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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 1, 2006 4:11:40 GMT -5
No more messing around. Its time to put Jefferson in the starting rotation and let him play 30 minutes a game, every game. Let him make mistakes without instantly yanking him out, and let him learn from his mistakes. Heck, Delonte learned a lot from doing that and has blossomed into quite a PG in his own right.
No more Raef LaFrentz in the starting lineup. He's a nice player and a calming influence on the floor, but he doesn't energize the team like Jefferson can, and Big Al's inside scoring is much more of a necessity than another outside shooter (already have Pierce, Wally, and Delonte for that).
Jefferson has put up 2 straight double doubles, without being a focal point in either game. He's doing a fantastic job of scoring off of misses during this span.
Its time to roll the dice on Jefferson and let him play a ton of minutes the rest of the way. We certainly haven't won many games with Raef in the starting 5, so why not try something new?
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 1, 2006 4:22:28 GMT -5
On another note, I think Doc has required Jefferson to not take any midrange shots. This was a big part of Big Al's game (remember in both summer leagues, he was shooting the midrange shots very well and everyone thought that he was going to use it as a weapon). But I don't think I have ever witnessed Al taking even 1 midrange shot this year, excluding shots he was forced to take to beat the buzzer.
I feel that Doc has forced Jefferson to hold this offensive arsenal back for 2 reasons: 1) so that he can strictly concentrate on scoring inside of 7 feet and get it down pat, and 2) so that he'll have something left in his bag of tricks in his 3rd year, when defenses think they have him figured out.
At this point, he seems to square his man up while faciing the basket, and it seems like he can easily go straight up into a jumper, but quickly changes his mind and refocuses on going toward the basket. A lot of times, he's open for that jumper if he wants to take it because the defense is gearing up for him to take it to the basket. But rather than taking what the defense is giving him, he'll adamantly take it inside, at times, having to force the issue.
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Post by Celtic17 on Feb 1, 2006 23:40:42 GMT -5
Most of us are "the chior", DM.
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Post by mev17 on Feb 3, 2006 3:30:04 GMT -5
Agreed. He and Perkins really need experience playing together. If this group ever is to be a playoff contender, it will be with Al and Perk controling the paint. With Wally, West and Pierce to spread the floor, the lane should be open for our young bigs to operate.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 3, 2006 12:56:57 GMT -5
With Pierce, Jefferson, and Wally being the 1-2-3 scorers, all we need Perkins to do is clear the glass like a madman and for Delonte hit his open jumpers.
But the key is for Doc to start developing the young kids NOW. No use in wasting this year trying to win a title because it ain't going to happen.
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