Yes, this is a makable shot by Deron Williams. And not only is it makable, but it’s likely one the Brooklyn Nets needed to have any chance of upsetting the Atlanta Hawks in the teams’ first-round playoff matchup.
But Williams’ bloated salary is of no consequence here. Neither are Paul Pierce’s recent comments decrying his “want,” or even that the Nets trailed 93-91 with 10 seconds left at the time of his miss. Basketball is a game full of errors, and the former All-Star’s tiny one – a jumper missed by mere inches – came with the spotlight from Phillips Arena directly on his shoulders.
Not even his gaffe on the previous play is as bad as it looks, either.
What looks like Williams feigning effort or flat-out losing his mind is actually a frequent and nuanced NBA play. Williams is forced to show help on Paul Millsap’s potential drive due to Jarrett Jack tumbling to the floor and takes his eyes off DeMarre Carroll to do so. Instead of fully committing, though, he fakes a rotation to get back to the strong-side corner where he thinks a dangerous three-point shooter is waiting.
That’s a common defensive stunt, one made due to a breakdown at the initial point of attack. Williams indeed erred by failing to see ball and man while jumping Millsap’s direction, but it’s hardly the comical mistake the basketball Twitter world made it out to be.
Williams isn’t the player he once was, but this unfortunate two-way sequence isn’t indicative of that reality more than season- or game- long performance . Instead, it’s just a random occurrence at the worst possible time – nothing more.
The Hawks beat the Nets 96-91 to go up 2-0 in the series.
[Vines via Vinnyviner and netw3rk]
