DWill on NY Rivalry: "It's not really a rivalry yet, but I think it's forming."

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Updated: June 17, 2013

Last year the Battle of New York took shape for the first time and Brooklyn Nets fans went after the New York Knicks fans, and vice versa, every chance they got and it got heated more often than not.

Reality is that Nets fans DO NOT in any way like Knicks fans or their team and that is what makes this a rivalry amongst the fans.

The question has been asked: “Do the players feel like it is a rivalry yet?”

Deron Williams took some time to give his thoughts to ESPN New York.

The rivalry will certainly grow year by year by it will really take on a new level when these two NY teams play in the playoffs and one team moves on and the other goes fishing.

[quote_simple] Jared Zwerling | ESPNNewYork.com

It was a bigger deal than they made it out to be — and D-Will knows looking ahead to next season, it will only grow.

“When the reporters are asking us, ‘Is it a big deal?’, I think we all kind of shrug it off,” he said during a Nike House of Hoops event in Brooklyn. “But you can tell, the energy from those four games this season were probably more intense than any other four games we played in.

“Even when we won or when the Knicks won, the way they celebrated wasn’t how you would celebrate after a normal win. It definitely means much more. It’s not really a rivalry yet, but I think it’s forming, and as we get better and as the Knicks get better, I think it’ll be a rivalry for years to come.”ThereCanOnlyBeOne

Brooklyn style: Since being in Brooklyn, Williams has been impressed by how visible the game is in the area.

“Once I got to Brooklyn and became a member of the Nets, you can just see the love of the game in this community, and you can see it growing since we moved over here,” he said. “Just driving around, it seems like every block has a park and there are people outside playing, especially when the weather gets nice.”

Not only was the weather nice on Saturday — around 80 degrees — but Williams also gave the attendees a good feeling with his outlook for 2013-14.

“I’m motivated anyways, just because of how last season went,” he said. “It was a frustrating season for me because I had to deal with a lot of injuries, and it took me awhile to get right and get healthy. So I’m just looking forward to this season.”[/quote_simple]

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