Behind the Williams Trade

     For 23 years, the Jazz sideline was patrolled by one of the most intimidating and powerful head coaches the game has ever known. 

     Jerry Sloan was a mainstay on the sideline in Salt Lake City through just about all the success Utah has ever accomplished. Winning more games with one franchise than any other coach in any of the four major sports, Sloan always demanded respect and the best from his players. But a little less than month ago, Sloan called his career a done deal, and that was the end of an era not only of an iconic head coach, but the end of a star with the franchise.

    Nearly two weeks after the surprising Sloan resignation, the Jazz traded away their franchise player, Deron Williams, for two younger players, draft picks, and some always helpful cash.

               

    Is the timing here just coincidence, or is there something behind this deal. Most certainly the latter.

    Deron Willams, over the past couple of seasons, has risen from high draft pick, to two-time NBA All-Star. He has gotten a massive contract extension, and been given the reigns of the Jazz franchise as its poster boy. One can easily see his career was starting to escalate to stardom, as his name was constantly brought up in “best point guard in the league,” conversations. One could also see the turmoil in the locker room making its way onto the court.

       Williams last year voiced his displeasure when the Jazz traded away his running mate, Ronnie Brewer to the Grizzlies mid-season. Deron had consistently moaned and groaned about managements lack of bringing in start talent to surround him, in order to help the Jazz make a strong push in the playoffs.

        Watching interviews with the guy, and it was obvious his desire to be in Utah was quickly dwindling, especially as this year’s up and down squad continued their downward spiral in the rankings out West.

       The morning of the trade, Williams allegedly found out himself from a TV reporting the news.

       What does all of this add up to?

      Deron Williams forced Jerry Sloan out of his post, in order to be the biggest man in town, and have no road blocks in his way. The court was not big enough for the two Jazz icons, and Deron made it known what he wanted.

They had their differences, and it cost
them spots with the storied franchise

                In the ever speculative argument that preluded Sloans announcement, Williams eludes to it being a routine thing, and he had seen bigger.

                The one thing he may not have witnessed before, was a Hall-of-Fame coach being told that his team had lost its leadership, and that a mutiny was taking place.

      I am convinced Deron Williams forced Sloan off the bench in Utah, and as a result, the Jazz brass were not happy.

      The Jazz is a proud franchise that prides itself on consistency, making the playoffs all but one year under Sloan, and team play, as they are continuously tops in the league in assists’. Neither of the aforementioned goals was true this year, and Williams continued to choke in late game situations. He would give up the ball via turnover or just poor play making play after play. He would refuse to take the last shot, or the momentum changing shot, if it ever came around. He seemed to want to put the ball in someone else’s hand, so that way the blame could not be placed on his shoulders. However, that ploy backfired, as now that is the reason he landed on the 6^th worst team in the league, with no promises of a great tomorrow.

                Good luck D-Will, with handling your ego and a losing team that isn’t going to get better because you are in town.

Jazz woes show Ugly Face

Deron is the key to Jazz success 

The Jazz continue to show that their mid-season slump is more than just that. This last month or so has shown this Jazz team true colors.

The Jazz continue to be horrible at rebounding, allowing momentum changing shots, and horrendous porous defense. Nothing has changed since the change in regime either.

The most recent two losses, both to the Suns, have had similar trends. Deron and the Jazz started off hot, to eventually cool down, and choke down the stretch.

One trend that I have noticed in the recent struggle which is the 2010-2011 season, is Deron William's unwillingness to have the ball in his hands at crunch time, and make the plays to win. Here is as guy that has hit many big shots, hit many key free throws, and has created some improbable comebacks, even just this year. Yet in the game against the Bulls in particular, Deron refused to step up when his team needed him.

On three straight possessions with the Jazz within striking distance of the lead, Deron turned the ball over, killing any chance of a comeback versus the "Jazz East." The Jazz lost that game eventually, and started the most recent trend of blowing games in the final 6 minutes.

Yesterday against Phoenix, Utah had an 8 point lead with 7 minutes left, not to mention all the momentum. Enter Steve Nash, good-bye Jazz 'W'.

Utah allowed Phoenix to go on an 11-0 run within 3 minutes of Nash's return to the hardwood, and the Suns never looked back. Entering the 4th quarter, Deron Williams had made 1 shot from the field. Leaving the fourth quarter, he had added only one additional field goal and 6 turnovers.

Do all of the Jazz problems rest solely on Williams shoulder? One could argue he is the team captain, that he needs to hold people responsible for their performance, including his own. One might also add that as the 2 time all-star on the team, the fans expect him to come up with the plays down the stretch that bring the win home.

On the other hand, it is a team game. Injuries have plagued the Jazz of recent, playing yesterday with 9 guys healthy, 2 of which are rookies Gordon Hayward and Jeremy Evans. Another arguement in favor of Deron Williams lack of blame carrier, is the lack of team defense. Jazz continue to show they dont know how to rotate on ball movement, and recover from dribble penetration.

So, is it Deron Williams' fault that Utah is almost on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race? Not entirely, but he sure needs to step up his game in order for this team to stay intact and have any shot and bringing back fans to the green seats in Salt Lake City.

Key to Jazz Season lies with...

So the Jazz had a monster comeback against the "Almighty Heat" on Tuesday. They have a loss against a lowly Golden State team that they seem to struggle against. They have dominating efforts against a very good Thunder team and a punishing loss to Denver. Translation, inconsistency to start the season.

The success of this young season for the Utah Jazz lies solely on one individual that might not be the first that comes to your mind. No its not their start point guard Deron Williams. Its not their new acquisition down low Al Jefferson. Heck, its not even the beast of Tuesdays game against the Heat, trey-dropping Paul Millsap.

Miles needs to hit this shot

The keys lie squarely in the hands of newly appointed sixth man for this team, C.J. Miles.

In the Jazz two blowout wins against OKC and Toronto, C.J. scored 21 and 19 points respectively. shooting a combined 8-11 from 3 point range and 15-25 overall. Adversely, in the Jazz two blowout loss's combined with their loss to Golden State, he tallied a total of 16 points 1-7 from 3, 5-21 from the field with 11 fouls in a total of  51 minutes.

C.J. has the ability to stretch the floor, when he is feeling the stroke. However, what I have noticed is that sometimes Miles plants out at the 3 point line waiting for the kick outs. The Jazz are in need of a guy that can penetrate besides Deron Williams, and C.J. could be that guy.

In the Jazz come from behind win against the Heat on Tuesday, C.J. scored 6 straight points for Utah, all slashes to the hoop and making layups. Once his drive game becomes respectable, people are going to have to start respecting that and sagging off, opening up his 3 point shot that, when he's on, he can hit them with the best in the league.

Bench players will decide Jazz success

With Okur on the bench, Millsap is thrust into starting duty (why not, the guy would start on any team in the league). That being the case, the Jazz dont have "that guy" coming off the bench to spark a second unit scoring spurt. C.J. is supposed to be that guy for Utah this year. He has shown he can do it. Once Memo comes back, Millsap, and/or perhaps Jefferson will then head to the bench, to solidify a bench that is only improving as the season goes on.

Okur's minutes will be limited his first month or so back in action for the first time since April. That being said, whoever gets put on bench duty (Millsap or Big Al) will see plenty of floor time. Jefferson can only get better as the season progresses. Learning the system is complicated, as has been obvious for Big Al so far this year. He has struggled from the field, and had trouble reading double teams that teams are throwing at him. Once he gets that down, and Okur can stretch the floor for him and Millsap to operate, this Jazz team could be looking at a lot more W's coming their way.

For that to happen, C.J. has got to develop a consistent jump shot, and continue to drive to the hoop. Do that , and this team could be trouble for the rest of the league.