Chris Paul and David West or Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer?February 24 08  The AM Take: Chris Paul or Deron Williams? It’s the never-ending debate that began on draft day in June, 2005. Utah, of course, selected Williams third overall, while New Orleans took Paul with the next pick.
Ever since, the world has gone back-and-forth on anointing Paul or Williams the game’s best young table-setter. Right now, CP3 has the edge and could be the premier 1-man in The Association.
For now, forget Paul versus Williams. There’s a bigger question: who possesses the best young point guard-power forward duo? The Hornets have Paul and David West, while the Jazz have Williams and Carlos Boozer.
The case for Paul and West:
- Paul is an Isiah Thomas clone. His speed, ball-handling, panache, and dime-dropping skills have helped him emerge as an All-Star and legitimate MVP candidate.
- West, despite recently being named an All-Star, is slept-on. He averages close to 20-10 and sets a physical tone inside for the Hornets with Tyson Chandler.
- Together, Paul and West have New Orleans near the top of the Western Conference standings. The Hornets, whether they stay in ‘The Big Easy’ or bounce elsewhere, will contend with their dynamic duo.
The case for Williams and Boozer:
- If Paul is Isiah Thomas reincarnated, then Williams is Jason Kidd with an outside shot.. Williams’ size, handles, and ability to finish make a load for opposing defenses.
- Boozer is a beast. This year, he’s dropping 22 and 11 on opponents, dominating the inside with a rare combination of size and skill. After a slow start to his career with the Jazz, Boozer has developed into an elite four-man.
- Utah fans got lucky. Stockton to Malone was quickly replaced with Williams to Boozer. This pair should keep the Jazz in contention out west for years to come.
Winner: Paul and West.Why: All four players are special, perennial All-Stars who any team would love. Paul and Williams are close, while Boozer tops West down low.
But Paul possesses intangibles few have. He’s beyond an All-Star. He’s an All-NBA First Team candidate and, right now, the best point guard in the world. Williams and Boozer are unlikely to reach the same heights as Paul.
As the best player in this comparison, New Orleans’ tiny table-setter gives the Paul-West combo the edge.
Paul and West or Williams and Boozer? Get at us in the comment box below. The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe.com. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee.
Posted by
MaximusPrime
on 03.8.2008 | Lets just reserve judgement until Hornets get smashed in first rd. and then return to the real world...the media eats up a feel good story but head to head D-Will will always victimise CP3. I do however believe that West is much closer to Boozer than ppl think. . | Posted by
jpf......
on 03.6.2008 | This argument is dumb. Williams is the better player. Even if you put them on the same skill level. Williams is still better because he is bigger. Williams last year in the regular season was all star good. In the playoffs he was spectacular. Plain and simple if you don’t think that, you are just not very basketball savvy. So why can’t everyone wait until Paul plays in the playoffs before you proclaim him better. Because regular season they are playing very similar. And we all know that there is always really good regular season players that choke in the playoffs. . | Posted by
on 03.6.2008 | your an retard dude. willams and boozer are better. Just look at the games they played. the jazz players dominated . | Posted by
on 02.27.2008 | First of all... West who is he? and why was he in the ASG???second of all... Deron Williams will win a championship before Chris Paul will, i do like the both of them! but i just think that deron is playing much better then people thought he would.thrid of all... Boozer would kill this David West Guy... who ever he is! call me when Davis West Gets on Sportscenter! . | Posted by
on 02.26.2008 | The answer is in the numbers, not what the media tells you.Boozer/Williams . | Posted by
Basketball John
on 02.26.2008 | Criminy. The Williams/Paul debate can actually be a debate. But the duos? Please. West was an AS this year only because the game was in NOLA. Good player, not quite an All-Star.And as mentioned above, how many playoff appearances does Paul have yet? If you want comparisons, look at their head-to-head stats. . | Posted by
Jeff
on 02.25.2008 | last 5 matchups between the 4 players (Jazz are 4-1): Williams - 19.6 pts 9 assists. Booz - 18.8 pts 14.5 rb. Paul - 11.8 pts 9 assists. West - 12.8 pts 10.3 rb. Booz and Williams combined double doubles: 71. West and Paul: 55. This "debate" is ridiculous. West can’t touch Booz, although Deron and Paul are close enough that any reasonable person would take either. "Williams and Boozer are unlikely to reach the same heights as Paul." I truly don’t understand this comment. Has Paul even been to the playoffs yet? . | Posted by
G BOW
on 02.25.2008 | WEST IS WAY BETTER THAN LOOZER AND DERON SHOULDNT EVEN BE ALLOWED TO HAVE HIS NAME MENTIONED WITH PAUL THATS HOW MUCH OF A JOKE HE IS...HORENTS DUO KILLS JAZZ . | Posted by
Amar
on 02.25.2008 | well, Boozer/Williams won 9 playoff games last season, and got to the west finals. Let’s see Paul and West do that. . | Posted by
on 02.25.2008 | Why not just look at the head to head numbers.......WOW Jazz duo dominates!!! However, I am sure you will keep letting the media’s love for Paul control you. . | Posted by
on 02.25.2008 | "Williams and Boozer are unlikely to reach the same heights as Paul."Could be, but as it stands, the Hornets are losing the number one seed in the west. Paul and West have yet to accomplish anything. So, as it stands, your sentence should have read, "Paul and West have yet to reach the same heights as Williams." Point guards are measured on how they improve the play of those around them. Williams made Boozer and Okur all-stars. The Jazz made the conference finals last year. Right now, Williams is more accomplished than Paul. That can change, but those are the facts. . | Posted by
jack t
on 02.25.2008 | some nba analyst. have you ever watched thomas play dumbass . | Posted by
nba analyst
on 02.25.2008 | Paul dominates. ISIAH THOMAS DOES NOT COMPARE! . | Posted by
yea
on 02.25.2008 | cp3 edges williams...but boozer and west is a tough battle cuz not a lot of ppl knwo about west as oly states...west is just a big a beast as boozer...the only difference is that the hornets get much less tv time/presentation to the world/wutever as compared to the jazz cuz the jazz have had reputation for excellence since malone/stockton...and though both duos are simply amazing... cp3 n west over williams and boozer (barely).... . | Posted by
on 02.24.2008 | cp3 and west . | Posted by
Billy C
on 02.24.2008 | Come on people! It’s clearly Boozer/Williams. They own Paul/West . | Posted by
on 02.24.2008 | Utah’s duo all Da Way!!! . | Posted by
on 02.24.2008 | Boozer and Williams take it ... easily! . | Posted by
on 02.24.2008 | Paul and West ... come on guys ... Paul is truly special!!! . | Posted by
deano21121
on 02.24.2008 | Yes Paul is the better point guard but Boozer smashes West in the power forward department, and i also think williams is just behind chris paul so i think the williams - boozer duo is the better one although Paul is the best player boozer is a much better pf thn boozer.how great would a Utah vs New Orleans ply off series be !? . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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