Nets coach Hollins on struggling Deron Williams: 'I feel bad for the kid'

The Brooklyn Nets added another chapter to the sad saga of their season on Monday, as the team with the league's highest payroll watched a 17-point first-half lead evaporate in a loss to the coach who jilted them some seven months ago - Jason Kidd - and his upstart Milwaukee Bucks.

Onetime superstar point guard Deron Williams lowlighted the team's struggles. He was the only Nets player who failed to register a point, and coughed up the ball four times in 22 minutes off the bench.

It's technically the second time he's gone scoreless this season, but the first time he played just four minutes before leaving with a rib injury. Before this season, Williams hadn't been held scoreless since his rookie season back in 2005-06.

After shooting 0-of-5, he's now missed 19 straight field goals, spanning three games. His shooting percentage has dipped to 38.2, by far the lowest mark of his career, and in the five games he's played since an 11-game layoff due to the aforementioned rib injury, he's averaged 6.8 points on 26.2 percent shooting.

"I have no idea (what’s wrong with Williams)," said coach Lionel Hollins after the game, as reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. "I feel bad for the kid because he’s trying and it’s just not happening."

Williams, who is actually 30 years old, missed morning shootaround Monday because of an illness, but wasn't in the mood to make excuses after being benched for the entire fourth quarter in favor of Jarrett Jack, who snatched the starter's role Williams held at the start of the season.

"t’s not about me, it’s about the team," Williams said. "I have to do whatever I can. Obviously right now, it’s not enough. Just keep working at it. Hopefully, I’ll get it right."

Williams remains on the Nets' books for the next two seasons (the second an option year that he'll almost certainly opt into) at a total of approximately $43 million.