Utah Jazz: Williams happy to be back with team

Deron Williams didn't say whether he ate nachos or if he threw any couch pillows at the screen, but the star point guard had a similar viewing experience as Utah Jazz fans for the team's two games over the weekend.

After returning home to Utah to be with his family and an ill daughter, Williams watched Friday's blowout win at Philadelphia and Saturday's down-to-the-wire loss at Cleveland in front of his TV.

Reunited with his teammates for Monday's practice — and for games later this week — Williams said he liked what he saw for the most part.

Just like a fan.

"I thought we played great," he said. "Just looked like a different team both offensively and defensively."

The 25-year-old father didn't want to elaborate Monday on his daughter's undisclosed medical condition or situation, which prompted him to leave the team early Friday so he could be with her and his family.

But the team captain was more than happy to chat about the play of the Jazz and especially of his rookie fill-in, Eric Maynor. The Virginia Commonwealth University product turned in a double-double in his first start — the surprising 112-90 win at Philly — and scored 24 points in his encore performance in the 107-103 setback to the Cavaliers.

"He wasn't nervous, but I kind of expected that from him," Williams said of the cool and collected Maynor, who got the starting nod because combo guard Ronnie Price was out with a sprained left big toe.

"You can just tell the kind of player he is," Williams added. "I've said since I met him he doesn't carry himself like a rookie. He has a confidence about himself."

Williams believes that he, the Jazz and the rookie will benefit from Maynor thriving during his opportunity to see extended court time. The rookie had a decent preseason but hadn't blown anybody's socks off during limited action yet this regular season.

That, Williams said, was to be expected because it's hard to get into a rhythm and feel the flow of the game in short spurts as a sub. Williams' absence gave Maynor all the playing time a rookie could dream of.

"When you know you've got to play, you know you've got to produce, it's a different story," Williams said. "And I think that's what happened. He knew he was going to get his minutes and went out there and made the most of them."

Maynor's success might give Williams, who averages a team-high 39.4 minutes per game, more chances to be a spectator — preferably while getting a needed breather on the bench, not the couch.