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Future Bright in Sault Lake

Their record might say otherwise, but this year?s Jazz team is far better than that of last season. Deron Williams has lived up to the big expectations Utah had when selecting him with the third pick and Memo has been fantastic. Don?t forget that the Jazz are playing without AK47 and Boozer who start for them. For the Jazz to be 6-8 in the tough Western Conference is a testament to the great coaching job Sloan has done.

When listing the reasons for the Jazz success one cant help but mention Mehmet Okur, who came into camp in excellent shape. Outside of Marcus Camby, is any Western Conference big man playing better? Okur has stepped up in every facet of his game and has become Sloan?s main go-to guy in the clutch. He has suddenly made Carlos Boozer look very, very expendable. Fourteen games into his young career, Deron Williams is already a team leader who has all the potential in the world. While some clamored for Chris Paul and Raymond Felton, the Jazz most certainly made the right pick by tabbing this future star.

The Jazz took a chance with two free agents that no other team wanted. Milt Palacio and Devin Brown have proven to be spark plugs off the bench, bringing a solid blend of energy, defense, and veteran presence to Utah?s squad. Both are becoming more comfortable with every passing game, and Sloan has rightfully made them staples in the rotation. Given the horrendous injury situation and youthful roster, it could certainly be much worse. They are certainly in the mix in a depleted and underachieving Northwest Division.