Deron Williams News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

The Deseret News

"He was a tad moody, even mad, after back-to-back losses Monday to Houston and Tuesday at Dallas. Rightfully so. Deron Williams, after all, cares. And, besides, there's not much worse than a Texas triangle of defeats for someone reared in the Lone Star State. It's with that understanding that the Jazz point guard went into Thursday night's TNT-televised win over San Antonio with a mind for making something happen, and a will to get it done. "We needed to get off to a good start and sustain that," Williams said, "so I wanted to be aggressive, push the ball up the court, make sure we got some easy baskets." That he did, and it made a difference. After Ronnie Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko both ..."

Williams' burden feels lighter

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November 6

Salt Lake Tribune

columnist Gordon Monson

"Deron Williams sucked in some air and exhaled deeply in the fourth quarter of the Jazz's game late Thursday night with San Antonio. What he was thinking in that exact moment only Madame Zelda, or some other trained mind reader, would suppose to know. But the rest of us could guess. There might have been relief banging around in there somewhere. The first week of this season had been a tough go for the Jazz's best player, lifted at last by an important win at EnergySolutions Arena, 113-99, over the Spurs. Williams has never suffered defeat easily. He would just as soon get kicked in the head as lose a game, let alone endure three losses in the first four games -- before this victory. And ..."

Williams, Boozer have big nights to help Jazz win big over Spurs

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November 6

Salt Lake Tribune

"For all the emphasis on defensive accountability this season, the Jazz issued a reminder Thursday night that they still can outgun a team at EnergySolutions Arena, even a Western Conference favorite like the San Antonio Spurs. The Jazz scored 60 points in the first half, had all five starters in double figures by the end of the third quarter and rolled to a 113-99 victory, a shocking score against one of the NBA's perennially top defensive teams. It was the most points the Jazz have scored against the Spurs in a regular-season game in the Tim Duncan era, eclipsing a 103-74 victory on Nov. 22, 1997. The Jazz did score 109 points against San Antonio in Game 3 of the 2007 Western Conference ..."

Price and Williams stars of scrimmage

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October 14

Salt Lake Tribune

"Forget the dance teams, the dunk teams, the Bear's acrobatics and all the fan-friendly events that were part of the Utah Jazz's free intra-squad scrimmage Tuesday night at Energy Solutions Arena. Ronnie Price stole the show. Price started alongside Deron Williams in the backcourt and led the Blue team to an easy 70-46 victory over the Whites in front of 6,500 enthusiastic fans. Price finished with 10 points, five assists and three rebounds as the Blues broke away from a 32-32 tie at intermission in a game that included two 12-minute halves. Asked about Price, assistant coach Tyrone Corbin said, "Oh my goodness. I'll tell you what. He's been great all camp. He came in in tremendous ..."

Williams, Rose reunited in London

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October 5

Salt Lake Tribune

"As much as he's tried to forget the play in the past 12 months, Deron Williams still must contend with the aching in his left ankle. It's a regular reminder of what happened last preseason against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. Having missed all of four games in his first three seasons with the Jazz, Williams suffered a gruesome ankle sprain when he went up for a three-pointer and came down on Rose's foot in an Oct. 18 game at United Center. Williams had to be carried off the court, left the arena on crutches and missed 13 games in all before returning for good. Even then, Williams needed months to get back to playing like his former self after the worst injury of his young career. ..."

Duo disappointed with Olympic vote

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October 3

The Deseret News

"Two Jazz guys with Olympic experience and Illinois ties admitted Friday they were pulling for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Games. Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan were also somewhat disappointed that the Windy City got rejected by the IOC. "It really didn't surprise me," said Williams, who played at the University of Illinois. "You know how some countries feel about us. It's all about votes and you've got people voting against you. We didn't have much of a chance." The Olympic gold medalist, who figures to play in the 2012 Olympics and could possibly threepeat in '16, was impressed by a digital presentation for the bid he was shown. "I thought it was going to be real sweet," Williams ..."

D-Will sits out of Jazz practice

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October 2

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams experienced some soreness in his right knee during Thursday night's preseason-opening win over Denver. But the point guard missed today's practice session at Zions Bank Basketball Center, and it wasn't because of "a little tendinitis" that he says has been bothering his braced-up knee for a couple of weeks. Williams sat out the practice, rather, because of a sore right heel, according to a team spokesperson. The point guard, however, is being listed as probable to participate with the Jazz once they hit the ground in London on Sunday."

Williams steps into mentor role for Maynor

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October 1

The Deseret News

"Looking back at his rookie year, Deron Williams credits former Utah Jazz point guard Milt Palacio for being a mentor of sorts. Consider that the most important assist of Palacio's short stay in Utah. "He helped me a lot," Williams recalled. Four years later, Williams is the established NBA veteran and he's passing it forward. So far in his rookie year, Eric Maynor — who figures to see his first taste of NBA action during the Jazz's preseason-opener tonight against Denver — credits the team's current starting point guard for mentoring him."

Williams to play for USA

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September 28

Salt Lake Tribune

"Even if the Jazz fail to advance past the first round of the playoffs again this season, Deron Williams already knows he is looking ahead to a shorter summer in 2010. Williams said Sunday that he has committed to play for USA Basketball at next summer's FIBA world championships in Turkey and already has received a preliminary schedule leading up to the event. Having played on the gold-medal winning "Redeem Team" at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Williams wasn't sure of how many of his teammates were similarly committed to return next summer. But Williams said the world championships were anything but an afterthought following the Olympics. "Not at all," Williams said. "We want to keep ..."

Utah Jazz: Williams dodges, talks upcoming season

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September 13

Salt Lake Tribune

"Two weeks before the start of training camp, Deron Williams was on the Jazz practice court Saturday firing dodgeballs hard enough to bring a smile to your face yet leave you holding your breath all at the same time. "I'm a competitor," said Williams, who emerged unscathed aside from a sore shoulder. It was all in good fun as Williams and Kyle Korver co-hosted their first "Dodge Barrage" charity tournament, which drew some 40 teams and raised an estimated $10,000 for The Christmas Box House shelters for children. The event was so successful, thanks to a series of Internet videos they produced, that Williams and Korver had to accommodate eight extra teams. Williams said next year's event ..."

D-Will, Floyd Landis go head-to-head

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August 8

The Deseret News

"Floyd Landis seems comfortable in a Utah Jazz uniform, and Deron Williams doesn't seem to mind Spandex bike-racing garb. But when it comes to comparing the two athletes' athletic abilities, it's almost like comparing apples to oranges — or bikes to basketballs, in this case. Williams and Landis got together Friday at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele to try their hands at each other's sports while promoting the 2009 Tour of Utah. To get the competition going, both men mounted bicycles for a 2.2-mile trip around the racetrack with one small handicap: the NBA superstar got a one-minute head start over the world-class bicyclist. Williams looked to be in fine form, as he put plenty of ..."

Silver lining to Utah Jazz's early exit? Time for D-Will to rest sore ankle

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April 30

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams wishes he and his Utah Jazz teammates were still playing right now, make no mistake about it. But the star point guard saw just a glimmer of silver lining after the Los Angeles Lakers ended what he interchangeably called a "disappointing" and "frustrating" Jazz season. Williams now gets a chance to rest. Rest is something his sore ankle could have used for a long, long time now. "It's going to be great to get a break (from basketball)," Williams said. "That's the only good thing you can take away from losing this early — the amount of rest you're getting." Williams had very little offseason a year ago since he spent two months preparing for and then playing in the Olympics ..."

Ankle injury always a pain for Williams

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April 28

The Deseret News

"He suggested it hasn't limited what he could do. But as the 2008-09 NBA season wound down, and throughout the Jazz's first-round April playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, the left ankle he sprained back in October has proven to be quite a pain for point guard Deron Williams. "It still hurts," Williams said after the Jazz shootaround for Monday night's late-starting Game 5 at Staples Center. "It still hurts, every day. "Doc (Jazz orthopedic physician Dr. Lyle Mason) told me it probably would hurt the rest of the season, you know, when I did it," Williams added. "I didn't want to believe him, but now I see." It's expected no clean-out surgery will be needed. "I hope not," Williams ..."

Deron Williams only thing holding Jazz together

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April 23

Salt Lake Tribune

columnist Gordon Monson

"Deron Williams paused for a moment, sucking in a deep breath and blowing it out, before walking off the floor at the end of Tuesday night's Game 2 of the Jazz-Lakers playoff series. The point guard was spent, having played more minutes than anyone else in the building that night and having had the greatest impact on the game. He scored 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting, including six three-pointers, had four steals and passed out nine assists. He also suffered seven turnovers, a couple of which were significant, in the Jazz's 10-point loss. In a battle against what might eventually be the NBA's title team, led by one of the league's two top players, Williams was the most important man on ..."

Williams struggles with shot

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April 20

Salt Lake Tribune

"Deron Willams was troubled by his performance in Sunday's Game 1 of the Jazz's first-round playoff series with the Lakers, a personal effort that contributed to a 113-100 Jazz loss. The point guard made only 4 of 14 shots, missing four three-point attempts, and wound up with a total of 16 points. He missed jumpers and he failed to score on a number of drives to the basket. "I didn't shoot the ball well," he said. "I thought I did a good job getting in the lane and distributing the basketball. I just couldn't finish, so I have to do a better job with that. As a team, we didn't shoot well either, so we just have to make shots; get some more stops and make shots." Williams delivered 17 ..."

D-Will is the Jazz player other teams fear

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April 19

The Deseret News

"For as many times as he's made it clear his Jazz never have had one — the count is so high, most calculators couldn't keep track — the concession that now they very nearly do speaks volumes as to just how Jerry Sloan feels about his present point guard. Not along ago, after all, Deron Williams was a rookie who couldn't consistently crack Sloan's lineup. But these days — with his club ready for this afternoon's Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against a Los Angeles Lakers franchise seeking its 15th NBA title — the tough-to-please Jazz coach toes the line of ultimate compliment. "Every team that plays in the championship usually has a guy that can beat you 1-on-1," he said. "We've got ..."

Williams finding referees' limits

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April 19

The Deseret News

"He knows it's a fine line, and crossing it comes with consequences. But Jazz point guard Deron Williams doesn't blame himself for ticking off NBA referees. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, he jokes, is the master at that. "I think Coach (does it) for everybody, so when I do it just adds fuels to the fire," Williams said. But seriously, Williams — a 2008 Olympic gold medal now in his pocket as he prepares to open a third-straight NBA postseason with today's Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers — has much more credibility with certain refs than, say, his 2005-06 rookie season. "Some of them," he said. "It just depends on who it is. Some refs have their own personality, just like we do. Some of them ..."

Lakers aim to control an unstoppable force

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April 18

L.A. Daily News

"How do you stop the unstoppable? How do you slow that which refuses to be slowed? How do you manage the unmanageable? No doubt, the Lakers will attempt to stop point guard Deron Williams during their first-round NBA playoff series against the Utah Jazz. If that doesn't work, and it probably won't, they will try to slow him. If that doesn't work, and it probably won't, they will try to manage him. In the end, Williams probably will win the game within the game. That's almost a given. Certainly, the Lakers don't expect the unexpected from Williams and the Jazz. Oh, they expect to win the best-of-7 Western Conference series, which begins Sunday afternoon at Staples Center, but they don't ..."

D-Will prospers during painful season

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April 17

Salt Lake Tribune

"It's been a painful season for Deron Williams, not only because of the Jazz's disappointing eighth-place finish in the Western Conference but also because of a freakish injury that occurred in late October. In Utah's next-to-last preseason game at Chicago, Williams launched a jump shot and landed on the foot of Bulls rookie Derrick Rose. Williams suffered a severely sprained ankle, which forced him to miss 13 of the Jazz's first 15 games, play in seasonlong discomfort and face the possibility of offseason surgery. "It hurts every day," he said, "and it's not going to stop until I give it some rest." Through it all, Williams put together his best professional season. He averaged career ..."

Williams might have to be one-man act

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April 16

Salt Lake Tribune

"As Deron Williams himself admitted, the Jazz's playoff hopes against the Lakers largely will rest on whether he can take over games as he tried to do in the second half of Tuesday's loss before finishing with 23 points and 15 assists. "I'm going to have to, from the start," Williams said. "Just try to do it all. I'm going to, like coach said, lay it all out there." Williams will match up against the likes of Derek Fisher , Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar , though the Lakers also could turn to Kobe Bryant to guard his former Olympic teammate for stretches and also trap to force him to give up the ball. "They're going to drive the ball down into your throat with Williams," Lakers coach ..."

Williams takes control after Jazz squander big lead

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March 29

The Deseret News

"With two minutes remaining in regulation Saturday, the Jazz's 21-point lead was long gone. The momentum was gone. Hopes for home-court advantage seemed to be gone as well. Fortunately for the Jazz, the only guy on the court who received mumbled MVP chants from the EnergySolutions Arena crowd was neither gone nor done. Down by seven points after so many positives had gone wrong for Utah, that's when Deron Williams turned it on. "I always like to be in control down the stretch. ... I feel like I'm the best playmaking option we have on the team," Williams said. "I feel real comfortable with the ball in my hands at the end of games and I think the rest of the team trusts me with it." Consider ..."

D-Will hoping bruise isn't serious

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March 16

The Deseret News

"A lower-leg muscle bruise sustained in the second quarter of Sunday's loss at Orlando makes things, including his status for Wednesday's home game against Washington, a wait-and-see proposition for Jazz point guard Deron Williams. Williams — who sat with his leg wrapped in ice for the last five minutes of the opening half, but did return after the break — said the muscle, located just below his knee, first "started loosening up," then "got stiff as I went back out there and played on it." "It probably will get a lot more stiff on the plane home," he said at the end of a five-game trip. "It's muscle, so it should hopefully heal. Hopefully it doesn't swell up like the last one." Earlier this ..."

Williams' injury only a bruised leg

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March 16

Salt Lake Tribune

"As bad as Sunday's loss was for the Jazz, it could have been worse had Deron Williams suffered a more significant injury when he went down in the second quarter after getting kneed in the left leg as Dwight Howard set a screen. Williams got caught just below his knee on the play, with assistant Phil Johnson having to call timeout to get him out of the game. Williams went to the bench with 5:07 left in the half, but returned to play 18 minutes in the second half. "At first I didn't know," Williams said. "Then it started loosening up and got stiff as I went back out there and played on it and it'll probably get a lot more stiff on the flight home. But it's muscle so it should hopefully ..."

Jazz: D-Will hopes to keep his hot hand

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February 17

Salt Lake Tribune

"The tan was the obvious giveaway Monday evening of how much Deron Williams managed to get away from basketball over the All-Star break, spending three days on the golf course in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Not only hadn't he heard that coach Jerry Sloan had been selected Friday as a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame, Williams hadn't looked beyond Thursday's game against Boston on the Jazz's upcoming schedule. Yet with the Jazz reconvening for the final 29 games of the regular season, Williams' challenge will be recapturing the momentum with which he entered the break after five consecutive 30-point scoring games. With Carlos Boozer (knee surgery) and Andrei Kirilenko (ankle surgery) ..."

Turnover troubles for D-Will

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February 9

Salt Lake Tribune

"As he tried to fire a pass back outside to Mehmet Okur at the top of the key, Deron Williams could only watch as Corey Maggette breezed to the ball and headed the other way for a dunk in the first quarter Sunday. It was one of six turnovers for Williams, who acknowledged he must take better care of the ball even as he had his fourth consecutive 30-point scoring game, finishing with 31 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in the loss to Golden State. "The last four games have been pretty disgusting to me," Williams said. "The thing I look at first is turnovers and I've got to do a better job. I'm trying to be aggressive, but at the same time, I get myself in some bad positions when ..."

Williams, team on a little roll

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February 8

The Deseret News

"When asked after Friday night's victory at Sacramento, one that snapped the Jazz's four-game road losing streak and extended their overall win streak to three, coach Jerry Sloan suggested he sees no indication that the injury-battered club's worst days are behind them. Certainly not with two-time All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer having missed 39 straight games and one-time All-Star small forward Andrei Kirilenko having missed nine in a row, and both bound to be in less than perfect shape when they return from knee and ankle surgeries, respectively, sometime after the coming weekend's NBA All-Star Game break. But there is a blip of light amid the darkness of it all, and it emanates from ..."

Williams to play against Mavericks

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February 5

Salt Lake Tribune

"The Jazz will have Deron Williams in the lineup when they host the Dallas Mavericks tonight in a key game in the Western Conference playoff chase. Williams went through practice Wednesday and shoot-around Thursday and will make his return from a bruised right quadriceps and swollen knee. He said he was feeling good enough to play even if the opponent wasn't the Mavericks. "I'm sure it will be a playoff-type atmosphere," Williams said. "It's a big game. We've been struggling, so it's a big game for our confidence and hopefully we can get it tonight." The Jazz trail Dallas by 2 1-2 games in the standings, with the Mavericks riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a victory ..."

Williams practices, could play Thursday

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February 4

Salt Lake Tribune

"The likelihood that the Jazz will have Deron Williams available for Thursday's game against Dallas increased Wednesday when he tested his bruised right quadriceps and swollen knee in practice. Williams said there was still swelling in his knee, which he injured in the first quarter of Saturday's loss to Portland when Greg Oden set a pick, but that a lot of the swelling had diminished. "I definitely want to play tomorrow, so I'm shooting for that," Williams said before practice. "But I've just got to see how it feels. I haven't ran yet on it, so I don't know how it's going to handle." The Jazz said Williams went through practice in full and will be a game-time decision to play Thursday. ..."

D-Will rests with Dallas game on tap

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February 4

The Deseret News

"Jazz point guard Deron Williams did not practice Tuesday morning, and his status for Thursday night's TNT-televised home game against the Dallas Mavericks remains uncertain. Williams missed Monday night's 19-point victory over Charlotte due to a bruised right quadriceps muscle and resulting knee inflammation. He's been told by Jazz medical personnel he may be able to play against the Mavs, but Williams himself has said he's not sure whether or not he actually will be able to go. Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer (arthroscopic knee surgery) and small forward Andrei Kirilenko (ankle surgery) both continued their rehab programs Tuesday at the Jazz practice facility, and both still are expected ..."

Williams misses practice, status uncertain for Thursday

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February 3

The Deseret News

"Jazz point guard Deron Williams did not practice this morning, and his status for Thursday night's TNT-televised home game against the Dallas Mavericks remains uncertain. Williams missed Monday night's victory over Charlotte due to a bruised right quadriceps muscle and resulting knee inflammation. He's been told by Jazz medical personnel he may be able to play against the Mavs, but Williams himself has said he's not sure whether or not he actually be able to go."

Knee puts D-Will on bench

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February 3

Salt Lake Tribune

"Although he could be seen limping throughout the first quarter of Saturday's loss to Portland, Deron Williams dismissed any injury concerns after the game, saying, "I get hurt every day." Turns out, Williams was more seriously injured than he believed. He suffered a bruised right quadriceps just above his knee and the resulting swelling kept him out of Monday's game against Charlotte. "It hurt the whole game just like any bruise would," Williams said, "but then when I got on the plane, my knee just swelled up and it started hurting pretty bad. I couldn't walk." The Jazz said Williams had suffered no structural damage to his knee, only swelling from the bruised quadriceps. But Williams ..."

D-Will's knee latest on lengthy list of Jazz injuries

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February 3

The Deseret News

"He's been a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Yet Jazz point guard Deron Williams still had a tough time celebrating Super Bowl Sunday. "I couldn't really jump up and down like I wanted to," Williams said Monday morning. That's because Williams, who missed Monday night's game against Charlotte, has what the Jazz are calling a "moderate right (quadriceps) contusion with reflective swelling in the right knee" — translation, a bruised thigh that also caused his knee to swell. But, Jazz spokesman Jonathan Rinehart added, "the knee joint itself is stable." Williams was told he may have also strained his knee's medial collateral ligament, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said that facet of ..."

Deron Williams out with bruised quad

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February 2

Salt Lake Tribune

"Although he could be seen limping throughout the first quarter of Saturday's loss to Portland, Deron Williams dismissed any injury concerns after the game, saying, "I get hurt every day," before changing the subject. It turns out Williams was more seriously injured than even he believed. He suffered a bruised right quadriceps just above his knee, and the resulting swelling will keep him out of Monday night's game against Charlotte. "It hurt the whole game like any bruise would," said Williams, who scored a season-high 35 points in the loss, "but when I got on the plane, my knee just swelled up and it started hurting pretty bad. I couldn't walk." The Jazz said Williams had suffered no ..."

Williams frustrated by losses

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February 2

The Deseret News

"After losing five of the last six games, including Saturday night's disappointing showing in Portland, point guard Deron Williams is at his wits' end. He knows the Jazz remain without two of their top in injured Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko. Still, Williams — who agreed to a max-money, multiyear contract extension last offseason — seems to have this nagging feeling that this just isn't what he signed up for. And he can't be sure it's going to change, Williams added, "until we decide that we've got to show up every night, can't take nights off — as a team." Or until the cavalry returns. "I'm not talking about anybody individually, but as a team we've just got to play better," he said. ..."

Another All-Star snub for Williams

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January 30

Salt Lake Tribune

"As overdue as he considered his first All-Star Game selection coming into this season, Deron Williams realized it was "out of my control" in the months he spent trying to overcome the worst injury of his career. The sprained left ankle Williams suffered in the preseason sidelined him for 13 games, left him playing at less than 100 percent weeks after his return and ultimately cost him a chance to play in the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix. For the third consecutive year, Williams was passed over by Western Conference coaches as All-Star reserves were announced Thursday. Despite ranking second in the NBA in assists per game (10.2), Williams was realistic about his chances all along. "I was ..."

Change has not come for Williams

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January 20

Salt Lake Tribune

"As he tried on a nasal strip before practice Monday, soliciting opinions about whether or not they work, Deron Williams might have wanted to reconsider anything new. After all, Williams has appeared in recent games to have turned a corner on the sprained ankle, sinus infection and everything else that contributed to a frustrating first half of the season for the All-NBA guard. "I feel a lot better," said Williams, who has averaged 26.3 points and 9.5 assists the past four games. "I'm starting to get my legs back. The little nagging injuries are going away, so I definitely feel good." The Jazz (24-17) will open the second half of their season tonight against Minnesota at EnergySolutions ..."

Williams' crystal ball says Sloan is a lifer

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January 20

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams repeated a prediction of his Monday that made Jerry Sloan laugh — out loud, even. It isn't one, however, that's going to get the coach to start calling his point guard "Nostradamus." When mentioned to the Jazz point guard that Sloan had agreed to come back for the 2009-10 season, Williams slightly smiled and cracked a joke. "I told ya," he said, "I'm going to retire before he retires." When mentioned to the Jazz coach what his 23-year-old star had said, Sloan broadly smiled and LOLed. "That's probably not true," he said. What is factual is that Sloan will be 68 after his newly agreed-upon contract extension ends following his 22nd season as the Jazz's head coach. "He still ..."

Williams vs. Paul nothing personal

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January 7

The Deseret News

"A day before the Utah Jazz were to host Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets and another chapter of the "Which Player Is Better?" book was to be written about an engaging star-powered NBA rivalry, Deron Williams tried to settle the debate once and for all. Which player is better, you wonder? Depends, of course, on whom you ask. "Ronnie Price thinks Pistol Pete (Maravich) is better than Larry Bird," Williams said. "No way in hell is he better than Larry Bird, Larry the Legend. He was good, don't get me wrong, a former Jazzman, but (not better)." There ya go. Glad that's finally settled. Sorry, Magic. Oh, yeah ... and that other little rivalry? No, not the John Stockton vs. Isiah Thomas ..."

Williams' game leaves mark on Warriors

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January 6

The Deseret News

"Late in the third quarter of Monday's game against Golden State, Deron Williams took a pretty hard hit to the face from Corey Maggette during a fast break. That shot left a small mark on his upper jaw. It also led to a 3-point play for Utah. Late in the fourth quarter, Williams returned the favor — in a non-violent way, of course — by delivering a bigger blow to all of the Warriors. Incidentally, it left a permanent mark in the NBA standings — a good one for Utah, yet another bad one for Golden State after the 119-114 Jazz TKO win at EnergySolutions Arena. Williams' no-look pass to Ronnie Brewer ended up being the knockout punch the Jazz couldn't quite connect on for the previous 47 ..."

Williams bruised and banged up but still on court

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December 23

The Deseret News

"The Jazz practiced Monday in Chicago without starting point guard Deron Williams, who watched because of a bruised right calf.Williams said a "knot" in his calf seems be moving down toward his Achilles tendon. He also has a bruise near his right knee."It seems like it gets worse every game," said Williams, who apparently sustained at least one of the injuries - even he isn't sure exactly what happened - in a Dec. 15 loss at Boston.But Williams does plan to play when the Jazz visit Milwaukee tonight - the final stop on a five-game pre-Christmas excursion for the 17-12 team, which is 2-2 so far on the trip.Williams already has missed 13 games with a badly sprained left ankle, which could ..."

Bad ankle pushes Williams' stardom a step back

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December 23

Salt Lake Tribune

"Somewhere on the way to reaching the Western Conference finals, earning second-team all-NBA honors, signing a max contract extension and being selected to the U.S. Olympic team, Jazz guard Deron Williams skipped a step. The hole in Williams' résumé his first three seasons as a pro came with never having been chosen to play in the All-Star Game. The expectation coming into this season was that Williams wouldn't have to wait long for his overdue coronation. That all changed, however, as soon as Williams went down with a sprained left ankle in the preseason. Nearly a month after returning, Williams still isn't the same player and his ascent to becoming an All-Star is anything but ..."

Williams sits out practice Monday

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December 22

Salt Lake Tribune

"Jazz guard Deron Williams sat out the team's practice Monday with an injured right calf, but is expected to play Tuesday as the team finishes its annual pre-Christmas trip with a game at Milwaukee. Williams has been bothered by a knot in his calf as well as a bruise next to his right knee. The calf has gotten worse with each game on the trip, but the hope is that two days of rest will help Williams overcome the injury. With a victory Tuesday, the Jazz would wrap up only their second winning pre-Christmas trip in the last five years."

Utah Jazz: Williams sits out of practice

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December 22

The Deseret News

"The Jazz practiced here today without starting point guard Deron Williams, who sat out the session due to a bruised right calf.

Williams said a knot in his calf seems to be moving down toward his Achilles tendon. He also has a bruise near his right knee.

But Williams does plan to play when the Jazz visit Milwaukee on Tuesday night."

D-Will gushes over Rose's play

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December 21

The Deseret News

"Jazz point Deron Williams, who sprained his left ankle when landing on the foot of Bulls rookie Derrick Rose in the preseason, had nothing but praise for the 2008 NBA Draft's No. 1 selection after he scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting in Chicago's 106-98 win Saturday night."He's been doing it all season," Williams said when asked about Rose taking over the game. "He's a great player. You know, he's not playing like a rookie. I don't think he's a rookie any more. He's one of the best point guards in this league, and he definitely took over. Did in Salt Lake, did it today."Rose, who helped lift Chicago to a one-point win in Utah late last month, has equal admiration for Williams."He's ..."

Williams expects Kings to want revenge

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December 2

Salt Lake Tribune

"Only four days after they embarrassed the Sacramento Kings with a 44-point third quarter that included one alley-oop pass off the backboard, the Jazz recognize they could be running into a team bent on payback tonight. "Any time you beat a team like that, they're going to want revenge," Deron Williams said. "And we've always struggled in Sacramento, at least since I've been here." The Kings (5-14) have dropped six consecutive home games and nine of their last 10 overall, including a 23-point loss Saturday to Dallas. That came one night after a 120-94 loss in Utah that left coach Reggie Theus calling out his players. "The one thing that I would have liked to see is one of ..."

Back-to-back games test Williams' ankle

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November 30

Salt Lake Tribune

"Even though he put his odds of playing at 50-50 the night before, Deron Williams returned to EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday and ac"

A 50-50 chance for Williams

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November 29

The Deseret News

"Point guard Deron Williams played his second straight game Friday night after missing 13 of the season's first 15 because of a sprained left ankle sustained in the preseason.Because the Jazz blew out the Sacramento Kings 120-94, however, Williams logged only 27 minutes.Williams said that "definitely helps" the possibility he'll be play tonight - though afterward he still wasn't sure if he'd be able to go again when Utah plays New Jersey in the back end of a back-to-back set.Williams said he left Friday's game feeling "a little sore," and that he's "50-50" for tonight."All the rest I can get right now is great, great for my ankle," he said. "But I've got to see how it feels (today)."Before ..."

Williams is fine easing his way back

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November 28

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams is back.Again.Yet he is not at full force, and that's a reality the Jazz point guard is willing to not only face but embrace."I'm not going to try to come back and score 25 and (distribute) 12 (assists)," Williams said after dishing 15 assists and scoring 11 in Utah's win Wednesday over Memphis - the first game of his second comeback from a sprained left ankle sustained in the preseason, and just his third game of the season."I put my pride on who got shots," Williams added, "and try to run the offense."Williams - who when he wasn't playing Wednesday stretched the ankle, kept heat on it and spent some time jumping on a mini-trampoline to keep the joint from stiffening - did ..."

It's official: Williams to play tonight

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November 26

The Deseret News

"Deron Williams is back.Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring, Brevin Knight and Jarron Collins are still out.But Williams is back. He announced this morning after shootaround that he will indeed play in tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies."It's a lot of guys out right now. We're real depleted," Williams said. "So, it's a good time for me to come back."Williams said his left ankle, which was severely sprained more than a month ago in the preseason, "definitely feels better" than when he first returned from the injury for two games two weeks ago."I went and did some tests yesterday and my left ankle is probably stronger than my right ankle," he said. "It's just still a little ..."

Williams hoping today will be 'the day'

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November 26

The Deseret News

"For about a week now, he's been targeting tonight's game for attempted return No. 2 from the sprained left ankle he sustained during an Oct. 18 preseason game at Chicago.The first time he came back - for back-to-back games in Philadelphia and Washington, on Nov. 11 and 12, respectively - it was simply too soon.He was prompted nonetheless by the now 9-6 Jazz's first loss of the season, a 22-turnover debacle two days earlier in New York, and the absence at the time of yet another starter, center Mehmet Okur.This time, however, point guard Deron Williams wants to be sure he's ready.Jazz coach Jerry Sloan instructed him to wait until he's 100 percent - not 80 or less, like last time - and ..."