VIDEO: Playing hurt, Deron Williams looks to injure the ankles of others

May severe tendinitis never be spoken badly about again.

Deron Williams suited up for the Brooklyn Nets for Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday despite concerns he may miss the game due to tendinitis in his knee. 

It's an issue that's dramatically impacted his performance on the court, and the underlying issue has led teammates and head coach Lionel Hollins to come to his defense in the media. Having dealt with myriad ailments for the past few seasons, primarily in his ankles, the expectations for Williams simply aren't fair, according to Hollins, who said his point guard is no longer the same player.

For at least one half on Monday, Williams emphatically looked like the same player he once was.

Not only did Williams score a team-high 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting with three rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes, he also flashed the handle that made him one of the deadliest guards in isolation not that long ago.

After putting up his worst numbers since his 2005-06 rookie season this year, Williams has averaged just six points, seven rebounds and 5.3 assists through the first three games of this series.

If Monday is a sign of how he'll play the rest of the way, the Nets may prove a tougher out than the Hawks anticipated.