Reader comments: Utah Jazz notes: Deron Williams has to play through the pain

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Watching through the Pain | 12:32 a.m. March 23, 2008
Only 1 DWill Plays through the pain But thousands of Jazz fans have to watch through the pain of knowing that we could have Chris Paul on our team. Williams has the body and the skill but Paul has the heart and the desire to bring it every night. No taking games off against teams like Chicago, Minnesota, Clippers or Supersonics. Yes the pain goes on, if only we had Paul It would be Utah with homecourt advantage in the first two possibly 3 rounds of the playoffs, not starting on the road going one and done
DCJ | 6:55 a.m. March 23, 2008
Dear Watching,

Thanks for your comment.

By the way, Chris Paul spent much of the last two years on the IR. He wasn't around last year while Utah, led by Deron Williams, contended for the Western Conference championship.
Jazz aren't Coug's | 8:35 a.m. March 23, 2008
Don't confuse the jazz with byu. Last year they were on the road starting off as well, and they did not end up one and done.
Comments continue below
Go Jazz | 8:41 a.m. March 23, 2008
Hey "Watching through the Pain".

D-Will is not taking games off as you say. It's some other jazz players who take games off and a lot of the games that we win we wouldn't win if D-Will didn't take over the game in the fourth quarter and drive Utah on for a win. If D-Will was on a team where he was "The Man", he would have better numbers than Chris Paul. Utah just plays more team basketball where anyone can contribute on any given night!
stop it | 8:45 a.m. March 23, 2008
Watching through the pain that was one pathetic comment... Williams ROCKS!!!
Please | 8:46 a.m. March 23, 2008
if you're in such love with Chris Paul, why don't you become a Hornets fan. Utah got the player they wanted and if I recall right, Utah reached the conference finals without having homecourt.
RE: Watching | 9:05 a.m. March 23, 2008
Why so glum? It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. Give our team a chance. We'll see how DWill and CP3 do in the playoffs. Remember Deron has already been there and proven himself. This will be CP3's first opportunity.
Korver?? | 9:25 a.m. March 23, 2008
If I'm not mistaken, didn't Korver have a birthday last week? Wonder if he was included? Probably too old or not enough 'hip hop.'
re: Watching through the Pain | 9:27 a.m. March 23, 2008
Paul would be lying on the ground dead if he played for Utah. He wouldn't be able to hold up to all the screens he would have to set in Utah. Paul benefits from a non-structured Phoenix type offense. If he played in Utah he would be laying flat everytime he had to set a pick on a center. Williams is tough enough to take it. Good try though
Chris Paul? | 10:11 a.m. March 23, 2008
Paul's Hornets have won four more games than the Jazz this year. Paul takes more shots and shoots a lower percentage than Williams. Paul has missed multiple games, Williams has missed none.

In other words, there isn't much difference between the two.

Wait until the last day of the season to talk about playoff seeding. We could easily see the Jazz playing the Hornets in the first round. Given the fact that the Hornets have beaten the Jazz only twice in Williams' career, nobody is nervous about that scenario.
PurplePeopleEater | 10:17 a.m. March 23, 2008
I'm amazed any Jazz fan still thinks Chris is better than Deron. Over time, Deron's size will prove out to be the key to championships that Chris will never have.

Maybe Watching doesn't live up to his name. Bet you've seen very few Jazz games since we picked up Deron, such as the many he's directly won over his friend, Paul. He out-plays him nearly every time their teams meet.

Deron's ability to lead a team like he did last night with an injured shooting hand and still get a double-double is something I doubt Chris IR-prone Paul can pull off.

By the way, how many split personalities do you have, Watching? A lot? That'd be the only way there'd be "thousands of Jazz fans" could be still wishing for Chris over Deron.
Right on Man | 10:51 a.m. March 23, 2008
Watching through the pain is right. We would be a better team with Paul. Paul gets more ASSISTS more STEALS more REBOUNDS and yes more POINTS. Oh and don't forget his team gets more WINS.

On the other hand Williams does get more TURNOVERS and more LOSSES.
"Liked" Williams over Paul | 11:01 a.m. March 23, 2008
Even though no one outside of Utah would agree with me I really "thought" that Williams was the best player for our team. Mainly because of the size issue. But thats where Jerry and myself were wrong Chris Paul is much bigger than than Deron Williams. His desire to win, his leadership, his toughness, his heart to give it every night is bigger than Williams and it shows. Paul has his Hornets far exceeding anyones expectations and they just keep winning. Williams on the other hand has his team playing below expectations, and on the brink of missing the playoffs all together.

Just look at what the Hornets did last night, they beat Boston with all three members of Bostons big three on the floor. Something the Jazz didn't do this year.
Taking Williams over Paul is... | 11:04 a.m. March 23, 2008
Like drafting Carmello anthony over Lebron James.
Sure Carmello is a good player. One of the best at his position but James is one of the best in the league.

With time all will see the likeness of this comparison
Ticket holder | 11:13 a.m. March 23, 2008
Sure Williams has had the upper hand in the head to heads against Pual until recently. Now you will see Puul assert his will on DWill.

I think the biggest thing that makes Paul slightly better than Williams is that Paul makes his teamates better than williams seems to.

Williams makes Boozer look better, but has failed miserably in making Kirelenko and others on the Jazz better.
Matt Connelly | 11:15 a.m. March 23, 2008
Williams and Paul are two fantastic players, both future Hall of Fame players (if Paul's body can hold up). I think the constant comparison of the two ("Who's better"?) is silly and childish. They are two equally great players, and the Jazz are extremely fortunate to have drafted Williams. He is an outstanding player who really understands the game and has the heart of a champions. Please stop the fruitless comparisons.
Wow | 6:53 p.m. March 23, 2008
Williams does not miss games.

Williams is stronger.

Yes, Williams may actually not be the "best player" but in the end, during a long 7 game championship series Williams will be able to bully and fight his way to the hoop with more consistency.

John Stockton was a better player than both of these guys, but he got beaten up by lesser players, playing for the Bulls and was unable to win games because of that.

Williams was drafted over Paul because the Jazz management didn't want to see a repeat in the finals.

If the Jazz get to the finals, Williams will take us to the promised land. Paul is too small and too weak to be effective against the same team for 7 games. Sooner or later someone will punk him, and he'll be out for good.
Re Wow | 10:11 p.m. March 23, 2008
Your logic is rediculous.

The one player besides Kobe Bryant that No one wants to play in a 7 game series is Chris Paul.

You don't figure out how to stop players of his calibur.
JazzFan4ever | 10:55 p.m. March 23, 2008
Williams fits the Jazz style better period, that's why they chose him.Cris is a great player as well, but playing a different style of ball. They are both winners and should have great careers, but as iv'e said before it will be what they do in the playoffs and number of championships they win that will determine in the majority of peoples eyes who is the greater player. Even if one is technically a superior player if he doesn't have the right pieces around him he will never be recognized as the greater player even if in truth he really was.
bamidan | 12:38 a.m. March 24, 2008
I was a huge Chris Paul fan in college and was upset the Jazz passed on him. Looking back, the Jazz did the right thing. Deron is a Sloan type player. He's tough, but he also has bought into Sloan's system (for good or bad). His body can handle the playoffs, while Chris Paul may have a year or two run, but will wear soon (see Iverson and Nash). Both are great players, but now I'm glad they picked Deron. Within ten years, we'll be amazed at how fortunate the Jazz were to make this pick.
slbutejz | 9:00 a.m. March 24, 2008
In the system that Jerry runs, I don't think that CP would last too long. I mean look at AK, He has more talent that most anyone on our team. But try to make him play into the system and what happens? Total Shut Down!!.
I think that the DW can play (and learn) a system within the coaches plan better. Even if the coaches plan does not allways fit the players skills. If DW could simply go off and do whatever he wanted at all times, I think he would have a Rookie of the year award. But I don't think he would have made it to the conference finals last year, on the road and against some of the best (I'm the man the man) players. It is about team not individuals. And wow! the Jazz are what a whole 2-1/2 games back of best in the West. There will be 4 teams in the (Very tight West)that will be one and done. New Orleans VS Denver, Golden State or Dallas? Hard to pick winners and loosers isn't it???
stern's boy | 11:59 a.m. March 24, 2008
d-will is a super-hero. Paul is only the commissioner's poster boy.
Irrelevant | 12:36 p.m. March 24, 2008
Both are great, have heart, are great leaders, and have good teams around them. Who cares what any of us think on who is better? They are different style players and it would be great to see them match-up in the playoffs. I presently anticipate the Lakers will have the #1 seed (even as a Laker-Hater), but seeds 2-6 or 7 are a crapshoot. There are enough difficult games remaining to significantly change seeding - trying to enjoy the ride!

Feels like the playoffs already. Hopefully the Jazz bring play-off intensity immediately. Their casual behavior in 1st qtr against Lakers a couple of nights ago was a little offensive. They played even or ahead the final three quarters, if memory serves. The Jazz need to wake up if they are going to have home court in round 1, and perhaps 2. If they lose more than 2 of the remaining 11, they will start on the road against someone.
Biffsmitty | 9:12 p.m. March 24, 2008
Where was Chris Paul last year when Deron Williams was playing in the Western Conf. Finals? Oh yeah.. watching!

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