Jerry Stackhouse implies ball moves better without Deron Williams

Deron Williams isn't in Houston for the All-Star Game. Maybe he should fly over from his vacation in Miami Beach to correct the record. Jerry Colangelo told Stefan Bondy that D-Will was a "little overweight" at the Olympics, Now, Jerry Stackhouse's interview with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless has been posted and in it, Stack takes some less than subtle shots at Williams, critiquing his role as the team's distributor.

Asked by Bayless if the ball moves better without Williams on the court, Stackhouse replied, "there you go!", perhaps trying to suggest that Bayless wanted to create controversy, but then proceeded to say that both C.J. Watson and Tyshawn Taylor are "more distributors" than D-Will.

He also said that Joe Johnson should demand the ball from Williams. "I tell Joe all the time, 'tell him you want the ball. Tell him you need the ball.' I mean if you go two or three stretches, I would. (because) at the end of the day, they're going to come back and say it's on you why we lost."

At the end of the interview, Stack softened his stance a bit by noting, "we've got to find a way for them to figure it out together, because they got to be on the court together."

In discussing a potential Brook Lopez-for-Dwight Howard trade, Stackhouse said, he would face sleepless nights but "right now, Brook Lopez has proven that --and without all the drama-- that he can be that guy for us. I like drama-free."

Finally, Stack was asked Micheal Jordan vs. LeBron James, who would win one-on-one in their primes. Stackhouse practically shouted, "Michael would KILL him. Kill him."

Here's the transcript of the Nets portion of the interview...

In response to Smith asking why Nets can't win against top teams.

It's called the first year together. We're still learning each other. We got two superstars who are used to having the ball in their hands and now they're learning to share that a little bit, share the limelight.

In response to Smith question, Do you think they need to be better vocal leaders?

Yeah. I do ... I think right now, they're in the stage of not wanting to step on each others toes but I tell Joe all the time, tell him (Williams) you want the ball. Tell him you need the ball. I mean if you go two or three stretches, I would [because] at the end of the day, they're going to come back and say it's on you why we lost. At least get your 25, your 30 points and at least the game is going to be in the balance anyway at the end.

In response to Bayless question, Is it possible that the ball moves better without Deron Wiliams in the lineup?

There you go. I'm not... (much shouting) We've had some young guys who are more distributors than Deron. I mean C.J. Watson, he's a shooter, but he's deferring more to Joe in these last couple of games. You're seeing that in Tyshawn. He's a playmaker. You're seeing different styles. And obviously Joe has had a couple of big games since Deron's been out. But we've got to find a way for them to figure it out together, because they got to be on the court together.

In response to Smith comment that if Howard still wants to be in Brooklyn, do you deal Lopez?

I don't want to lose Brook Lopez. He's proven that he can be a go-to guy for us. I mean Dwight Howard is a talent that nobody can really turn down as a GM. I'm glad I'm not the GM because if I had to make that decision, it would be one I would lose a lot of sleep over, but right now, Brook Lopez has proven that --and without all the drama-- that he can be that guy for us. I like drama-free.

• First Take - Jerry Stackhouse (Audio @1:20:15) - Stephen A. Smith & Skip Bayless - ESPN
• Jerry Stackhouse has perspective on Michael Jordan legacy - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York