Jazz youngsters act like veterans

It's a nightly ritual, right after the game. A throng of media gathers around two of the Jazz's youngest players — Deron Williams and Paul Millsap — to hear their observations. Business as usual.

But wait. Isn't conducting playoff interviews the business of veteran players? It used to be that way around here. In large part, the young guys got ignored. The media went after those with more miles on the odometer, such as Karl Malone, Jeff Hornacek and John Stockton. Toss in a little Bryon Russell or Antoine Carr and there you had it. A neat little perspective from those who had been there.

The younger players were a lot like movie extras. No lines to recite, just some walking around in the background.

But if anything has come to the forefront of this year's Jazz team and continued into the playoffs, it's that young players count.

Second-year guard Williams does as many interviews as anyone on the team.

Why wouldn't he? He has his hands on the ball almost constantly.

So each post-game, he's either backed up against his locker or surrounded like an island. Everyone wants to know what he has to say. Deron on the defense. Deron on the offense. Deron on the Rockets. Deron on Deron.

Some nights an equally large media crowd gathers near rookie Millsap, who has managed to circumvent the Sloan Manifesto, which maintains kids must wait their turn. You sit for a few years, then gradually find a place in line, then advance to the status of veteran.

Welcome to Playoffs 2007, where the men are men and the kids are, too. While Williams and Millsap have shown inexperience at times, they haven't appeared particularly intimidated.

"Inexperience," Millsap said, "doesn't really matter to us."

Here is what does matter, though. In Thursday's win over Houston, Millsap put in a productive 14 minutes, including nine points and four rebounds. If his playoff numbers aren't as impressive as his regular season stats, that doesn't mean he's been merely a prop. He played 13 minutes in Game 1, contributing four points and a steal. His quietest night was Game 2, in which he logged only eight minutes, scoring two points.

Still, if you're thinking about asking them if they're nervous, don't bother.