Nets' Hollins defends Deron Williams against critics: 'I think it's unfair'

It's been a tough couple weeks for Deron Williams. 

The three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA second teamer - who used to incite debate about whether he or Chris Paul was the best point guard alive - has turned into a punching bag, a scapegoat for the dysfunctional Brooklyn Nets.

Already in the midst of his least productive season in a decade, Williams was ripped by former Net Paul Pierce in an interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan published earlier this month.

"Before I got there, I looked at Deron as an MVP candidate,'' Pierce said. "But I felt once we got there, that's not what he wanted to be. He just didn't want that ... The media in Utah is not the same as the media in New York, so that can wear on some people. I think it really affected him.''

The Nets made a surprise late-season push to sneak into the Eastern Conference playoffs as an 8-seed, but the scrutiny facing Williams has only intensified. In Game 2 of the Nets' first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, he shot just 1-of-7 from the field, had more turnovers than points and missed a wide-open jumper from the short corner that would've tied the game in the final seconds.  

Williams was asked to rate his performance after the game, and was predictably displeased.

"Do I really have to answer that?" he said, according to ESPN's Mike Mazzeo. "I just came off two points, 1-for-7. I can play better."

When asked about all the criticism being aimed at his point guard, specifically from TNT analyst and former longtime Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller - who reportedly agreed with Pierce's assessment - Nets coach Lionel Hollins decided he'd heard enough. 

"Who cares what Reggie says?" Hollins said. "Reggie's had bad moments himself in the playoffs. All these guys (basketball players turned TV analysts) act like they've never made a mistake, never missed a shot. I mean ... all they are are talking heads now. They're not basketball players anymore. They're former basketball players that are talking heads. ...

"I feel bad for Deron and I think it's unfair, but it's life. When you're in this business and you're in the public eye, there's gonna be a lot of unfairness."