The next big thing
If you’ve missed the NBA playoffs so far, you are missing one of the most exciting playoffs in years. You are also missing the emergence of the next great point guard in the NBA: Deron Williams.
I remember in 2005 when Deron Williams got drafted with the No. 3 pick in the draft ahead of Chris Paul, I was in shock. Not because Williams wasn’t a phenomenal player, but because Paul was still available. I really liked Williams in college. He hit some huge shots during the NCAA tourney that year and he was the teammate to my namesake Dee Brown, which made me root for the fighting Illini during that run to the championship game versus North Carolina. The knock on Williams coming out of college was that he wasn’t quick enough to be a full-time point and he would struggle running a pro team.
Last year, Chris Paul won the Rookie of the Year and was anointed the next great young point guard in this league. Williams also had a solid season under Jerry Sloan’s tutelage and you saw the makings of a point guard controversy brewing over the next 15 years… Who would be the best floor general?
Now it’s 2007. Williams was second in assists during the regular season behind two-time MVP Steve Nash, led the Jazz to a Midwest division title and is on the verge of getting the Jazz to the Western Conference finals.
So how good is Deron Williams? He’s not just good. He’s the next great point guard in this league! I’m not taking anything away from Paul, because his supporting cast is not as talented as Williams and CP3 makes all those players better – just ask David West and Desmond Mason – but Paul hasn’t reached the playoffs yet and Williams is two wins away from the Conference finals.
What makes him the next one?
First, he is a lot quicker and faster than people thought (including me) coming out of college. He has that Jason Kidd change-of-direction speed. Everyone compared him to Kidd because of his size and court vision but not his speed. Second, he is a physical point. Do you see what he is doing to Baron Davis in this series? Davis just bullied the Mavs guards. He can’t do that with Williams. He is just as physical and tough as Davis and that’s a plus when it comes to big point guards in the league. A combination of speed and physical play – that’s a hard blend to stop for anyone. And lastly, he can shoot with range. He can shoot off the break, pick-and-roll situations (Williams to Boozer). Doesn’t that remind you of a tandem that used to play in Salt lake City? And he is not afraid to take the big shot. He hit that shot in Game 2 to send the it to overtime and took the life out of the Warriors there. He has that killer instinct that you want from your floor leader.
Right now, he is the best player from the 2005 draft. I still give much respect to CP3, but Deron Williams is Jason Kidd with a sweet stroke.
Remember, the true sign of a player’s worth in this league is winning games. Deron Williams is still playing games in May. If he keeps getting better every game as he has shown during the 2007 season and playoffs, he could be playing in June, which means he might have a chance to do something that John Stockton never did – win a championship.
chris Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Would have to agree that he will be great, being that he has all the ingtangibles. One thing to look at though, are the players around him. If Chris Paul was handed the reins with players like Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Kirilenko, Gordon Giricek, and Derek Fisher, I think that he would be as equally productive, if not better. Right now, he has the perenially injured West, Chandler, and Desmond Mason. Throw Williams into that team, and his numbers and “potential” would look much different. Williams can play the pick and roll because Boozer and others are such great shooters. Paul has to constantly create for himself and for others, because not one person in the Hornets can create their own shot.
chester Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 11:06 am
to Mr.brown!!! you forgot something. because all i know cp3 is injured all season long. and when cp3 is healthy i think that he’s the REAL NEXT BIG THING. ayt! your such a bias!!
Jerry Maine Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Deron is tough, if he can hold his own with the Baron, and he had until todays monstrosity of a game 3, and that sick facial on AK tonight has got to remind you of that KJ dunk on Olajuwon, I digress, if he can hold his own with the Baron and he’s a second year, then he’s a tough cookie. Dude is a baller, just might get the Jazz to where they want to go, but not this year baby, Warriors in 6.
Jerry
Gerald Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Deron is good, no doubt about it. I’m not totally disagreeing with you, but I don’t think it’s fair to compare him to Paul when they don’t have the same type of pieces surrouding them. A good point guard also needs good players surrounding him… just look at Steve Nash. Unfortunately, Chandler is no Stoudemire (nor even a Boozer) and Mason is no Marion (nor an AK).
If Paul was in Utah and Deron was in New Orleans, this article probably wouldn’t even have been written.
JD Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Chris,
The supporting cast around Deron might be better than what Paul has, but there’s no doubt that Deron elevates the games of those around him. Exactly how many all-star appearances did Boozer and Okur make before playing with Deron Williams? Zero. They’re talented players in their own right, but Deron makes them even better.
Greg Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
both DW and cp3 are outstanding players worth of all the accolades , but up to this point in their careers DW has shown to be much more durable of the two… so while I agree with chester that cp3 has been injured “all season long”, that’s what I see as the biggest difference between the two players…
Barlo Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Jason Kidd the greatest point guard ever, he’s shooting great in the playoffs.
Ricardo Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Man I think CP3 is the best all-around man, but Deron is the best PG. Both should be in the playoffs next year, when healthy, that Hornets team of Chandler/West/Peja/D-Mase/CP3 is one hell of a lineup.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Deron Williams has better court awareness and is more of a playmaker than Chris Paul. Not to mention, Williams is a proven clutch performer. Paul has not been immersed in as many crucial situations especially not with his team unable to qualify in the playoffs. I believe Williams would be a better fit as a point guard for the U.S. basketball team than Paul was, is and ever will be.
Anthony Yu Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Mr. Brown, my former Raptor Dee Brown, Wazzup??!!
D-Williams is just a tough guy. He can beat up on almost every guard in the NBA. Chris Paul is just faster and as good as D-Will.
Well, of all of the places in the world, I do not want to be the Atlanta Hawks GM in 2005. DAMN! You have to be super incompetent to not draft those two uber-guards. Dee Brown, send in your resume to Hawks GM position, it does not take much to be a Hawks GM.
Brent Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Chris, your argument is very week on Chris Paul. Sure Chris has to create his own shots, but what good did it do? He is sitting home right now. Your saying he is a better guard because he creates his own shots in a losing effort. Sorry, but that is a weak argument.
He needs a cast just like Deron. But Chris can’t defend bigger guards like Baron Davis. They are both talents, but Deron is the one for the Jazz and Chris is great, but going nowhere without a better cast round him.
Besides Deron assists are way above the Chris Paul sorry. Boozer is playing at a high level because the ball is delivered and that is done more times per game by Deron.
Blake Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 12:47 am
It’s fair to point out the talent differential around Deron than around Paul, and the injury situation, but let’s also remember that neither Williams nor Paul would ever thrive in each other’s systems. I don’t see Paul being successful in Utah’s system, nor would Deron in NOK’s system.
I think both are incredibly even as far as skills go, but I personally prefer Deron Williams because he is so much better without the ball in his hands than Chris Paul is and he’s also a much better positional and team defender. But both are fantastic, I don’t think it’s a safe proposition to say that either one is better than the other.
eddiesucks Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 5:31 am
i’ve had much love for DW since he first came into the league. but man did he elevate his game this year. he’s gonna be one of the great pgs when it’s all said and done.
Damien Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 7:10 am
in the next few years we’ll see how is better, right now is only a question of supporting cast.
The size, the talent and the maturity that Sloan is givin to him, can help him to develop into a kidd-billups tipe of player.
George Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Williams is already a top point guard but I am not sure if he is going to reach Kidd’s level because Deron is not a great rebounder like Kidd. I still believe that CP3 has more potential than Williams. Paul doesn’t have teammates like Boozer , Okur ,Kirilenko and Fisher but he still managed to average almost 9 assists. Nobody can’t forgive the Hawks for selecting Marvin Williams, an unproven combo forward, when they had 3 top point guards available….CP3, Deron, Felton.
David Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 8:43 am
They are both great point guards that have dynamically different styles. Chris Paul is going to be the focus of his team. He is the “star” and the team will be built around him winning games for them. Deron is the glue guy. He can score 5pts and help his team win, or if they need him to he can turn it up and score 30.
Chris Paul = Isaiah Thomas
Deron Williams = Jason Kidd
They are both great…let’s stop comparing them (I know that they are sick of it).
chester Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:22 am
brent, you’ve almost forgot something. in thier first season in the nba. cp3’s assist are way above deron. the only thing that seperates them now is cp3’s injury. and i almost forgot b4 cp3’s injury this season he’s the number 2 assist leader behind steve nash!!! pls…
GARY Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Deron is the BETTER SCORER! he can pass just as well as Paul but he can score when needed like at the end of game 2. Paul i’m not so sure if he can do that, although i think Paul has quicker hands and create more steals. If you guys want to know what they can do with the same cast, WATCH THE ROOKIE GAME. deron was very impressive and he was the one that got the sophmores the big lead… although Chris Paul just became a thief and just started stealing everything…
Speaking of Hawks GM………..to be fair MARVIN WILLIAMS have game… a big that can shoot..and potentials of DIrk….just like this year Barganani was picked over ROY….. but SHELDON WILLIAMS over ROY this year? wtf…
chris Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:32 am
To Brent,
Please look again at my post. You’ll find that we agree on a lot of things. As I’ve said, “If Chris Paul was handed the reins” meaning, that if he played on the Jazz, “he would be equally productive, if not better.” What I’m saying is that if “Carlos Boozer was on his team, as well as Mehmet, Chris Paul would “equally productive if not better numbers than Deron Williams.” I know that these are all semantics, but semantics can often lead to confusion. I’m not saying that Chris Paul is better, and that he’d be the second coming of Michael Jordan. That’s where the words “equally productive” and “if not better” come in. Those words do not demean Deron William’s performance nor do they put Chris Paul in a pedestal. In fact, they are “cautionary” in tone. I’m saying that his numbers, would tend to improve by at least three or four points, and three or so assists playing in the Jazz system. By having weaker teammates who cannot create their own shots, Chris Paul has to split himself in half, as a scorer and facilitator. Who would you rather have on the block? Chandler or Boozer? How about on the perimeter? Desmond Mason, or a seven foot mismatch monster in Mehmet Okur? By proxy, what I’m saying is that because Chris Paul has to consistently create for his shot and for others, his task is much harder than Deron Williams, so his numbers will reflect this disparity. Brent, if you look again, you’ll see that you’re actually agreeing with me. As you said yourself, Chris Paul would be “Going nowhere without a better cast.” Well, he’s watching the playoffs as we speak. Since Deron is armed with Carlos Boozer, and not a perenially injured David West, his assist totals are higher. And don’t forget that when Boozer handles the double teams, Deron can always hang outside for an uncontested three, or an isolation play, which gives him increased chances in both scoring and passing. AND PLEASE, PLEASE let’s not forget that he is in a system that has spawned Stockton and Malone, the pick and role GOD that is Jerry Sloan. If you want to take it one step further, the sytem and cast that are tailor made for a point guard’s skills allow them to reach a higher plateu that they could never get to on a different system. Who does Chris Paul have? Byron Scott. What offense do they have? Throw it to Chris Paul and pray to god he makes it in. Maybe Desmond Mason, if he’s feeling it. Who would you take? Look at Nash’s career at Dallas. His assist and scoring totals were of lesser stature, compared to what he’s pulling up now. Did Steve miraculously turn into a hall of famer, or did Mike D’Antoni and his run and gun offense assist him to two MVP’s? I think the world of Nash, but the tailor made system accentuated his abilities. Though his points and assist totals went up, they didn’t hit the stratosphere. But it’s hard to argue, that three or four extra points and assists, went a long way.
George Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:58 am
CP3 at his best year will have like 22 points 11 assists and 6 boards and 2 steals….now about Deron he’ll have 20 points 12 assists 3 boards and 2 steals……they are obviously gonna be the top point guards for the next 10 years…..it’s like comparing nash to kidd….that means it’s hard to figure out who is more valuable for a team……I prefer Chris Paul because he’s younger and he’s more athletic….it’s not too common for 5-11 guard to average 5.5 boards per game…..
anko Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
i think the jazz picked him cause everyone say he was slow so he had lack of confidence. that was what sloan needed. i think sloan took comand over him and deron did whatever sloan wanted. i would be a different story with cris paul cause he was projected to have a better carrier than DW8. i think sloan got in this man’s (deron) head and made him a great PG
i’ll give 70% credit to sloan cause D-will wouldn’t be a player he is without him… everybody is a winner sloan gets the credit and williams is a GREAT GREAT PG.
chris Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
A couple of things to add on to the Deron Williams- Chris Paul battle. First I agreee with many of you, that comparing these two are like comparing Nash to Kidd, or Isiah Thomas to Magic (though that’s a stretch). Both have almost identical points and assists per game tallies the last two years. Looking at this season, Chris Paul averages 17.3 points per game, with 8.9 assists. Deron Williams averages 17.6 points per game with 8.7 assists. If we really want to split hairs, Chris Paul actually averages .2 assists more. Does that make him a better point guard? Of course not. Does a .3 difference in points make Deron a better score? Heck no. And as far as what JD said about Deron making his teammates better, all star status should never be the barometer from which we measure a player’s worth. After all, a large percentage of those votes are tallied by fans themselves, so they will be a little biased. One can honestly say, that it’s really a popularity contest, more than anything. I mean, remember when Grant Hill got voted to the all star game, and he didn’t even play a quarter of a season? How about J-kidd when he had microfracture surgery? Think he got a majority of the ballots too. Just because Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur made the all star team, doesn’t mean it’s JUST because of Deron intangible ability to make others better. Sure, he’s a great point guard, but we have to give credit to where credit is due. Maybe it’s because Boozer and Okur are healthy, more committed and have a better grasp of Jerry Sloan’s offensive sets. If we want to use the Deron as the template to judge Boozer and Okur’s achievements, that would be unfair to him. Credit and blame goes both ways. Why didn’t those two same players make it to the all- star team last year? After all, Deron was still passing them the ball. Maybe because Boozer was injured. How about Mehmet? Why wasn’t he in? Deron was still passing the ball to him. Does that diminish Deron’s abilities and achievements? Heck no. Both are good point guards with plenty of years to carve out their destiny. Now it’s up to their respective teams, to continue the commitment to winning.
Tudor Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
“Deron Williams is Jason Kidd with a sweet stroke”
Please, stop comparing players who only played 1-2 years in the NBA with all time greats. Let’s wait for a couple of years and then we can make comparisons. Just look at Mike Bibby, as he played for the Grizzlies, he averaged almost 10 apg, but after moving to the Kings his apg is down to 6.
Deron will be no doubt a great player, so will CP3. Maybe their careers will be forever compared like Starbury and Iverson….
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
hey chris, deron was being played sparingly last season. If Sloan trusted him during his rookie year, he would have made life easier for Boozer and Okur as early as last season. And one more thing, your assist stat on Williams included his assist totals in the playoffs. Williams averaged over 9 assists in the regular season, which is higher than Paul’s season average. So there.
Nate Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
If I could take any PG in the League to add to my team right now… It would be Deron Williams. The only player with consideration is Nash, however the age differance forces me to take Williams in a heartbeat!
D-Wills will win a title I think this year… but def. in the next 2 years… you’ll see
Nate Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
If you really want to see whos better watch a tape of Illinois V. Wake Forest Dec. 1 2004, when Deron made a fool of Paul and crushed them 91-73 to take their No. 1 ranking and never let it go….
KN Said,
May 13, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
If Deron Williams is Jason Kidd with a sweet stroke, than Chris Paul is Jason Kidd…
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 12:26 am
Also, let’s not forget Jason Kidd had arguably two of his best seasons playing under the Byron Scott system. So don’t blame the system, don’t blame the teammates. Bottom line, the great ones find ways to win. I remember how people said the reason Stephon Marbury did not have much success with the Nets and with the Suns is because he wasn’t surrounded with more talented teammates. But when Kidd and Steve Nash took over the reins in New Jersey and Phoenix, respectively, from Marbury; both clubs experienced a dramatic change of fate. That explains why Deron Williams is a better point guard than Chris Paul, he has proven to be a winner and he is more committed in making his teammates better. History shows that pure point guards, as opposed to their scoring counterparts, produce positive team results more often than not. I have every reason to believe that Kidd, Nash and now, Williams can make instant playoff contenders out of any team in the NBA right now.
Steve Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 12:56 am
If I understand it correctly, the reason the Jazz selected Williams over Paul was that they thought he would be less prone to injury due to his body type. They’re both going to be great but I wonder how many times Chris will be sitting because of injuries.
KN Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 1:15 am
Omar, we don’t know what Chris can do yet. Peja was out for the year, David West was out for over half of the season, Chris Paul himself sat for over a month, and Boby Jackson was out for weeklong periods over the course of the year. This was a team that started Jannero Pargo and Devin Brown for over a month and still found a way to be in playoff contention. Last year, Paul singlehandedly willed this team to near playoff contention and a remarkably better record. This season, with Paul at the helm, they easily would have made the playoffs. We’ll just never know because of all of the guys that were out for such a long period of time (Paul himself!)
Let’s be honest, I think that Paul’s performance last year during the whole season, his performance with Team USA, and his peformance in games played this season kind of refute your point, Omar… Williams is great, but it’s not like he is better than Paul. They’re both going to be elite and for different reasons.
He said "Who do you think you are?", so I Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 3:08 am
I dunno about this Deron guy. I once at a Sandwich once that reminded me of how much I hate good point guards. I mean come on.
JAY Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Lets not get carried away. Williams has had a better team situation. He is not better than CP3. CP3 is faster, a better shooter, a better rebounder, even though he is smaller and a better playmaker. I thought you played this game Dee. I am surprised at you.
chester Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 10:42 am
omar.. as i was saying in my previous comment. THE ONLY REASON WHY DERON IS THE 2ND ASSIST LEADER NOW IS BECAUSE OF CP3′S INJURY.COZ’ IF U WATCH EARLIER THIS SEASON B4 CP3′S INJURY HE’S THE NUMBER 2 ASSIST LEADER BEHIND STEVE NASH. AND IF NOT FOR THE INJURY HE’S ON HIS WAY FOR HIS FIRST ALL-STAR APPEARANCE.OK? PLS STOP MAKING COMMENTS THAT YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY. I’M JUST SAYIN A FACT. AND THAT’S A FACT WHEN I SAY CP3 IS MUCH GIFTED, TALENTED, ATHLETIC AND PROBABLY THE BEST POINTGUARD OF THEIR BATCH.
Jo-mac Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 11:24 am
yo!! brohams n bromies “Deron” all the way duude, i thot CP3 wudd be the “Thing” you and your boys would be talkin bout but right now its
Deron and i gotta say the “Kidd” can shoot hitting big shot after another n wait a minnute hes hitting another as we speak- i smell the champainge on the Utah BLUE in June with Deron holding his own with the trophy!
~No struggle !-! No progress~
pce bro…
Zane from London Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 11:56 am
As a rookie Chris Paul strapped the Hornets on his back. You can’t say the same for Williams, he’s got 3 other borderline All-stars playing with him in AK-47, Okur and Boozer. Both are great floor leaders, but CP3 is a better scorer, quicker and has boundless potential. If Jerry Sloan was coaching Paul, the Jazz would be a serious contender for years to come.
chris Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Hi omar,
Something tells me that you’re a Deron Williams fan…That’s cool, he’s a good player, and maybe one day, a great one. As far as the Chris Paul-Deron Williams comparisons, I really would like to stay as arbitrary and objective as possible. The reality is, though they’ve been playing in the league for a long time, the jury is still out on their careers. It’s just too early to tell. Now as far as teams and style of play are concerned, I think that downplaying their impact would be shortsighted. Look at some great players who never made it to the playoffs succesfully. Look at Iverson and his career. Despite the numbers and the moments that he’s put up, many of his years have been spent toiling under .500. Even that one year that they got to the finals, it took heaven and earth just to get there. Looking at the modern day bridesmaid, Kevin Garnett is a perfect example. Great numbers, great moments, but never the kind of performer that could lead his team to the promise land. Does that mean that these players aren’t great? Of course not. What separates Tim Duncan, and say, Steve Nash, or better yet, John Stockton from these two players? Could it be that talent and heart is not the overall deciding factor to success? When looking at Nash, Duncan and Stockton, their careers were accentuated with great general manager decisisions. Colangnelo and Popovich are great basketball minds. Nobody here can deny that. Duncan had Robinson, Elie, Elliot, and many others. Now he has parker and ginobili. Nash has Amare, Marion, Barbosa. Stockton had Malone, and Hornacek. Who did Garnett have? After the Mchale blunders that caused them years of draft picks, they are left with Ricky Davis, Trenton Hassell, Eddie Griffen (who is awol) and other no names. The one year that they did open their bank account, and got “prime” players, they got all the way to the Western Conference. That was the last time Garnett even sniffed the playoffs. If you want to take it one step further, look at Allen Iverson’s disastrous career at finding teammates. Kevin Ollie? Samuel Dalembert? Todd McCullough?!!! It’s really only now that he has a modicum of talent of talent around him. Despite the definition of “greatness” players don’t achieve true success until their general managers make smart, and sound decisions. In fact, it’s actually a sign of a true players “greatness” when they can elevate a cast of no names and nobodies into the playoffs and beyond. That’s the tell tale sign because they’re all alone at the top.
Solitude Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
I have to say I was one of those that have been somewhat skeptical about D-Will versus CP3. Both have similar numbers, and I don’t think those numbers would be much different under other systems (although i think Deron is a better fit under sloan). But what I truly think puts D-Will above CP3 is his toughness. Deron has shown an unbelievable toughness, especially for a 2nd year player, occasionally getting into injury situations, battling tough opponents, or hitting clutch shots. He has certainly surprised many NBA analysts here. CP3 can be tough too, but has been much more injury prone.
Boom Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
I agree completely with you on this one. I’m a big CP3 fan, but Davis would man handle him like he did Dallas. Williams has everything you want and need as a PG in this league. Size, speed, vision and a good shot. Looks like the Jazz knew what they were doing after all.
Jake Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
I totally 100% agree. I never thought the Jazz made a mistake, and now it is proving to be the right decision!! Williams over Paul for Life!!!!
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
UH CHRIS I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU EXISTED IN THE LIST. I WAS PERTAINING TO CHRIS’ COMMENTS.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
UH CHESTER I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU EXISTED IN THE LIST. I WAS PERTAINING TO CHRIS’ COMMENTS.
brian Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Look what Illinois did to Wake Forest in 2005 and get back to me about Paul being better than WIlliams. Williams has the one thing you need to be a true winner in the league that Paul doesn’t have and that’s being able to handle pressure. Deron showed that throughout his 3 years at Illinois and he’s shown it against the best players in the league this year as well.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
Chris how come you only made mention of Iverson’s mediocre teammates? Just to justify that he didn’t win enough cause his team was short on talent? He played with decent ones too you know. By the way, the Sixers made a deep run in the playoffs in spite of McCullough being at the helm. That’s what I’m saying when things go wrong you blame it on somebody’s teammates. Like i said the really good ones, they find ways to win. It is because of them that all of a sudden their teammates look like all-stars. As for Kevin Garnett, he just couldn’t elevate his teammates’ play. Cassell was the leader of that Conference finalist Timberwolves team. Jordan played with only one perennial all-star. You said it, great ones make do with what they have.
chris Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Hey Omar,
I’m not blaming it on someone’s teammates. I just feel that winning isn’t just because of one person. Sure you could inspire others, but at the end of the day, it is really a team effort. This may sound heretic, but despite what Iverson did, he didn’t win that ring. Period. End of story. If we define greatness in Championship rings, or succesive runs at the title, Allen Iverson would have fallen short. Why did Kobe and Shaq win that series? Because they played like all stars. But let’s not forget the excellent cast that they had around them, tailor made for their skills, Rick Fox, hell even Tyron Lue to chase Allen down. Can we not forget Big Shot Rob? Why did Miami fall short this year? Was it because Shaq just got older? Or D-wade just dropped off from the face of the earth? Were their wills not strong enough? Despite the injuries, the reason why they lost was because they didn’t play as one coherent, unified body. Antoine Walker was out in la la land and James Posey just wanted to hit people. If you use Scottie Pippen as an example to Jordan’s legacy, let’s not forget the Steve Kerr’s and the John Paxson’s who sank the shots for him as well. Scottie had to do the dirty work, the stuff Jordan never wanted to do. How about when Jordan returned after playing baseball? Was his will not strong enough? Or did he lack chemistry with the new pieces of his team? After all, when he was hitting fastballs in spring training, Pippen and his mates didn’t do that bad. Hell, he even got third place votes for MVP. Does that mean then that without Jordan, Pippen couldn’t achieve success? He had no all stars with him during that year. So please, remember, you are only as good as the person you pass it to. So back to Chris Paul. I think that you’re being a little to hard on the poor guy. After all, he’s like Iverson with better passing abilitiy. Wouldn’t that be a testament then to his skill, where he’s playing with an inferior team, injury saddled, and still have a shot, not in the east of all places, but out in the West?
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
Hey Chris I didn’t say Chris Paul didn’t have it. He is a star in his own right. I’m just saying that I believe and have reason to be convinced, that Williams is better than him, which is what this argument is all about in the first place. I know it’s too early to say who’ll turn out to have a wonderful career. But I’ve seen Paul play (when and if he’s playing) and I’ve seen Williams play. It doesn’t take an expert to know that Williams has better point guard skills if you know what I mean. And that has translated to Williams’ teams’ wins (college included). You can’t go wrong with a superb playmaker. Hats off to Paul, but only in my opinion, Williams has the upper hand.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
And sure y’all can pin the Hornets’ failure to make the playoffs on injuries, and rightly so. But to say that Chris Paul does not have enough talent around him like Deron Williams has, I ain’t buying that. Ya’ll know what I’m saying when David West and Tyson Chandler continues to make a lot of noise as they have had during the past season in spite of their injuries. So injuries? Could be. Lack of talent? NO. Sure they can add some pieces to be a real good playoff team. But with their current lineup they were good enough to qualify in the playoffs, contrary to common belief.
chris Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
Dear Omar,
I guess my argument was that when teams are committed to winning, good players who have the potential to be great, can actually fulfill it. On a side note, I do agree that a pass first point guard will be always be better than a tweener combo guard. Whether it’s been Kidd, or Nash, or in this case, Williams, that is always the way to go. As a bulls fan, if I had a choice between Hinrich over Williams, I’d take Williams. I think both teams picked the best players that they thought would fit best into their systems. As much as saying whose better, I plead the fifth, and will go with Jameer Nelson…ha. One problem I’ve always had is that the media and even fans themselves, including me, praise a player and his achievements, without looking at the sum of his parts. There are so many externalities that make up a player’s performance. Nevertheless, it’s always simplified, reduced to A vs. B, emphasizing singular achievements. No matter how many sweet assists Deron makes, teammates still have to finish. Boozer still has to set a good pick, and Okur still has to put himself in a position to shoot the open three. If I was a point guard, I would feel so much better executing plays with them than with Chandler and Mason.
chester Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 2:34 am
oh come on omar!! you cannot deny the fact that cp3 is much gifted than deron.you might say that ive never exist in this list but before you make comments about that just look deeper in this blog you’ve might seen that i’m the second one who gives comments about this. in the first place this issue about deron being the next best thing is a PURE MISTAKE!!
Mark Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 3:02 am
It’s real simple, people;
Williams is a better shooter, defender, and less injury-prone. Paul is slightly faster, gets to the basket a little easier, and a better stealer.
Rebounding ability is roughly similar, considering Deron plays on one of the best rebounding teams in the league, while New Orleans has no one outside of Chandler that can pull down the ball.
Personally, I would take Williams. Paul, like all smaller point guards who relentlessly drive to the basket, is going to have the hell beaten out his body. He’s already been injured for a significant portion of his sophomore season.
What’s going to happen in five years, with the additional punishment and mileage his body is going to endure?
Williams is as tough and physically strong as they come. The guy was a top wrestler in high school, for Christ’s sake.
And believe me, if Paul suffers more injuries, he’s going to be far more reticent about going to the basket against an intimidating big man. He’ll be forced to rely far more on his jump shot, which, as has been mentioned, isn’t good as Deron’s stroke.
RabidDawgClassic Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 6:02 am
Don’t forget that Deron outshined Chris Paul in their only meeting in college — when Illinois demolished then #1 Wake Forest.
Paul is a fine point guard and will have a long NBA career. But Deron Williams is a SPECIAL player.
mike Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 11:14 am
I agree with the comments from Mark, above. Size and strength matter as years go by. Look at AK 47 as an example: an amazing talent from day 1, but his growth as a player has been slowed time and again by injuries to his lean frame.
Chris Paul is a good fit for the Hornets. He was asked to be an immediate star for an unstable francise without a depth of talent, and he delivered with impressive individual numbers.
Deron Williams is a good fit for the Jazz. His rookie year he was asked to throttle back his personal stats in order to learn his role in the Utah system and the Pro game. It was probably killing him at the time, but year 2, he’s way ahead of the curve as a mature floor general and team leader. He’s smart, he’s nails, and it’s showing when it counts.
Illini Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
At present, they’re both deadlocked IMO, really can’t say one is better than the other, it’s an amazing coincidence both were drafted so close to each other. I think either would have done a similar job in Utah or NO.
The big question is whether Deron will continue to improve and if CP can improve? Deron has made big strides as he got comfortable in Utah this year, CP almost looks like he hit his ceiling as a rookie.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Dear Chris,
You always have to mention the questionable guys. When you could have said Chandler and David West, a potential all-star. The performance of a team is indicative of how well their leader is. That’s why the key guys get the fat contracts or are eligible for one, because that responsibility comes with the territory. Yes it is a team game and everyone has to play his part. But in team sports or in any organization for that matter, you only go as far as your leader takes you. Kidd, Nash and Williams have helped lift the play of their guys. Not to take anything away from their teammates, who are absolutely wonderful contributors. And yes Boozer is an exceptional talent, but the one person who puts it all together is Williams. All I’m saying is in spite of who you’re playing with, the great ones find ways to get the job done. To explain it further, based on the recent pre-Kidd, -Nash and -Williams, the Nets, Suns and the Jazz, respectively, were not as good. Yet they had practically the same lineup except for a few players. Lastly, either of the three aforementioned players would surely have a huge impact and make winners out of the current Hornets lineup. Don’t get me wrong Paul is a talented player, but not as “good” as Williams. At least for the time being.
Omar Aberilla Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 1:20 am
CHESTER PLEASE READ THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ME AND CHRIS BEFORE SPITTING YOUR OUT OF LINE COMMENTS. SO YOU’LL REALIZE THAT I WASN’T RESPONDING TO YOU.
Greg Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
It’s possible that the 2005 Draft will go down as the greatest Point Guard draft of all time. It’s pretty likely that, in 5 years or so, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and Raymond Felton will be 3 of the top 5 PG’s in the league. Jarrett Jack is looking good and has all-star potential (I always wondered why he wasn’t drafted higher, BTW). Nate Robinson should be a productive starter by that point, and there’s a chance Travis Diener may be a starter by then, too.
Ronald Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
A lot of people not want to give Deron credit for what he has done and is doing. Other than Steve Nash, all of the greatest point guards have played with some great or really good players. Chris Paul is an excellent point guard too, but I doubt that he will have the career that Deron will have - and it has nothing to do with whom he plays with. Deron Williams and Chris Paul have only been in the league two years, but Chris Paul appears unable to stay healthy. In the long run, Deron’s size will enable him to have a longer NBA career.
Ronald Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Sorry Greg, Nate Robinson will never be a productive “point guard”. He thinks and plays more like a 2 - but he’s much too small. He’s more “flash” than substance.
Matt Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
I would say that Jose Calderon will be a much better PG than Nate Robinson speaking of PG’s in the draft class. For the record, Deron is a better PG for the Jazz, and there is no question about that. That is not to say that he is a better PG. I have watched every Jazz game this year, and I can tell you right now that if Deron Williams was not on the Jazz team this year they would not even have made the playoffs. Even though he has a solid supporting cast around him. That is the sign of someone who has the potential for greatness. Most of you don’t know it, but the Jazz went through a stretch in March and April where they won 16 out 18 games. The only two games they lost were when D-Will was out with the groin injury. The two games they lost were to Portland, and Sacramento. Probably the two worst teams they played during that stretch. Bottom line is that he a competitor and a winner. For the person that said Paul is a better shooter: You must not watch much basketball because Williams is a better shooter right now than Paul will ever be. D-Will already has one of the best mid range jump shots in the league, and that is why the Pick and Roll is so effictive for him. CP3 cant run the pick and roll because he cant shoot. He is about a 27% 3 point shooter and is mid range jumper is not much better. I am not saying that Paul is not good, but I would not trade him for Willams when they were drafted and I definatly would not do it now.
DTrain Comin' Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
I’ve seen both D-Will and CP3 play live, in person, against each other, and D-Will had his way with CP3…D-Will hasn’t gotten the hype in Utah, but he is now in the playoffs, and making the most of it. He will be a 8-10 year allstar caliber player…CP3 is already a broken-down stud.
Money Man Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
I guarantee Chris Paul couldn’t lead his team to the Conference Finals, even if he DID have teammates such as Booz, Memo, and AK. D-Will has better size than Paul, and he matches up better against some of the tougher point guards in this league (Baron Davis for example). Say what you want cp3 fans, but D-Will will be the better play when it is all said and done.
steve Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
c,mon dee…chris paul was the rookie of the year for a reason…cp3 is super nice….but I give props to d _willie….but please don’t forget hornets missed the playoffs by 2 games and that’s after all the injurys the team had with tyson, peja, west, mase, and everybody else….look what happened to the jazz last year when boozer was injured….deron william is not kidd he’s more of an andre miller with a nice stroke.
Bling Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Taking the Illini to the NCAA finals - undefeated - is how you know DWill is the real deal. Anyone can win some games, but to win them ALL up to the last one is special.
ANDY Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 8:42 am
The next great awesome point guard we will see very soon is named Rajon Rondo. The guy can rebound (like FAt Lever did), he can penetrate, (like most good PG’s) he steals the ball well, (like Mookie Blaylock), and he knows how to draw a foul. He needs to improve his shot, but the guy is going to be awesome.
Soon, Rajon Rondo will be on all the highlight films om ESPN.
DA DA DA! DA DA DA! (ESPN SOUND)
Eric Ginsberg Said,
June 1, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Does it matter who’s better CP3 or Williams? Not really. What is important is, why did Atlanta who desperately needed a point guard and pick Marvin Williams? No disrespect to Marvin Williams. He’s improving and may turn out to be a very good player. However, they haven’t had a good point guard since Doc Rivers and they passed on both Paul and Williams in the same year. Not good.
Phoenix Life Insurance Said,
June 26, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
I am super happy a small market team like Utah drafted well. It is sickening when a major market team like the Knicks mess it up. The Jazz prove that all you have to do is have good management. I guess it is harder than it looks from the Knicks perspective.
Will Thomas Said,
March 17, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
Dee,
Its Will here (from New England Dunk contest in 1992?)….Nice having the Celtics interesting and fun again….I’m living in midtown Manhattan…ping me if your in town at all…
-will
willthomasnyc@gmail.com