Nets-Jazz Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jan 14 2012 1:49AM

For more than five years, Deron Williams was the face of the Utah Jazz. He was named to two All-Star teams and led the franchise to four playoff berths, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2007.

The Jazz were hopeful he would end his career in Utah, but his time there came to a surprising and abrupt end.

Williams, who is coming off his best game since last February's stunning trade, will return to Salt Lake City for the first time Saturday night when his New Jersey Nets visit the Jazz.

Williams, selected by Utah (6-4) with the third pick of the 2005 draft, was traded to New Jersey on Feb. 23 for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two first-round draft picks and $3 million in cash. Jazz CEO Greg Miller said he made the move because of a "gut feeling" that he wouldn't be able to sign Williams to a long-term deal when he became a free agent in the summer of 2012.

The Jazz were a perennial contender with Williams, but his reputation took a hit when Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan retired one day after clashing with him during a game. Williams, who averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 assists in 439 games with Utah, was traded two weeks later, but Miller insisted Sloan's retirement and Williams' trade were not connected.

Jazz officials also stated the trade didn't mean the team was rebuilding. That seemed a bit unrealistic at the time, but Utah is off to a surprising start to 2011-12.

The Jazz took the Los Angeles Lakers to overtime on Wednesday, but came up short in a 90-87 loss, snapping a five-game winning streak. Al Jefferson had a chance to put Utah ahead with 1.9 seconds remaining in the extra session but Andrew Bynum blocked his shot. Kobe Bryant then hit two free throws for the final margin.

"We're coming, we're getting better," coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We played against a good team. They were a little bit better but our effort was great."

Paul Millsap had a season-high 29 points for Utah, which lost for the first time in six home games.

"We kept playing hard, didn't give up," said Jefferson, who was held to 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting after a season-high 30-point effort against Cleveland on Tuesday. "It's one of those games at the end of the day we wish we could have won, but we could walk out with our head up. We played hard until the end. We just got to get ready for New Jersey."

The Nets (3-9) got off to a rough start to the season but hope Friday's 110-103 win over Phoenix can trigger a turnaround.

Williams had 35 points, his most since coming to New Jersey, and 14 assists and matched a season low with two turnovers to help the Nets snap a three-game skid.

"I kept my turnovers down today," he said. "I scored, I assisted, I did a better job of leading the team. That is what I have to continue to do."

Williams hadn't been enjoying as much success in his first 10 games, averaging 16.9 points on 35.4 percent shooting with 8.2 assists and 4.6 turnovers. His frustration boiled over in Wednesday's loss to Denver when he drew two technical fouls within seconds and was tossed.

He's using that ejection as motivation.

"I just wanted to play better," Williams said. "I got thrown out of that last game and needed a little spark. I used that to my advantage to get my head back and get back to playing good basketball."

Jefferson helps Jazz spoil D-Will's return 107-94

By LYNN DeBRUIN
Posted Jan 15 2012 12:57AM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Deron William received hugs from a 96-year-old usher and his favorite chocolate cookies from a longtime Utah Jazz fan.

Otherwise, it was a pretty rude homecoming for the former Jazz All-Star.

Williams, returning to Utah for the first time since a Feb. 23 trade, started 0 of 3, was just 2 of 12 at halftime and finished with 16 points on 3-of-15 shooting as the Jazz beat the New Jersey Nets 107-94 on Saturday night.

"It wasn't a very good one for me, but it was fun to be back in the building, fun to see my ex-teammates, fun to see (coach Tyrone Corbin) over there," Williams said.

He blamed the poor performance not on the mixed reaction he received, or the boos every time he touched the ball, but on the energy-draining win over Phoenix on Friday night. He scored 35 in that game, his best as a Net, but New Jersey trailed by 23 in this one.

"The one last night took a lot out of us," said Williams, who also committed five turnovers to go along with five assists Saturday. "We didn't have our legs. And they looked like a fresh team. They beat us to loose balls, they were getting offensive rebounds. They were more energized than we were."

Al Jefferson scored 20 points, Paul Millsap had 18 and reserve C.J. Miles added 17 to lead Utah.

Kris Humphries led the Nets with 18 points.

Utah (7-4) led 30-20 after one quarter and 57-40 at halftime. Unlike other games, the Jazz slammed the door.

A 3-pointer by MarShon Brooks pulled the Nets within 72-62 but Utah went on a 10-1 run, fueled by Miles and Millsap.

The Jazz dominated in the paint, outscoring New Jersey 64-26, and held a 23-19 advantage on fast-break points.

"It starts with defense," said Jefferson, who also had a big block on Williams. "When you get turnovers, turnovers lead to fast breaks and to easy baskets and that gets our confidence up and opens up everything."

Miles joked with Williams before the game, but knew the key was playing him tight.

Devin Harris, Earl Watson and Gordon Hayward had the primary responsibility, but others helped double Williams every chance they had.

"We tried to stay on him, tried to take a lot of his options away on the pick-and-rolls," Miles said. "Secondly, I think he might have been pressing a little bit, coming back here. I can only imagine how he felt, and people booing every time he touched the ball didn't help."

Williams said he expected a mixed reaction.

"That's just how people want to react. I can't control it. It didn't bother me, but I wish I just could have played better," he said.

He said he also was grateful for the cheers he did hear.

"I definitely had a great time here," he said. "It was a great point in my life. The Jazz organization gave me my first opportunity in the NBA so I will always be grateful for them."

Williams led Utah to four playoff berths and the Western Conference finals in 2007 but was traded just two weeks after a halftime spat with Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan.

While Sloan insisted his spat with Williams was not the final straw in his abrupt retirement the next day, many believe Sloan had grown tired of battling the star guard.

Two weeks after Sloan retired, the Jazz traded Williams to the Nets, with CEO Greg Miller saying he had a gut feeling he wouldn't be able to re-sign him to a long-term deal if he became a free agent in 2012.

The Nets so far have not done so either.

Signs in the arena were evidence of the mixed emotions Williams elicits, despite playing in 483 games over six seasons with the Jazz from 2005 until his trade.

One read "Thanks for the Favors," a reference to budding star Derrick Favors, acquired as part of the deal. Other fans flocked to have Williams sign autographs after pre-game warmups, and he obliged.

"Welcome Back D-Will," one said.

Another handed him the bag of gourmet cookies and asked him to share with center Mehmet Okur, who the Jazz traded just before Christmas because they had too many big men.

When it was over, Jazz President Randy Rigby was all smiles.

"We needed that one," he said while expressing confidence the team had made the right trade.

While Williams was polarizing, everyone loved Okur.

"I miss it here," said Okur, who admitted he was devastated at first with the trade but knows it is business. "It was nice to be here and see all my friends and family. It was fun."

Okur scored first for New Jersey when he got a friendly bounce off the rim. He then converted a three-point play to give the Nets an 8-4 lead, grabbing an offensive rebound over Millsap then bulling ahead for the score and foul.

Utah then reeled off eight straight, and outscored New Jersey 15-2 in the next 3 minutes to take command.

Saturday's game came 11 months after a different homecoming, when Carlos Boozer received expected boos - not Booz! - from Jazz fans when Chicago beat the Jazz 91-86.

That loss was quickly overshadowed by Sloan's abrupt retirement.

Now the Jazz must move and go back on the road, against a Denver team that beat them 117-100 in late December.

"It's just like I said against the Lakers," Jefferson said. "We're a different team than when we played them the first time and I think we proved it."

NOTES: Williams and Okur (9 points, 7 rebounds) created the biggest buzz, but the Nets have three other players with Utah ties: Guard Sundiata Gaines appeared in 32 games for the Jazz in 2009-10. Guard DeShawn Stevenson was drafted No. 23 overall by the Jazz in 2001 and appeared in 227 games. And Humphries was taken 14th overall by Utah in 2004, appearing in 129 games over two seasons before being traded to Toronto. ... New Jersey's last victory at EnergySolutions Arena came on November 29, 2008, when Devin Harris led the Nets with 34 points and six assists in a 105-88 victory. Harris, acquired in the Williams trade, scored two Saturday but had six assists. ... Jazz backup point guard Watson was listed as questionable because of a left knee bone bruise but entered late in the first quarter. He played 20 minutes, with six assists and four points.

Notebook: Jazz 107, Nets 94

By Andrew Aragon, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 15, 2012 12:16AM

THE FACTS: The Utah Jazz gave a rude welcome to five former Jazz players in an easy 107-94 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.

Al Jefferson scored 20 points and Paul Millsap had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jazz, who improved to 6-1 at home. They helped Utah beat a Nets team that features ex-Jazz players Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, DeShawn Stevenson, Kris Humphries and Sundiata Gaines.

Humphries had 18 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey, which is the only team in the NBA that has five players who previously played for another single team.

QUOTABLE: "It was weird. You work with a guy as long as we worked with him, it was a little different feeling seeing him on the other side. I've said before I think he's doing a good job with his team and hopefully they'll get better."
-- Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin on facing Williams on Saturday night.

THE STAT: 64. The Nets' defense had no answer for the Jazz near the basket as Utah had a whopping 64 points in the paint.

TURNING POINT: The Jazz closed the first half with an energetic 9-0 surge with seven of the points coming in the last 35 seconds of the second quarter. Jefferson started the spurt with a turnaround jumper, and Millsap gave the Jazz a spark with a put-back dunk. Raja Bell scored on a fast-break dunk and a layup, with Jefferson blocking a close-range shot by Williams sandwiched in-between. The run put Utah ahead 57-40 going into the break.

HOT: Bell and C.J. Miles each got off to slow starts for the Jazz this season, but both players enjoyed a turnaround game against the Nets. Bell shot 5-for-6 for a season-high 12 points and was again one of Utah's top defenders. Miles had a little extra juice in his legs and shot 6-for-8. He finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Miles' point total was also a season-high.

NOT: Williams, who got a mixed reaction when he was introduced before the game and booed every time he touched the ball when the contest was still in doubt, appeared frustrated for much of the night. Whether it was the fans getting to him or he was just tired while playing on the second night of a back-to-back, it was an off night for Williams. He scored 16 points, but shot just 3-for-15. He had five assists and five turnovers.

QUOTABLE II: "They had more energy than us. They had a little more pep in their step. Their passes were much more crisp than ours. They executed better. Their big guys beat us up on the boards and again we didn't shoot the ball well."
-- Nets coach Avery Johnson on his team's struggles on Saturday night.

GOOD MOVE: The well-rested Jazz knew the Nets would be a tired team after they played one of their best games of the season against Phoenix on Friday night. So Utah attacked, and forced New Jersey to play at a fast pace. The Nets, in their third game of a four-game road trip, couldn't keep up and looked worn out by the middle of the third quarter.

FANTASY WATCH: Millsap continues to be a solid fantasy starter. His shooting percentage (46.1) was disappointing, especially after he made his first four shots, but he filled up the stat sheet nicely.

ROOKIE WATCH: New Jersey's MarShon Brooks, who made his fifth start of the season, had been steady for the Nets, averaging 15.25 points in their last four games. He had a quiet 11 points, three rebounds and three assists against Utah. For the Jazz, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks had similar stats despite Kanter playing 18 minutes compared to just nine for Burks. Kanter had a career-high seven points, and Burks had a big fast-break dunk in the fourth quarter to give Utah a 96-74 lead.

NOTABLE: The Jazz padded their stats against the Nets. They had season-highs in points in the paint, fast-break points (23) and largest lead (23). The Nets were without Shawne Williams, who has a sore leg. The last time five players on the same team played against a former team was Minnesota vs. Boston on Jan. 25, 2008 (Antoine Walker, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes and Jefferson).

UP NEXT: For the Nets, Monday @ L.A. Clippers, Wednesday vs. Golden State, Saturday vs. OKC. For the Jazz, Sunday @ Denver, Tuesday vs. L.A. Clippers, Thursday vs. Dallas.

• Nets: James, Lopez
• Jazz: --

• Nets: --
• Jazz: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #73 Tre Maddox, #12 Violet Palmer
• Attendance: 19557
• Duration: 2:09