Hold up on those Williams-Paul comparisons

Maybe drafting Deron Williams wasn't the dumbest idea since New Coke, after all.

Rate the Jazz guard's back-to-back games against the Hornets' Chris Paul "PG" for "pretty good."

Both had their moments, each team won a game.

Whether evaluating cars or athletes, it's always good to see them side by side.

Paul has the overall stats, but he also plays more minutes. But when matched up head-to-head this week, it was a close call. Both played down the stretch of Saturday's 100-95 Hornets' win at the Delta Center. Each had his moments. Both look as though they'll plan long and successfully in the NBA.

Comparison shopping can be exhausting, can't it?

Much was said last June when the Jazz chose Williams with the draft's No. 3 pick, rather than Wake Forest's Paul. More has been said since. In large part, that was because Paul has not only played more, but better. He averages 35.5 minutes, 5.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 16.1 points. Williams averages 26.5 minutes, 2.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 9.4 points.

This, of course, has given rise to speculating that the Jazz royally tanked their highest draft pick in decades.

"When Utah said they'd take Williams, there was almost shock in the room," said Hornets coach Byron Scott, when the teams met Wednesday.

"That shock lasted for probably 10 seconds and then everyone said, "'Well, we don't have to wait five minutes.'"

He added, "We were just ecstatic when C.P.'s name came up. We knew then, in our mind, that we had the best player in the draft, not only the best point guard."

It was a slam-dunk.

Except for this: In two games this year, Williams played Paul evenly. Wednesday in Oklahoma City, Williams totaled three steals, three assists and 17 points. Paul played eight more minutes and compiled seven steals, seven assists and 18 points.

But Williams ran the Jazz effectively and comfortably, making sure down the stretch things were under control. He also made seven of 10 shots, compared to Paul's 6-18.

Saturday, Paul got more points (23 to 14), assists (8 to 1) and steals (2 to 1), but also played 16 more minutes. Williams was hampered by early foul troubles, so a number of Paul's points came when someone other than Williams was guarding him.