Scout's Take

On second-year point guards Deron Williams of the Jazz (17.3 points and 9.2 assists at week's end) and Chris Paul of the Hornets (17.3 and 8.7):

"Right now I would rank Williams (right) ahead of Paul, who got all the accolades as a rookie. Williams is always pushing the ball back at you, he takes the big shots in crunch time, and he's more versatile, especially as a scorer—Williams shoots the three, which is something Paul doesn't do. Plus, Williams [at 6'3", 210 pounds] is bigger and more physical than Paul [6 feet, 175]. Utah has had injuries to Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer, but the team hasn't folded. It's because Williams has become their rock."