Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mo Williams very close to return?
By Joe Kaiser
UPDATE: While the long-awaited return of Mo Williams appears to be getting closer, it doesn't appear that the Utah point guard will be back in the lineup by Wednesday as he had hoped.
Williams practiced with the team today, but Jody Genessy of the Deseret News reports that he is still being ruled out for tomorrow's game in Cleveland.
Still, don't be surprised if Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin tinkers with his lineup. Three starters (Marvin Williams, Randy Foye and Earl Watson) failed to score in the team's one-point overtime loss to Milwaukee on Monday, which could prompt Corbin to consider moving Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and/or DeMarre Carroll into the starting unit.
---
Mo Williams may only be days away from returning to the court after being out since Dec. 22 with a thumb injury.
Utah's radio announcer David Locke tweets this morning: "Mo Williams says he would not be surprised if he played v Cleveland [on Wednesday]. Has gone full contact in practice."
If Williams is able to make it back this week, the timing couldn't be better. Utah could desperately use his experience at production at the point guard position, and finds itself in the middle of a furious four-team battle with Golden State, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers for the final three spots in the Western Conference playoffs.
Williams was averaging 12.9 points and 6.7 assists per game before the injury and is a huge offensive upgrade to Earl Watson and Jamaal Tinsley at the point. His return figures to give the Jazz quite a boost heading into this critical run to the playoffs.
