Utah 5-0 without Deron Williams

[Redz]

Has anyone seen the Jazz play yet this season?  I have not.

Granted they've beaten the Clippers twice and the Thunderellas once, but still 5-0 is pretty impressive while missing an MVP caliber PG ion Williams.  Brevin Knight has clearly been a good pickup.  Ronnie Price?   Wow. 

Count me as surprised at their start without one of their starts.

[moiso]

I'm very surprised by their start.  Williams is awesome.  I guess its a good time for Knight not to be on the injured list.  He's playing well right now.  He'll get hurt soon though, he always does.

[housecall]

I caught 1 game aganist the Clippers.With no disrespect to Williams, the ball went into Boozer a lot more than when D.Willaims is playing.Some of it was the Clippers were not exactly raising the roof with offense and definitely not much defense happening.So i guess its a little bit of both the Jazz executing their offense and playing good D,and the Clippers basically Sux.

[LB3533]

D. Williams is no CP3.

The Hornets would be lost without CP3.

[Fan from VT]

Derron Williams is definitely a solid step below MVP caliber. He's more in the Paul Pierce/Al Jefferson/Chauncy/'melo level in terms of MVPness. Chris Paul and Lebron are a clear step above. Utah has a very deep team and Williams fits what they do well. they'd be a solid team with an average pg; with williams they are one of the elite teams.

[Redz]

Last years MVP votes:

Player, Team    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th    Total Points

Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers  82  32  11  2   -         1105

Chris Paul, New Orleans  28  64  31  2   -      889

Kevin Garnett, Boston   15  23  56  26  1      670

LeBron James, Cleveland  1   7   28  77  8      438

Dwight Howard, Orlando   -   -   -   7   39     60

Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix  -   -   -   3   18     27

Tim Duncan, San Antonio  -   -   -   2   19     25

Tracy McGrady, Houston   -   -   -   2   13     19

Steve Nash, Phoenix   -   -   -   4   6         18

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio  -   -   -   -   9        9

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas   -   -   -   -  5        5

Deron Williams, Utah   -   -   -   -  4        4

Carmelo Anthony, Denver  -   -   -   1  -        3

Paul Pierce, Boston   -   -   -   -  1        1

Rasheed Wallace, Detroit  -   -   -   -   1        1

Carlos Boozer, Utah   -   -   -   -  1        1

Antawn Jamison, Washington  -   -   -   -   1        1

He got votes for MVP last year.  He's in elite company. Utah surprised a lot of people last year making it to the WCF and his rise to stardom was no small part of that.

Perhaps I overstated slightly labeling him as "MVP Caliber", but he's an elite NBA player, 2nd team ALL NBA, and top 2 or 3 at his position. 

The point is, I'm impressed that the team is 5-0 without him.