Deron Williams: Is the Utah Jazz Star the NBA's Top Point Guard?

When conversation shifts to the Denver Nuggets' 3-1 deficit against the Utah Jazz, it usually focuses around the disbelief the Nuggets could be in such a hole, rather than how they came to be that way.

Before their Western Conference playoff series began, it was generally understood the Jazz had a slight advantage in the post, while the Nuggets had the advantage of opening the series on their home court, so the series would likely be decided by the play of point guards Chauncey Billups and Deron Williams.

Both Billups and Williams are considered two of the best lead guards in the NBA, and while Williams has an edge in physical ability and youth, Billups has a championship pedigree and the experience it entails.

Once Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur was lost to injury, it became even more imperative for Williams to at least hold his own against Billups, and the early returns suggests Williams is more than up to the task. Truthfully, Williams has dominated his matchup with Billups as well as the entire series, and although other Jazz players such as Carlos Boozer have had strong series, much of the credit for their 3-1 advantage lies at Williams' feet.

Williams has upped his scoring average, from 18.7 points in the regular season to 26.8 in the postseason, as well as his assist average, which went from 10 to 12 per game—no small feat, especially considering the context.

And it's not like Billups is having a bad series, because he is averaging 17 points and six assists of his own, but Williams is having a much better series and at this point is definitely the better player.

This series is proving to be a vindication of sorts for Williams because he finally gets to stake his claim to the title of the NBA's best point guard, with his various skills on display for the world to see. There are already some who consider Williams to be the best point guard the league has to offer, but the conversation also includes names such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Billups, Rajon Rondo, and Derrick Rose.

All of them merit consideration for the title, but none of them bring to the table all of the distinct qualities Williams has, and none of them has performed as well this postseason, if they made it at all.

A 6'4" frame gives Williams a height advantage over all of the aforementioned guards besides Billups, and with his length comes brutish strength, which makes him a terror to defend in the post, or on the perimeter.

Williams was second in the regular season in assists, and since he has been in the NBA he has managed to hover around the top three spots in that category, along with Paul and Nash. And those three may exist in rare air as far as court vision goes, because only Nash and Paul see the entire court in the manner that Williams does, and those are the only three who seem to always make the right decisions with the ball.

The area where Williams really excels over most of the other point guards in the league is on defense, and unlike Paul, Williams' defensive arsenal consists of more than steals. Footwork and the ability to use the body as a weapon are just as much a part of good defense as timing is, and no other point guard has the footwork or the physical strength Williams possesses.

Billups and Rose also excel in the style of defense that places a premium on strength and footwork, and the Celtics' Rondo can also be included in this category, though he may not be as strong as Williams, Billups, or Rose.

But Williams' most important attribute may be his leadership qualities, and that's something that cannot be reproduced or learned, and if you're not born with it, you will never attain it.

In Denver's series against the New Orleans Hornets in 2009, Billups dominated his matchup with Paul, and once he managed to break Paul's spirit the Nuggets routed the Hornets.

Williams would have none of that this year, and his series against the Nuggets has been marked as much by his grit, perseverance, and determination as it has by his 50-percent shooting percentage from the field.

For the short-handed Jazz to advance to the next round, Williams decided he must be the focal point of the offense and the defense, and all of his attention has been centered on achieving that goal.

There has been no doubt who the vocal leader of the Jazz is, and where Williams has led by example Utah has followed. In turn, now the Jazz sit within a game of reaching the Western Conference Semifinals.

It remains to be seen how far Utah will advance in this year's playoffs, but with Williams at the helm it's unlikely the Jazz will face another point guard capable of matching up with him.