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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 19, 2006 22:36:00 GMT -5
Jefferson is entering his 3rd season in the NBA, but IMO, this is the start of the Big Al Jefferson era in Boston.
Why do you think that, Derren?
I'm glad you asked. This is the first offseason where Jefferson is putting in a full effort to condition himself and work extremely hard on his game. Prior to this, he did the bare minimum working on his game and thus, he did not improve like we hoped he would in his second year. He would get winded very quickly and he was still looking like a rookie. He took his game and his health for granted, and he disappointed many fans because he couldn't make the jump to a higher level in his sophomore year.
But he's out to prove to himself, and to his fans and doubters, that he is not a fluke, or a bust. He's working his tail off, getting in shape (his arms are getting more definition already), his conditioning, and working on his basketball game. Come training camp, his ankle will not be an excuse anymore, and I really believe we'll see a new and improved Al Jefferson--one who shows more consistent production. His confidence will grow and we'll see him being an aggressive scorer and rebounder.
This is a new start for Jefferson. He's gone into the summer with a new perspective and a determined mentality. Mark this summer as the start of the Jefferson era in Boston.
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cfoo
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Post by cfoo on Jul 19, 2006 22:38:52 GMT -5
I don't see why not?
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cfoo
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Post by cfoo on Jul 19, 2006 22:42:36 GMT -5
Since you answered your question, I guess i'll answer mine. But I do mean that in an optimistic sense. I really don't see why not. However, my only concern with Jefferson is whether or not he has the toughness and mentality to really dominate in the NBA. He has not shown that up until this point. Am I saying Jefferson is soft? Maybe... Like Esco was saying, he also has not shown that he can consistantly hit that midrange shot. But these are all things that can come with time. He has the ability. I don't think anyone questions that. He does need a lot of work though, and it is a long road. Particularly on the defensive side of things, as well as developing a consistant shot, learning how to deal with double teams, and showing he can play tough and determined basketball for 82 games. We all know he can score in the post. We all know he is the type of PF that could really flourish on a running team. We all know he has the ability. Like Esco said though, I'm not sure if he can develop a consistant midrange game. That is one thing I do actually question his ability on.
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Post by esco33 on Jul 19, 2006 22:47:41 GMT -5
I agree with you guys and hope that Big Al can be that power forward that we so desperately need production from. I hope he succeeds here. I always root for our kids.
But there comes a time that if they can't produce, that you have to get someone who can. I am still hoping that in Big Al's third year is where he finally matures and really starts to produce. We all know he has the talent to do it. He just needs to put it all together. I have always thought that year number 3, Big Al would turn the corner.
He would be entering his junior year of college right now. Imagine that.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 19, 2006 22:59:29 GMT -5
IMO, Big Al does have a good jumpshot from midrange. I hope we get to see it this season.
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cfoo
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Post by cfoo on Jul 19, 2006 23:03:05 GMT -5
Big Al is the type of guy that I would be really happy for if he does become what we all hope. Every time I hear him talk he is very humble and you know he wants to play well, although he seems overwhelmed at times which is understandable. I hope we see a pissed off Jefferson bust out this year. I would be happy for him, plus he would make this team so much better.
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Post by eja117 on Jul 19, 2006 23:04:34 GMT -5
He has to be that guy from the 1rst day of training camp and especially from the 1rst week of the season. If he isn't then it;s over. No waiting till the all star break. And it won't be easy. A lot of guys are gonna want the ball. Guys like Gomes aren't gonna role over and play dead just cause someone thinks AL J has more sucks right now. Yes. That phrase applies. Know why? Cause he sucks right now. Why doesn't anyone see that? Ok maye he doesn't suck now, but he did last year and that's why it applies. Every single young guy we have has taken a step forward, even TA despite serious injury and legal problems. Banks was taking baby steps forward slooooowwwwly, so he was traded. What is Al's excuse? He better be good and fast. There are absolutely no excuses whatsoever now. None. be good or be gone. I'm tired of Cs big men jerking me around. That's why I like Perk and Gomes. You know what you'll get and you'll usually get more than you knew you were gonna get. With Al it's always less every single time since the end of last year. He is the only young guy we had who came back in bad shape despite knowing what the league is like. It makes me think either he ist oo dumb, lazy, or a cancer ala Blount, which is why he must absolutely be THE man and NOW. There is no waiting 4 years and still counting like Tyson Chandler. Basically the experience of every single good (high school) player ever except Tracy and Jermaine was if they ain't good after two years they won't be good. It's been two. This is his last chance. Maybe someone like Curry or Kwame will break the two year rule finally, but I doubt it, and you won't like hearing this but Tyson Chandler showed far more sucks right now than AL J and still is showing it. I mean that in a good way. You want TYson? me neither. Good luck AL J. If he gewts beat up, has a tiny ankle tweak, or doesn't start the first nite of the season, I will probably rip him on the very first nite.
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Post by mev17 on Jul 19, 2006 23:30:41 GMT -5
Frankly, I am more than willing to give Al until the All-Star break and beyond to develop. I don't want him to be ANOTHER Chauncy Billups of Joe Johnson -- guys we gave up on way too early (and who were older than Jefferson) and who are now star players for someone else. I don't want to do with Al what Portland did with J. O'Neal (who was also older when discarded from Portland than Al is now). Two years out of high school is not long enough to tell a big man "produce now or else."
His ankle was not a "tweak"; that injury vs the Clippers was scary-looking and he still feels the effects of the bone bruise. Once Allen's knee felt stronger, those ready to ship him out rediscovered what we liked about him in the first place. Ditto with Al. It WON'T happen overnight, but we haven't seen his best basketball yet. The shame is he had three very solid games in a row before injuring himself vs the Clippers last year. Once his wheels are back, he will produce. But realistically, at first he will be a solid scorer off the bench.
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Post by eja117 on Jul 19, 2006 23:54:08 GMT -5
How long were we supposed to wait for Chauncey? 5 years? That is half a career. That is at least a third of PPs career. We don't have that long. nobody does. jermaine got good after 4 years of not being good. So after not being good they were supposed to wait another year when they had other bigs? No way. I admit they didn't wait long enough at all for JJ. The thing there is that swing men grow on trees in this league and they traded one for a shot at a finals appearance. Not actually that bad a trade really. Also AL J stayed back a year I think. The right conclusion to come to after the jermaine situation isn't "wait forever" it's "damn some players take forever to get good" If thay had kept jermaine it doesn't mean for one second they would have been a championship team at all. We are lucky DA has fund decent pgs, which are also very difficult to find.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Jul 20, 2006 0:48:29 GMT -5
Eja, your obsession with AlJeff is gettingout of control. Its like you ahave something personal against him. Does any of this have to do with you having way too high of expectations for him after his rookie year? You know, if someone wouldve told me the day we drafted him he'd be at the pace he's at now, I wouldve thought that he's been a pretty good pick so far. Its not his fault that everyone assumed he's Moses Malone 2.0 after a decent rookie year. Should we give up on Gerald Green at the begining of training camp next year if he isnt 'the man?' The expectations youre putting on jefferson are ridiculous.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 20, 2006 11:19:20 GMT -5
Big thing to remember is that Jefferson came out of high school without good coaching. He had no idea what defense meant (he thought that it was something only players in Detroit do), and our coaching staff literally had to start from scratch to get him understanding how things are done in the post.
He was extremely weak in the upperbody, and his conditioning was terrible. But his instincts were off the charts. If anything, those were the things that really stood out and made him exciting. He had a nose for rebounds (it still impresses me how quickly Al can snatch a rebound out of the air and gobble it up to his body) and he could score against veteran big men without even knowing what he was doing.
But even though we consider him raw, he still put up 8 ppg and 5 rpg last year--in only 18 minutes of play (half the time of most starters). I look at this and see a silver lining because he was able to put up stats like this as a 20 year old who was way under developed in the post, under conditioned, and played most of the season with a bum ankle. He injured it in training camp, wasn't able to work on his game in the preseason (which led to him fall behind in preparation for the season), and for the remainder of the season, was trying to play catchup.
But this offseason, he's determined to put that all behind him and start fresh. That's why this is going to be the start of the Jefferson era in Boston.
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Post by eja117 on Jul 20, 2006 12:56:29 GMT -5
Fresh I do have something broderline personal about players like this. Lazy (check) Doesn't have killer attitude like Perk (check) Way overpaid (not yet, but I fear soon) Fragile (check) Lacks toughness (check) Pudgy looking doughboys that refuse to change their bodies like Perk (check. People who don't like looking at Scala but think AL has a good bod are deluding themselves. they are like twins separated at birth with one minor difference) Players that take a step backward which should never ever happen, but get a free pass like it's ok cause they have p word like Tyson Chandler (check) Players that take forever to heal (check)
Add it all up and you have a shorter but stronger version of Raef LaFrentz who doesn't get paid as much and has no 3 point shot.
And yet I think the guy can be a good player. He has talent, ability, and a lot of pword. But that's it.
The fact is he isn't a good player. Gomes is. he's not. That's right. Get over it. he is currently a bad NBA player.
Now that you know he is a bad player you have to ask yourself "Will he ever be good?" Nobody knows the answer. It's maybe 50/50. But then you have to ask yourself this. If he will get good how good will he get and can that win us a championship? The answer is probably not. Then you have to ask yourself if he will get good how long will it take.
If we sit here and wait as long as the Blazers waited for J O Neal and he only turns out 85% as good, then we won't have a shot at a championship until about 6 years till after he leaves.
Waiting for something to happen cripples teams
Heat - Miracle of D Wade and trade for Shaq as well as good FA signings and Pat Riley. Guess who isn't Riley. Doc isn't
Pistons - miracles of B Wallace, Billups FINALLY getting good for THEM, and Tay Prince, TRADE for Wallace
Cleveland - I'd love to have their future. Miracle of getting lebron
Spurs - Miracle of getting Duncan AND Parker.
if you want to sit around for an entire generation waiting for a miracle like Duncan or Lebron then I guess you aren't disappointed or frustrated with the Celts for being where they are cause they are exactly where they should be. Waiting for a miracle.
Or they can ante up and trade the way the Heat did and the Pistons. In hind sight looking at what the Heat did it was a no brainer and I am SURE there were idiots in Miami like "No. Don't trade Odom. he's young and has a lot of potential" Sure he did.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2006 15:36:02 GMT -5
Take a risk Ainge.
That's the only way we'll be back in the hunt. Unless, GG explodes into a McGrady type impact.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Jul 20, 2006 15:45:32 GMT -5
if you want to sit around for an entire generation waiting for a miracle like Duncan or Lebron then I guess you aren't disappointed or frustrated with the Celts for being where they are cause they are exactly where they should be. Waiting for a miracle. Or they can ante up and trade the way the Heat did and the Pistons. In hind sight looking at what the Heat did it was a no brainer and I am SURE there were idiots in Miami like "No. Don't trade Odom. he's young and has a lot of potential" Sure he did. Detroit was much closer to contending pre-wallace than we are right now. Do you think if we traded for a 30 year old wallace right now we'd be a contender? I dont. And if you want to talk about waiting for a miracle, you'll be waiting about 30years to get a trade for a hall-of-fame center like Shaq. The only other time this has happened is when the Bucks traded Kareem. You make it seem like there is some trade out there that will make us a contender. What is this trade? I'm sure Ainge would love to know.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2006 16:14:02 GMT -5
2-3 years of developing and dealing.
That's what I expect from this franchise. It's clear Ainge is gathering assets in order to get players who can make an impact on this team. At the same time, hoping atleast couple of the young kids turn out to be good players.
Secure starting positions
C - Perks PF ? SF - Wally SG - Pierce PG ?
Those other two positions need to be address within a year or two. You can say Wally will probably lose his job eventually with Green coming up behind him.
I'm predicting we'll see a PF who isn't currently on this team and at PG either Telfair or Rondo will win the job.
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