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Utah Jazz Preseason Preview: Point Guards
By David J. Smith
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Sep 15, 2006, 11:06
There is no question that the starting position belongs to second-year guard
Deron Williams. His rookie season was full of many ups and a few downs. The
first two months were full of inconsistent playing time─time he logged
mostly at the shooting guard position. While Jazz fans clamored for Williams
to get more burn, Jerry Sloan probably wouldn't have done it differently.
Despite (or because of) his high draft status, Sloan made him earn his
minutes (similar to what he did during Andrei Kirilenko's rookie campaign).
It instilled in him a new hunger and it really paid off the final 30 games.
He displayed a nice shooting stroke, particularly behind the three-point line.
On a team where outside shooting is a definite weakness, Williams' penchant
for hitting a timely three was a blessing. Through an array of deceivingly
sly moves, he easily gets to the hole. His ability to orchestrate Utah's
offensive set grew and grew as the season progressed. Williams is a true
quarterback whose passing prowess will be the key this upcoming year. He needs
to improve on the defensive end. He is not the quickest player laterally and
subsequently he found himself in foul trouble many a game. It would be nice to
see him get to the line a bit more. He also needs to contribute more on the
boards, for Sloan loves it when his guards can gather in caroms.
Not only is Deron Williams the clear-cut starter at point guard, but he is
the player most likely to emerge as the true team leader. Since legends John
Stockton and Karl Malone rode off into the sunset, Sloan has been looking for
someone to take charge on the floor. While the front court of Kirilenko,
Mehmet Okur, and Carlos Boozer ooze with talent, none seems to have the
killer instinct of a leader. Enter Williams. It was quite evident that toward
the end of the season, his confidence level was at an all-time high. Expect
that to only increase as the Utah Jazz truly become his team. Much was said
about Chris Paul's amazing inaugural season and that the Jazz brain trust
had made a mistake in drafting Williams over his counterpart. True, Paul's
season was simply stellar. That said, I expect that Williams will make great
improvement this season and when it's all said and done, both guards will be
the cream of the NBA's point guard crop.
Utah's big off-season move was the trade for seasoned veteran Derek Fisher.
While he carries with him a rather large contract, he will bring much to Utah's
bench. First, his leadership ability and Playoff experience will be invaluable
to the young Jazz squad. His three championship rings speak volumes. He's been
in many big games and can obviously hit the clutch shot when needed. Second,
his outside shooting will be handy. While his percentages have never been
extremely high, opponents are obligated to hone in on him (thus freeing things
up for Utah's bigs). He can light things up quickly, an element Utah is in
need of. Third, he shores up a weak bench. He is capable of running the second
unit as well as providing insurance should Williams have any injury issues.
Expect him to play alongside Williams at times. He is getting up there in
years and his quickness is no longer a strength. Defensively, he may have
some struggles with the young jets he will match up with. Still, it was a
solid trade that bolsters Utah's postseason chances.
Dee Brown is an unknown commodity right now. Expect him to make the roster,
but to pay his dues either on the inactive list or in the NBDL. He has enormous
upside. Brown possesses a nice blend of quickness, defensive attitude, and
swagger. He is a change-of-pace guard who could be a nice spark off the bench.
He needs to work on his point guard skills, as he is far from a true one.
He is turnover prone and needs to pick his spots on offense. Don't expect too
much from him this year, but down the line, he could prove to be a draft steal
for Utah.
Sloan always likes having three point guards on the roster. While Brown could
be that third person, the coaching staff may elect to add a veteran.
Milt Palacio, while unsigned, still remains a viable option. He was a stable
influence on the team last year and managed to perform well in the clutch.
Other options out there include local product Eddie Gill, Anthony Carter,
Mike Wilks, Kenny Anderson, and Jeff McInnis.
Rookie Ronnie Brewer can also play point in a pinch.
Next up: shooting guards
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_18683.shtml
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