Since the Brooklyn Nets have been one of the best teams in the NBA in the calendar year, that certainly means they've been, arguably, the best team in the Eastern Conference over the same time period. But for anyone who believes that means they'll make some noise come playoff time -- that a championship parade may find its way to New York after all -- then you can hit those brakes right now unless Deron Williams decides to show up.

The Nets aren't going to the NBA Finals unless Williams shows up. They are not going to the Eastern Conference Finals unless Williams shows up. Chances are, they'd be hard pressed to get past the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs unless Williams shows up. And that essentially means the Nets aren't relevant in the grand scheme of things ... unless Williams shows up.

"He's important to this team," Nets GM Billy King told me recently. "He's very important to us. But he isn't the only one."

Whatever!

No one's trying to dismiss the contributions made by the likes of Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Shaun Livingston and even rookie Mason Plumlee. One's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The other is an elite closer. Livingston is a sparkling addition to Brooklyn's backcourt, and Plumlee, quite frankly, is first-team all-rookie and, at the very least, a legitimate backup center who'll challenge Brook Lopez for years to come.

But if you don't see anyone standing up and screaming about the Nets, how legitimate their title aspirations are, it is because of the $98 million man who is regressing before our eyes.

Plagued by nagging ankle injuries since the 2012 London Olympics that have contributed to 16 missed games this season, Williams is averaging just 14.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting and just 10.9 points on 34.6 percent shooting over the past seven games.

Yet despite the Nets registering an impressive 33-14 record since Jan. 1, despite knowing that Williams (bad ankles and all) can still spot up and shoot, take defenders off the dribble and create his own shot with relative ease, there's still an underlying issue with Williams more salient than his ankle: his psyche.

"The truth of the matter is, it isn't good and has never been that good," one league executive said a few days ago. "From a talent perspective, you can't find too many people that would doubt he's worth an awful lot. But that's rarely the issue with him. The issue has always been questions about how bad he wants to win. What sacrifices is he willing to make? How much does he really care in the end? And believe me, people are still thinking about that now as the Nets approach the playoffs."

For the record, few folks within the Nets' organization are thinking about such matters right now. They're locked in. Focused on the upcoming playoffs. Leaders like Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who returned two games ago, are in Brooklyn's locker room for a reason. Diminishing the chances of a severed clubhouse stands atop practically all other obligations.

Yet everyone is aware that Deron Williams has had, arguably, the easiest job a franchise player could ever hope to have. With leadership from KG and Pierce, with Johnson's finishing abilities, with the depth the Nets possess, the exceptional young coaching by Jason Kidd -- practically hand-picked by Williams -- and stellar leadership from Billy King, all Brooklyn's point guard has to do is play.