LOS ANGELES — For as many times as he's made it clear his Jazz never have had one — the count is so high, most calculators couldn't keep track — the concession that now they very nearly do speaks volumes as to just how Jerry Sloan feels about his present point guard.

Not along ago, after all, Deron Williams was a rookie who couldn't consistently crack Sloan's lineup.

But these days — with his club ready for this afternoon's Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against a Los Angeles Lakers franchise seeking its 15th NBA title — the tough-to-please Jazz coach toes the line of ultimate compliment.

"Every team that plays in the championship usually has a guy that can beat you 1-on-1," he said.

"We've got a guy," added Sloan, whose Jazz are still looking for their first title in franchise history, "that's pretty close to being that way most of the time, and I think he'll get better and better as time goes on."

The Lakers already have their own in reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant.

Now Williams, on the downside looking up at a 1-8 seed best-of-seven series, looks to take the next step toward elevating his game to that level.