leading them to their first playoff win stamping it with a reverse dunk on a fast break.
Deron lived up to the hype in the beginning. The Nets saw their superstar blossom into an all-star, an Olympian, and the player they would build around and use to attract other star players to their roster; then, he inexplicably disappeared.
Injuries have played a legitimate role in his disappearance; the fans can forgive him for those. Several coaching changes and different offensive philosophies can also be to blame and can be forgiven. However, it seems he has lost his confidence in his all-star skills. Where is his jump shot? Where is that beautiful yet deadly crossover that has left defenders seemingly standing in cement? At times during games, he misses a few shots and just seems to let a poor start dictate the rest of his performance. How can a player with his talents lose confidence? Deron’s name is no longer mentioned amongst the best. Deron has recently had periods where he was not in the starting line up while also being relegated to the bench during crucial minutes in the fourth quarter. There have even been rumors of the team being up for sale. Brooklyn has embraced this basketball team. Basketball lives again in Brooklyn. The Nets became relevant. The rivalry with the Knicks has turned into a battle for supremacy in New York City.
Where is Deron Williams? The Nets fans are looking for an answer to that question. With two years left on his contract and trade rumors plentiful, Deron could use this time to reclaim his long lost glory. With three games left in the season, Deron can lead the Nets to the playoffs and return to being the superstar who the fans and team embraced, because now more than ever they need him.
Sherman Gomez is a staff writer for PureSportsNY.