Williams embraces the fast pace Utah typically shuns

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- The line formed at Temple Square and it flowed in only one direction. Thousands of Jazz fans buzzing with intensity (or was it alcohol?) piled into the cozy confines of EnergySolutions Arena, a facility that better resembles a college venue (the fans courtside are literally on top of the players) than your run of the mill NBA viewing station.

The excitement in the air was justified: not since 2000, back in the days when Stockton and Malone were on the floor instead of bronzed outside the building, had Utah reached the second round of the postseason. Their excitement, however, was nothing compared to the giddiness of one Deron Williams.

It has been a bit of a renaissance season for Williams. Buried in Jerry Sloan's doghouse last season for displaying the same stubbornness his head coach exhibits on a daily basis, Williams has emerged in 2007 as one of the league's elite point guards and is arguably the top playmaker left in the postseason not named Nash or Kidd. His virtuoso performance against the Warriors (31 points, eight assists, five rebounds) in a 116-112 win did nothing to dissuade that line of thinking. In fact, it probably enhanced it.

"What didn't he do?" asked Warriors coach Don Nelson. "He guarded. He scored. He assisted. He did it all."

Williams attacked Baron Davis's creaky hamstring early and often, forcing the All-Star guard (who dragged his left leg through 39 minutes like it was one of Heather Mills' spares) to play defense on every possession. "Attacking [Davis's injury]," says Williams with a smile, "was part of the plan a little bit."

That Williams proved lethal on Monday came as no surprise to at least one of his Utah teammates.

"I've been telling you guys all along," says Jazz guard Dee Brown, Williams' ex-Illinois 'mate as he settled into a chair in front of Williams locker. "You guys didn't believe me because we were friends, but D-Williams is a great player."

In a way, this series with Golden State is the perfect matchup for the former Illini backcourt mates. At Illinois, Williams and Brown were part of one of college basketball's most high octane offenses. While in Utah they (eventually) embraced Sloan's heavy-handed play-calling, there is no question the pair gravitate towards an up-tempo game.

"I have fun playing any style Coach Sloan puts me in," says Brown, who has "One Man Fast Break" tattooed across his chest. "But I do like playing this way."

Still, both acknowledge that in order for the Jazz to advance, the balance of the series needs to be played at a more controlled tempo. The 116 points Utah posted Monday night was easily it's highest output of the playoffs and unquestionably left the 19,911 witnesses in the arena (many of whom stood for the entire game) enormously satisfied. But up-tempo offense is Golden State's game, not Utah's.

The Jazz prefer a more balanced attack, one that favors 30-40 low post touches per night. Carlos Boozer, who Golden State's defense sagged on and enveloped from the opening possession, scored 17 points on just 15 attempts. Says Williams, "They made it real tough for us to get the ball to Booze tonight."

Exploiting the Warrior defense with Boozer's size inside will be key as the series moves forward. Slowing the game down will be critical -- but don't expect Williams to complain if it speeds up.