Can He Bounce Back? Richard Jefferson

[SeabassP]

Richard Jefferson had one of the worst years of his career last year. Was it a fluke? Or was it a sign of something more?

http://nbaplaybook.com/2010/07/22/can-h ... jefferson/

[SApuro_]

He should feel more comfortable in our system and have a solid second year in Silver and Black.

He won't have the pressure that he did last year. I expect good things from him this yr. Maybe 14 pt and 4 or 5 rebs per game.

Main thing is to improve on his defensive rotations.

[Nolan]

He better bounce back after that contract we gave him.

[co_laper]

Depends on what you mean by bounce back. To his former 20 PPG scorer? No way. He's not going to score 20 like he did in NJ because we're a slow tempo team. And he's not going to score 20 like in Milwaukee because he's not the 1st, but the 4th option on this team.

He averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds a game last year right? I'm pretty sure it won't be less than what he averaged last year, but I'm not expecting a huge spike in numbers. Perhaps something more like 15 points, 5 rebounds, in 32 minutes. That's good enough for me considering he's not making 15 million anymore.

[ballhawk1]

Last season Richard Jefferson seemed unfit in San Antonio's system...maybe it was because he was new or maybe it's not his playing style.

If Richard Jefferson was playing on a team with a pass-first point guard he would go back to putting big numbers in no time..

[co_laper]

Honestly.. I think this relationship is doomed.

Lets look a little closer for a second.

Teams don't need four scorers. Looking at teams such as Boston, their scorers are Pierce, KG, and Ray. their 4th star is a guy who doesn't need to score to be effective. We have our big 3. I think that 4th star has to be someone who is a star on defense... not another scorer like RJ. Small Forwards who fit that profile to me are guys like Shawn Marion or Andrei Kirilenko or Tayshawn Prince. Richard Jefferson or the guy we almost got (Vince) did not fit that profile at all.

We always talk about how we want to run more.. but we don't. We might improve from the league's slowest to like the 22nd slowest, but that's still slow nonetheless. Jefferson is a guy who flourish in an uptempo system and in fast breaks. That's not what we are.

Jefferson is a slasher who attacks the basket. That's already what our best PG and SG do. Another slasher isn't what we need.

So looking back on RJ's first season, was it a surprise? Not anymore.. Knowing what we know now, I'm surprised if it's any other way around.

RJ got 12 points a game last year and that was with a somewhat hobbled Tony Parker not scoring as much as he used to, meaning RJ got some of the available shots. Now that we're expecting Tony at his usual self, Manu at his usual magnificent self, and improvements from our other guys like Hill and Blair, and even the added scoring ability of our new rookie James Anderson, will it be a surprise if Jefferson ends up averaging what he averaged last season? 12 and 4? It's not really out of the question.

RJ is too low on the scoring option list (fourth) to really have a big impact offensively. And really, when RJ's not scoring, he doesn't provide us much.

[realfung]

He needs to fit in the system and Pop's teaching.

[BFrizzy]

I think if we focus on what stats he ends up with this year we will all be disappointed no matter what. If he can fit into the team and not look out of place in the system, play good team defence, and knock down good looks then Spurs fans should be happy.

Im predicting numbers something like 14-5 from him this season, but looking a much better part of the team with Manu and TP healthy (FINGERS CROSSED!).

[So Gutta]

Can we all just admit that a prime MVP Jason Kidd pretty much made Richard Jefferson who he is today?

[Donald Kaufman]

Well, what he is today is an overpaid underperforming waste of space. If you want to give Kidd credit for that, go right ahead.

[Nolan]

Can we all just admit that a prime MVP Jason Kidd pretty much made Richard Jefferson who he is today?

I'll admit it, although i've know that for a while.

[JR_SMITH_5]

Bounce back..from this? Unlikely

http://mto.mediatakeout.com/42948/chill ... mage=47016

[Nolan]

Bounce back..from this? Unlikely

http://mto.mediatakeout.com/42948/chill ... mage=47016

From going on vacation?

[JR_SMITH_5]

Bounce back..from this? Unlikely

http://mto.mediatakeout.com/42948/chill ... mage=47016

From going on vacation?

Yeah...a "GAY"away vacation.

[Nolan]

Bounce back..from this? Unlikely

http://mto.mediatakeout.com/42948/chill ... mage=47016

From going on vacation?

Yeah...a "GAY"away vacation.

So what if RJ is gay who the **** really cares anyway. Its his life to live.

[Frankie23]

What Spurs need of Jefferson in terms of offense is that he score big when a big 3 is having a bad night. That was what George Hill did against Dallas and in the end of the regular season.

I think he started playing better off the bench with Manu..We all know Manu is a better playmaker than Parker. (less selfish than the french guy)

In terms of defense, Jefferson needs to step up, as all Spurs team too. Better individual and team defense. To catch more rebounds is a must for RJ.

anyways, we shouldn't forget that Spurs 1st half of regular season was terrible, so if we can make the team work from the beginning that will be great. We have a better roster this year (and health till now)

[Bucksfans1and2]

I don't mean to troll guys but I think the Richard Jefferson you saw last year is the Richard Jefferson of today. He was pretty bad for the Bucks and the Nets fans weren't all that upset about trading him for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons of all people.

[Donald Kaufman]

Sad but true. And we're stuck with the gimp.

[AussieBuck]

He pulled the same turning up fat stunt on the Bucks. He'd still be OK if he stayed in shape IMO.

[co_laper]

Hm... I don't recall RJ's problem last season to be his weight. Sure, maybe he could be more athletic, but guys at 30 years old aren't generally more athletic than when he was 22.