Saskibaloia
03-09-2007, 03:17 AM
Which standout floor leader would guide your team?
From CNNSI
After the Atlanta Hawks took forward Marvin Williams with the second pick of the 2005 draft, many of their fans were thinking: Why didn't they take Chris Paul? A few minutes later, fans of the Utah Jazz were thinking the same thing: OK, why didn't we take Chris Paul? The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets made their fans happy when they took Paul with the fourth pick.
But while Atlanta fans may still be pondering that same question, Jazz loyalists feel a whole lot better. From the beginning, the brass and coach Jerry Sloan had their sights on another point guard -- Deron Williams out of Illinois. He wasn't as quick or as flashy as Paul, but they liked his defense and his I'm-in-charge-here maturity.
Even though Paul was the 2006 Rookie of the Year, the second-year Jazz QB has progressed so quickly that the question is now a relevant one: Would you rather have Paul or D. Williams running your show?
The bailout answer is to say it depends on the offense; Paul is more natural with a running team, Williams a better fit with a Sloan-style set-up team. But we won't bail on it. An answer will be forthcoming.
The stats of the young PGs are remarkably similar. They each score about 17 points a game, shoot about 45 percent from the floor and about 32 percent from three-point range, rank among the league leaders in assists (Williams is second at 9.3, Paul fourth at 8.6) and commit nearly the same number of turnovers (2.67 for Paul, 2.89 for Williams.) Williams remains the superior defender of the two, though Paul gets more steals and, surprisingly, is a better rebounder (4.1 to Williams' 3.5). Paul is a better free-throw shooter.
Both players are of crucial significance to their respective teams. The Hornets are starting to make a playoff move in the West now that Paul is back from an ankle injury, and the Jazz are running away with the Northwest Division with Williams firmly in charge. Paul is as good as advertised. Williams is better than advertised, even though he went one pick higher.
"Everybody expected great things from Chris, and a lot of people raised an eyebrow when the Jazz went after Williams so high," says one NBA coach. "Everybody knew Paul could get in the lane to score and dish, but it wasn't so clear with Williams. But now? Any team would be lucky to have either of them."
I'm going to cast a narrow vote for PAUL, based on his quickness and overall athleticism. But it's great to see two such mature young points in the league. They will be rivals for years to come.
From CNNSI
After the Atlanta Hawks took forward Marvin Williams with the second pick of the 2005 draft, many of their fans were thinking: Why didn't they take Chris Paul? A few minutes later, fans of the Utah Jazz were thinking the same thing: OK, why didn't we take Chris Paul? The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets made their fans happy when they took Paul with the fourth pick.
But while Atlanta fans may still be pondering that same question, Jazz loyalists feel a whole lot better. From the beginning, the brass and coach Jerry Sloan had their sights on another point guard -- Deron Williams out of Illinois. He wasn't as quick or as flashy as Paul, but they liked his defense and his I'm-in-charge-here maturity.
Even though Paul was the 2006 Rookie of the Year, the second-year Jazz QB has progressed so quickly that the question is now a relevant one: Would you rather have Paul or D. Williams running your show?
The bailout answer is to say it depends on the offense; Paul is more natural with a running team, Williams a better fit with a Sloan-style set-up team. But we won't bail on it. An answer will be forthcoming.
The stats of the young PGs are remarkably similar. They each score about 17 points a game, shoot about 45 percent from the floor and about 32 percent from three-point range, rank among the league leaders in assists (Williams is second at 9.3, Paul fourth at 8.6) and commit nearly the same number of turnovers (2.67 for Paul, 2.89 for Williams.) Williams remains the superior defender of the two, though Paul gets more steals and, surprisingly, is a better rebounder (4.1 to Williams' 3.5). Paul is a better free-throw shooter.
Both players are of crucial significance to their respective teams. The Hornets are starting to make a playoff move in the West now that Paul is back from an ankle injury, and the Jazz are running away with the Northwest Division with Williams firmly in charge. Paul is as good as advertised. Williams is better than advertised, even though he went one pick higher.
"Everybody expected great things from Chris, and a lot of people raised an eyebrow when the Jazz went after Williams so high," says one NBA coach. "Everybody knew Paul could get in the lane to score and dish, but it wasn't so clear with Williams. But now? Any team would be lucky to have either of them."
I'm going to cast a narrow vote for PAUL, based on his quickness and overall athleticism. But it's great to see two such mature young points in the league. They will be rivals for years to come.