UTAH JAZZ

Utah Jazz – Housing the Best of Both Worlds

One of the great debates when analyzing teams with dynamic duos…who is more important the guard or the big man? Magic or Kareem, Bird or McHale, Jordan vs. Pippen, Stockton and Malone; the question now flutters around Utah Jazz young’ins Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. The answer? One cannot exist without the other. With the stats these two youthful ballers are putting up, it’s impossible to argue one side over the other. Williams is adding an impressive average of 19.4 points and 9 assists per game, while Boozer is doing more than his part with an average of 23.5 points and 11.3 rebounds this season.

Where does this seemingly veteran composure come with these tender 20 something’s…with advisors like John Stockton and Karl Malone, it can almost be expected. What makes a young man wise is the acknowledgement that greatness is partially learned from those whom came and achieved before him. Williams did not hesitate to tap into the expertise of John Stockton in the off season. Taking advantage of one on one sessions with the All- Star point guard who gave Williams advice of how to improve his game, and equipped him with specific work-outs before returning for the ‘08 season, didn’t take a second thought. And Boozer coincidentally has a mentor/pupil relationship with none other than Carl Malone. It makes sense that the pair of duos would lend themselves to a comparison. Although a complement Boozer explains, “Deron and I are no way near the caliber of those two hall of famers,” Williams chips in, “we have way more to prove before we earn a comparison of that magnitude.” And proving…they are.

The inside/outside game of these two are seamless, each giving praise to the other. “As such a young player, Williams is so confident, so poised on the court, he’s definitely a huge key in our success,” Boozer boasts of his guard counterpart. Williams mirrors the complement by claiming “with Booz on my side, it makes it difficult to even contemplate going to another team.”

And it’s side by side that these two captains lead their team. Rather than “do as I say, not as I do,” they step onto the court each game and lead by action. Both accustomed to leading, Boozer finished as Duke’s all time leader in field goals (3rd in ACC history) and Williams took the 2nd all time leader in assists at his ala mater, University of Illinois; the pair were being groomed for their position on the Jazz even before they knew it, and fit like pieces to a puzzle.

With more than basketball in common, these guys bring a bit of old school class to Utah…both given accolades as the team fashionistas. Each takes the same pride off the court as on. Sporting the latest trends of fashion, perhaps the ongoing debate should center around who really takes the title as the team “Style Maven.”

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