Stefan Bondy's post | Latest updates on Sulia
Real-time updates from Stefan Bondy
http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1082021484/Stefan-Bondy_Square_bigger.jpg
Stefan Bondy's post | Latest updates on Sulia
Introspective DWill on leadership and difference between sad Deron (unhealthy, bad body language, shooting poorly)
and happy Deron (pain-free, All-Star form, inspiring leader).
"In the beginning of the season when I was playing bad it’s hard to – I don’t want to say sorry for myself, but not be down on myself. Keith (Bogans) was telling me all the time you’re being too hard on yourself, you’re beating yourself up, because I feel like I’m letting people down, letting the team down, letting fans down, because I’m feeling bad. So that was the biggest thing for me. It wasn’t not trying to be a leader, it was just staying positive about myself, which I think my teammates know that I’m not healthy and then they see me kind of being down, not that I’m down on them, but I’m down on myself. But then it can have that reaction where it trickles down.
“I still was trying to be positive to everybody. I think it was just my body language on the court because I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do. So it just looks like -- I heard people say you know, ‘I look disinterested.’ I’m not disinterested. I’ve never wanted to play bad. I’ve never wanted to miss shots. I just couldn’t make shots. And I had to hear about it everyday from you guys.”
Williams said it wasn't the pressure of the new contract or the extra attention of the bigger market. It was all about the pain in his ankles, which has been reduced dramatically since latest round of injections.
"From walking from here to that lockerroom felt like shit. It felt like shit," he said. "What do you not understand? I could not walk. I could not walk up my stairs without it killing me. It would take me 10 minutes to get up my stairs, especially in the morning. I feel totally different right now. I feel like I have a whole new energy.
Right before the shots. The San Antonio game (before the All-Star break) was kind of like the last straw. I felt like I was hurting the team even being out there playing the way I was."
