NBA playoffs: D-Will says some on team lack heart

SAN ANTONIO — He didn't name names, or even call anyone a name.

But Jazz point guard Deron Williams did call out teammates after Utah was eliminated from the NBA playoffs Wednesday night with a 109-84 Western Conference finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

"There were some guys that were already on vacation, point blank," Williams said. "On vacation a long time ago."

Asked if that is something that needs to be addressed in the offseason, Williams told reporters, "I hope so. Guys need to figure out what's right here."

The second-season point then pointed directly at his heart.

"They know," said Williams, suggesting he, for one, refused to quit, even with the Jazz down by double-double digits throughout Wednesday's second half.

"You go out there and play hard. I'm going to play hard regardless. I like to win," Williams added. "I've always been that way. I've always been competitive. Winning drives me. There's some guys on this team that are like that; there's some guys that aren't like that."

When a second wave of reporters surrounded him in the visitor's lockerroom at AT&T Center, Williams eventually picked up with the same theme.

"It's very frustrating," he said.

"It's very frustrating when you have three, four guys play hard and a bench full of guys who want to get out there. You know, young guys, they're ready," Williams added. "They want their names called, and they really haven't got that chance. But if they had their name called, they'd be ready to go in. And it's frustrating that we don't really have any help."

Asked if he thought certain Jazz players don't want to be in Utah, Williams responded, "Yeah. I know for a fact."

Again, he did not name names.

But he did make his point.

"All the guys on the team are great guys. Off the court, everybody's great," Williams said. "On the court, I might not like some guys' effort, some guys' thought process.

"I like to win," he added. "Some guys, it seems they don't play to win sometimes."

Even when pressed, Williams stood firm.

"I'm not backing off. I said it," he said. "The series. This year. Last year. I'm not saying they don't 'play to win' — I don't know if they care if they win or lose, when it's all said and done.

"It's got to (change)," Williams added, "if we're gonna win a championship."

Later Wednesday night, in a formal interview room, Williams' comments were relayed to Carlos Boozer.

The Jazz power forward readily concurred.

"It is sad to say that," he said, "because (of) where we are. We are in the Western Conference finals, and we have guys that have vacation plans.

"I will never call out a teammate. I will never say anything negative directly to a teammate because I love my team, and I believe in that code," Boozer added. "But we need guys that are always going to give everything they have. Like I told (Williams), we need guys that have a championship vision. When you have your vacation plans already, that's not a championship vision."

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