Utah Jazz: Finishing the point guard gauntlet

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SALT LAKE CITY - From the time the Jazz played Cleveland on Jan. 10 they have faced two Rookie-of-the-Year candidates, a five-time NBA champion, a two-time all-star, an NBA Finals MVP and a five-team All-NBA player - and that is just at point guard.

The list of Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, Andre Miller and Derek Fisher make up the list of some of the best point guards over the past 10 years. Ty Lawson, Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio could be the names that take the mantle for the next ten years.

The combination of Devin Harris and Earl Watson have stepped up against these players and led the Jazz to a 5-2 record during that span. It was capped off with a 108-98 victory over Rubio and the Timberwolves.

Both the point guards and the coach recognized that the game isn't solely about one-on-one matchups, but about the team's ability to play together.

"It shows that as we work together as a group of guys we can compete against anybody," said Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin. "Everybody needs to be focused on what we need to do as a team, and not what individual guys do to get numbers."

The run has come with rumors of Harris being placed on the trade block and there are Jazz fans that have started taking sides between the two points guards. But the two have been supportive of each other and they know they aren't working for numbers of time, but to win.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio of Spain, center, attempts to pass the ball as he is pressured by Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks, left, and forward Enes Kanter of Turkey, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Salt Lake City. the Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 108-98. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)

"Play as a team," Watson said, "Don't worry about individual matchups."

Who is lined up across doesn't matter to these players, Harris added that it's important to win the matchups with "we got to accept the challenge."

The accolades and big names might drop for the point guards in the following games, but they don't expect their play to drop off.

"If you look at the NBA nine out of ten times there's going to be a great point guard on every team." Harris said. "You try to outplay them every night."

The next game is against Toronto and the point guard is Jose Calderon who may not be as big a name as some of the former opponents, but he is third in the league in assists and averaging over 11 points per game.

"In this business, in this game the moment you think you're not playing a big player is the moment that player kills you," Watson said. "You have to be ready at all times."

The Jazz will face some better point guards. They play Derrick Rose, Steve Nash and Rajon Rondo and others, but they won't face another stretch of point guards like they faced in seven straight games. And they did so in winning fashion.