Jazz assistant Scott Layden said the work Williams put in over the summer caught his eye. "All the good and great players improve their games in the offseason," Layden said. "They learn something from the year before and they work on it in the summer to get better. With Deron, the difference is hard to believe, especially at the position. But he put his work in, got himself ready, is in sync with the coach and has a calming influence when things get a little shaky."

Williams is one of a handful of reasons the Jazz got off to a terrific start. Carlos Boozer is finally playing and putting up big numbers. Mehmet Okur can rebound and knock down treys and Kirilenko, although hobbled by a bum ankle, remains an incomparably gifted and versatile player. But it's hard to believe Utah won 12 of its first 13 with Kirilenko being seventh in scoring on the team.

"This is the first time we've been together at the start of the season," Williams said. "If we stay healthy, we have a chance to be a special team."

And then, perhaps, Williams will be linked again with Paul, as the either/or point guards of the future.

"My thing is, they're both great," Layden said. "I just think GM Kevin O'Connor realized the type of player we were looking for."

A lot of people might have wondered what O'Connor was thinking last year. Williams is doing his best to make sure that list of doubters no longer exists.