Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams is one of the most feared guards in the NBA for his ability to create not only for himself but for his teammates as well. This article from the Desert News gives alot of great insight into the Jazz leader. Here are some excerpts from the article:Says coach Jerry Sloan:
"Every team that plays in the championship usually has a guy that can beat you 1-on-1," he said.
"We've got a guy," added Sloan, whose Jazz are still looking for their first title in franchise history, "that's pretty close to being that way most of the time, and I think he'll get better and better as time goes on."
Teammate Ronnie Brewer:
"Just knowing guys spots, getting guys shots, getting me involved, getting C.J. (Miles) involved, getting Booz, Paul (Millsap), A.K.," he said. "I mean, he's doing a phenomenal jump of doing that.
"There's been times when he can score 30, 40 points and get 10 assists — but he distributes the ball well," he added. "Second in the league (behind only New Orleans' Chris Paul) in assists. So, I think that's the biggest improvement for him. He's getting everybody involved, and becoming more of a leader."
"As a player, you're gonna develop over years. You expect that out of him, because he's such a great talent," Brewer said. "But I think he's running this squad like he's supposed to."
Sloan doesn't want Williams to be a one-dimensional, do-it-alone type.
"Point guards don't always have to take the big shot," he said when asked recently if Williams was the Jazz's obvious go-to guy in late-game scenarios. "They pass it to the guy that's open."
"When (NBA all-time assists leader) John Stockton was here for 19 years, the idea was to run our offense, get the ball to somebody who's open. If it's not there, you take the shot.
"That's what execution's about — not just trying to break one individual down all the time," he added. "I thought that's what always gave us a chance to win a lot of games."
Williams readily concurs.
"We're a much better team," he said, echoing what he's suggested several times this season, "when we're helping each other out, playing defense, sharing the basketball."
"He hasn't said anything about a shot I've taken the whole year," Williams said of Sloan, "so, yeah, I've got a green light, I guess. You can say that.
"But he knows I don't like taking bad shots. I get mad at myself when I take bad shots," he added. "I think I have a good feel for the game, and situations that are going on in the game, and how to try to get everybody involved, and balance that with scoring as well."
