Big Al off the bench?

[Dan's with the Wolves]

Al would be a nice #2 player next to a scoring wing. Off the bench is disrespectful.

Well, if you mean I don't respect his defense. Absolutely.

If you mean I don't respect his game for what it is. Not True. He is very good at what he does.

If you mean that it disrespectful to suggest that a 23/11 starter's (on a non-playoff team) best role on a championship team is as the sixth man. I respectfully disagree. I am glad Mchale, Ginobli, Lamar Odom, and Rasheed Wallace don't feel disrespected.

[revprodeji]

Mchale is the most relevant comparison there.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/mchale_stats.html

But he still had over 30 minutes a game those years he won the 6th man awards. Other than his first 3 and his last 2 he always played over 30 minutes a game. He was also a very, very good defender.

[C.lupus]

Well, there's no reason Al couldn't get 30+mpg off the bench. Just saying.

I know I sound like a broken record but a three-man rotation with Al-Darko (or Aldrich I suppose)-Favors would work very well. Al can start at PF and play part-time as backup C against the second unit's C. He'd be playing next to a quality defender at all times.

[Dan's with the Wolves]

I think Love would be a better PF off the bench than Al. He's better at role player stuff and he's cheaper. Whether you keep Al or Love, I think you want to have two other good defensive players in the frontcourt.
If you have Jefferson as the #2 guy, you at least need a good defensive center behind and hopefully with another threat on the perimeter it would take the pressure off him and he'd be more efficient. I wouldn't compare his role to Howard or KG. You obviously couldn't just have him switch situations with those guys.

Love's greatest asset is his rebounding. The problem with him is that he a liability on the defensive end and can't score around the basket. I would much rather have a third big that is a scorer that can take advantage of the opposition's second unit.

Al's best asset is that he can score on triple teams. The problem is he he spend so much energy going one on three that he needs to rest on defense and he stops ball movement in the offensive scheme. There thing aren't as much of a problem on the second unit where you can turn the keyes to the offense over to Al and get r dun. It would also conserve his energy to score 20 pts in 20 minute on second unit.

Of course this means you need to have two other bigs that can play very good defense and provide some scoring. Think Patrick Ewing, Dennis Rodman as Starters and Al Jefferson off the bench.

[Worm Guts]

Love's greatest asset is his rebounding. The problem with him is that he a liability on the defensive end and can't score around the basket. I would much rather have a third big that is a scorer that can take advantage of the oppositions second unit. .

Even if Love can't finish around the basket, he's a more efficient scorer than Jefferson. I think that gets overlooked far too often here. Love's also the better rebounder and has a jump shot to stretch defenses. Neither him or Al can play defense, so that's a draw. The big thing is the contract though.

Of course this means you need to have two other bigs that can play very good defense and provide some scoring. Think Patrick Ewing, Dennis Rodman as Starters and Al Jefferson off the bench.

That's going to require incredible drafting or a huge ass payroll. Even then I'd probably start Jefferson and bring Rodman off the bench.

[revprodeji]

I think love's "liability" to score around the basket is compensated by his superior ft/fg rate.

Just for the reference. Love vs Jefferson

Per 36--17.7 19

Efg----47.8 49.8

FT%---81.5 68

3pt-----33 0 (I only put it on because it changes the TS%)

TS%---54.9 52.4

Ft/FG------35 16

Astr-------13.3 9

RebR------21.5 16

PER-------20.6 18.9

Blk Inside%-----14 9

PF net Production per 48-----+4.9 3.3


Both are quality players, but I think all things considered, you keep Love.

[AQuintus]

Another one here:

Jefferson : 1.155 Points per Shot (1.185 last year and 1.19 the year before)

Love: 1.296 Points per Shot (1.305 as a rookie)

[Dan's with the Wolves]

In terms of the starting lineup, I would trade both. Off the bench, I would take Al's post offense vs Love's versatility.

[Krapinsky]

Why compare Al's stats from his rehab year? We tell everyone else that those stats aren't an accurate indicator of Al's future performance.

[AQuintus]

Per 36--22.7--21.3
Efg------.497---.500
FT%-----.738---.721
TS%-----.532----.535
FT/FG--.256---.272
PER-----23.1---22.7

For reference, those are Al's numbers for last year (before his big injury) and the year before.

[NewWolvesOrder]

lol at Al scoring 20 pts in 20 min coming off the bench. The OP needs to give it up. Al is a starter. If you don't like him starting on your team then trade him to a team that values him as a starter and get value in return.

[IAmTheTruth]

Al makes wayyyy too much money to be coming off the bench. sorry no, it doesn't work. you can't pay bench players 12 million per. trade Al or start him at PF.