NBA POM Williams always looks ahead

For Deron Williams, looking forward was the most important thing. Especially after Friday’s 93-81, ESPN-televised loss to the Dallas Mavericks at EnergySolutions Arena.

Before the game, the NBA announced the Jazz point guard had won its Western Conference Player of the Month award for November.

An honor, yes. But last month’s honor.

“It’s a great accolade,” Williams said. “But it’s December now, so that’s over with.”

The Jazz went 13-3 in November, thanks largely to Williams’ efforts.

Notably, he scored 21 points and had 14 assists to help beat the Miami Heat on Nov. 9. A night later he scored 30 and had 14 assists in a 104-94 victory at Orlando.

He also scored 29 points and had a dozen helpers as the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 26.

“It says a lot because so many people played well in the month of November,” Williams said. “I’m definitely honored.”

The Jazz took a seven-game winning streak into Friday’s game, but couldn’t keep up as the Mavericks pulled away with an 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

Williams finished the game with 12 points and seven assists. He also had four steals and four turnovers.

“I think it’s a great honor,” said Utah coach Jerry Sloan. “It goes with the fact if you win ballgames, that’s what happens. We won some games and he obviously did a terrific job in a lot of different areas.”

Williams became the fourth Jazz player to win the NBA’s Player of the Month award.

Karl Malone won it seven times; Carlos Boozer won it twice and John Stockton won it once. Previously, there was just one award combining both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Williams and the Jazz now look ahead to next week’s schedule, which includes home games against Memphis (on Monday), Miami (Wednesday) and Orlando (Friday).

They end the week in Dallas in Saturday.

“We get to play them in another week, that’s the good thing,” Williams said. “I look forward to that game.”

He’s always looking forward.