Eastern Notes: Okafor, Johnson, Williams

Nets small forward Joe Johnson is struggling mightily with his shot, connecting on just 33.5% of his attempts, but the veteran is doing his best to contribute in other ways, writes Fred Kerber of The New York Post. “Just trying to do my job to the best of my ability, which I don’t think is necessarily about trying to score more,” Johnson said. “I think it’s all around, whatever it is to try to help this team win. We all have a role on this team and we have to play it to the best of our ability. I’m just trying to do my job. Some nights it’s pretty good, some nights it’s not so good.” Johnson is earning a whopping $24.895MM this season, and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Here’s more from out of the East:

• Sixers rookie Jahlil Okafor expressed regret over the altercation he was involved in with a heckler while outside a Boston nightclub earlier this week, John Finger of CSNPhilly.com relays. “It was definitely dumb on my part and something I’m embarrassed about,” Okafor said. “We’re still dealing with the league and with the team, but I’m not happy about it at all. We’re going through the whole process of what we’re going to do.”
• Combo forward Derrick Williams has not had his number called regularly by Knicks coach Derek Fisher, and notes that he and the coach have not discussed his changing role, which is becoming a source of frustration, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “Yeah man, I feel that’s the reason I’m here, bring that spark off the bench,’’ Williams said. “You can’t control that. It’s up to the coaching staff. At the same time, it does get frustrating. I know I can help. But we have more games.’’
• The Cavaliers assigned Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be Harris’ third sojourn of the season to the D-League, as our tracker shows.