"Brooklyns Backcourt" Still Working on Playing Together

The Nets are 58 games into the regular season, and the backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson still haven't fully adjusted to playing together. After all the hype and "Yormarketing" in the summer, the duo has been less than spectacular on the court together and have faced some injury issues that don't help the chemistry-building process go any faster. It seems as if when one of them is on a hot-streak, the other is cold as ice. The offense runs through the both of them, so they are both integral parts to the success of the Nets.

"We're still working on it," Williams said. "It's something that we're going to continue to work on and get better as it goes. I said it before: I've never played with a guy like Joe, so it takes adjustments. We're used to having the ball in our hands for the majority of the time, so now it's kind of one of those things where . . . as a point guard, I've got to pick and choose, and get everybody involved, and keep everybody happy.

"There are times I don't want to step on, not necessarily somebody's toes . . . I just want to keep guys happy, and make sure they're getting their touches, and deferring a little bit. Sometimes I do that too much and sometimes not enough. So it's one of those things you kind of balance, and get better at, and learn and learn where people like the ball.

"That's part of chemistry," he added. "It took us a little longer than we expected, but we'll continue to work at it."

Getting both of their offensive games in sync continues to be what needs to be done to truly make them the "best backcourt in the NBA."

"Me and him really just are trying to feel one another out, as far as still tying to find the sweet spots," Johnson said. "I think we've found a little rhythm, where I know he's comfortable with the ball, where he likes the ball at and vice versa. Those are the little things that we are still trying to learn and still trying to get down pat.

"Our cohesion, it'll come . . . We can only get better."

Keith Bogans adds that the key is for Deron Williams to keep the same mentality he's playing with now. All he has to do is adjust it a bit for when Joe Johnson comes back after a sore heel had kept him on the sidelines for three games.

"These last few games Joe has been out, Deron has really stepped it up," Bogans said. "He's more of a facilitator when Joe is on the floor, throw him the ball and being the distributing point guard. But when Joe isn't there, you can see him switch to a different gear, start to score more, be aggressive.

"I told him that's what he has to do. I think when Joe comes back, he'll still stay aggressive."

Turnovers have been a huge issue for Deron Williams, and he knows that he needs to change it. He is averaging 2.9 turnovers a game this season, a number that has gone up since the all-star break when he's averaging 3.6 turnovers.

"A lot of it is careless passes, that's the one thing," Williams said. "Turnovers for me are mental. Once I get one, I'm thinking about not getting another one and then you end up getting another one because you're not trying to turn it over. It's tough."

Source: Newsday

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