Why is Deron Williams widely regarded as the 2nd best PG in the game?

I think people like Morey do keep track on how a player makes passes that result in a high quality shots for his teammates. Obviously we don't have that stat available to us fans. If just from the watching, you can tell how players like Kidd, Nash, McGrady, LeBron make passes different from players like Francis, Brooks, Davis. The latter groups are scorers. They pass only when they have to. And their passes don't have the quality that give their teammates easy shots.

 

Deron is better, When the Spurs are healthy TP is their 3rd best player or at best a distant 2nd/near 3rd. However Williams is Utah's engine. Every series Utah has won in the playoffs recently is because of Williams.

Also, even in a down year for Williams in scoring efficiency, he still is ahead of Parker (see PPS). And the difference in A and A/TO are even greater.

I find the debate on whether Williams or Paul would be a better PG for the Rockets much more interesting than comparing Parker to Williams. I do think Paul is clearly overall the best, but his own match-up problem with Williams and style difference may make Deron a better fit for some teams.

Parker and Harris make good arguments for 3-4, I think Nash and Billips--still ridiculously efficient shooters, overall are probably eclipsed by the younger guys.

Derek Rose by next year sure looks like he could make a run for the 3 spot--though he has a ways to Paul/Williams level.

I'll add a most overrated/underrated PG list. Most overrated, Mo Williams and Jason Kidd. They have bigger flaws than the rest though largely covered up by their teammates. Most underrated, Jameer Nelson (closer to top5 than people think). Rajon Rondo I am pretty sure is underrated or overrated, but I can't decide which

 

+1

Stats lie a lot, watching the game says it all. Players can easily acquire assists by throwing the ball to the player and letting the player do the rest.

That being said, Parker is a guy who attacks the basket and draws a load of attention, and he is great at making passes off this situations. This is also what people expect of Brooks, which he hasn't been doing well yet.

The Jazz and the Spurs have not made significant adjustments to their rosters for a long time, though you can't argue the fact that Jazz has about just as much talent as Spurs if not more, with an aging TD against Millsap and Boozer.

That being said, Parker has 3 rings, Deron has none. You can argue that Parkers has been in the league much longer, with 8 seasons whiles Deron only 3 (yet only a 2 years age difference between the two). I still remember when Parker dominated Cavalier's for his third ring, he was unstoppable.

I would take Parker over Williams, because I like a player who loves attacking the rim and has a damn good tear drop when compared with Alston or Brooks .

 

Since when is Deron williams a good defender. I saw a bench warmer the other night scorer a career high 39 on him.

 

Duncan isn't what he used to be (1st or 2nd best player in the NBA) but he still is probably the best overall PF in the league and he is the Spurs most important player. It is debatable whether a healthy Manu or Parker is the #2 guy on that team--though right now it looks to be edging Parker given equal health.

Further, since you bring up Parker vs the Cavs for the ring, lets look at how they fared in their WCF match-up over 5 games.

ply PPG RB APG SPG A/to FG 3% FT PPS
TP 20.2 2.8 6.8 1.6 1.87 .48 .67 .66 1.31 (note 3% based on 3 shots)
dw 25.8 3.6 7.8 2.4 2.44 .53 .47 .78 1.42

Deron outplayed Parker, but the Spurs team was better. In the closer series (Phx, Utah, Den), Duncan was the most key player Spurs. It was a little bit of a gift to give Parker the playoff MVP--he was excellent (though he still got slightly outplayed by counterparts in two series however), but Duncan was the difference.