Boozer's Skill Set vs. Jefferson's

[The59Sound]

So, I don't want to do a ten-paragraph post on my phone here, but to start us off.

BOOZER:

Monster rebounder, because he's excellent at getting position and is very wily (i.e. knows when and how to shove guys in the back and get away with it). He also has great timing on his jumps.

Strong pick-and-roll player. Slips the pick well, pops out for the jumper well, and of course rolls to the hoop well.

Good at facing up down low.

Good finisher at the rim with both hands.

Great jump-shot from about 18-19 feet.

JEFFERSON:

Monster rebounder for some of the same reasons, but also because he has a nasty streak and goes after it, in a way that's somewhat similar to Millsap.

Amazing power game down low. Booz is all finesse down low and has a tendency to fade. Al has amazing footwork and isn't afraid to pound his way to the rim.

Decent jumper from 10-12 feet, but is blown away by Boozer on this point.

I can't speak to his pick-and-roll game, because I've seen very little of it.

The best either man has ever been in their careers on defense is average.

What do you all think?

[Jazzfan12]

Jefferson: Amazing low-post scorer, quality rebounder, bad passer and defender
Boozer: Average low-post scorer, great midrange jump shooter, great rebounder, good passer, bad defender.


Boozer was better last year. If Sloan teaches Jefferson how to pass, Jefferson will be better this year.

[babyjax13]

Jefferson can have a bit of finesse to his game as well when necessary. I love to watch him play because he gives everything he can - but he needs to be a smarter defender.

[Neon Black]

From Locked on Jazz:

Last year, Jefferson lost all of his 5 to 15 foot jumper game. He was effective at the time but once he stepped outside 5 feet he shot just under 40%. In the 08-09 season he was about 44% on those shots as he was in the 07-08 season. The Jazz are hoping this is explained by the transition out of the post centric offense of McHale into the Triangle of Rambis.

You have to think that in a better system and with all the work he's putting in this summer that His jumper isn't going to be that bad, so it's tough to write it off as a weakness. 44% isn't bad at all, and with a PG/PF centric offense and an all-star point guard getting him the ball it should at least be that good next year.

Not to mention that Hakeem Olajuwan is reportedly working with him on defense.

I really think Al will end up being a better player than Boozer, barring injuries.

[jazzfan1971]

Low post scoring
Boozer 7 - Jefferson 10 -- Boozer was a decent low post scorer, but, he did very little damage from isolation. Jefferson on the other hand is a top 5 player in the league at low post iso scoring.

Shooting
Boozer 8 - Jefferson 5 -- Boozer had a terrific jumper for his size. From 18 feet in he is money. Jefferson can make a jumper, but, he is not consistant.

Defense
Boozer 5 - Jefferson 7 -- Boozer was an average defender last season. Probably the best defensive play of his career. Jefferson has additional size and length to defend the position allowing him to play stronger man defense and his shotblocking is a huge plus. Huge plus. I think it'll be immediately obvious how much better he is than Boozer in a couple months.

Passing
Boozer 7 - Jefferson 3 -- Boozer is a good passer for his position. Willing and able to make the correct pass. Jefferson on the other hand seems more focused on scoring the ball.

Intangables
Boozer 3 - Jefferson 7 -- Boozer has a bit of a mercenary attitude. He'll rarely sacrifice himself for the good of the team, whether it be diving on the floor for a loose ball or playing through an injury. Jefferson on the other hand is a guy with a lot of heart and drive to win at all costs.

Difference making
Boozer 5 - Jefferson 7 -- Boozer makes his presense felt mostly on rebounding where he is terrific. His scoring rarely forces the other team to double, make adjustments, or foul. Jefferson on the other hand is a guy who forces double teams or adjustments. He could use some work on drawing fouls though.

Overall ranking
Boozer 7 - Jefferson 8 -- Jefferson's better defense, intangables, and mostly his tremendous ability to score in the low post give him the edge. Would be ranked even higher due to age and contract, but, that is offset by serious injury history.

[Yung D-Will]

Al Jefferson also has an ability Boozer didn't have. He can take over games.

[carrottop12]

I wouldn't say that Boozer never took over games, because he had some huge games where he single handedly won them for us, but Jefferson does have that mentality, and that go to scoring ability where nobody can get in his way.

I think the Jazz have to be hoping they can get him back to this kind of shape and this kind of athleticism while he is here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd5Ms89b2bc[/youtube]

Probably the best footwork in the game right now. I am going to love watching him operate in isolation with his back to the basket. Pump fake looks sick also.

[Yung D-Will]

Best post moves in the Nba. Just a bit better in the post then Gasol
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcT7JTmPPrk[/youtube]

[jazzfan1971]

Some nice footwork and hands shown in teh gametime vid. Also some PNR ability.

Nice.

[finnegan]

I'm not on the Al Jefferson boat like everyone else yet. I think that the Jazz should have kept Boozer.

That being said, the only reason that I havn't been ranting about it, is that last game of the regular season. If Boozer was well enough to play the first game of the playoffs, and all of the other playoff games thereafter, then he should have been well enough to play in the Phoenix game, when so much was on the line.

So what is the principal difference between Boozer and Al Jefferson???

Hopefully toughness!!!

Number two is that Jefferson is a servicable center.

[Yung D-Will]

Well the fact Jefferson was my fav player besides Deron before he even came to the Jazz makes me biased

[Matt007b]

memoismoney put up a video of what Al Jefferson did against us, check it out..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeGYksS5bcY[/youtube]


Not sure who did this but off topic this is FLASH GORDON!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laBPh2gncgY[/youtube]

[idajazz]

The one BIG thing I want to see is how well he plays on a good team?
Will playing with one of the top 3 point guards on a perennial playoff team make a difference?

I can only imagine what playing on a crappy team year after year would be like.

[Colby]

Gosh his little hook shot is just FILTHY, all the way out to like 10-12 feet even.

[BrooklynBulls]

I am shocked, SHOCKED, that people think Al Jefferson is a tougher defender than Boozer. Or than anybody. He might yet become it, but to date, he's a listless and uninterested defender. At best, he's undisciplined and unmotivated because it plainly did not matter much. At worst, he's athletically limited, and mentally weak.

Heck of an isolation scorer, and an excellent rebounder. Good P&R player because of excellent hands. He brings no other good qualities, but his good qualities are very, very good.

[The59Sound]

The kid is ANYTHING but mentally weak.

[Bruteque]

The kid is ANYTHING but mentally weak.

It depends on what he means by mentally weak. I don't think you can rightly doubt Jefferson's effort and toughness, but his mental awareness is just...bad (to put it kindly). Watching him play defense, you start to think that there is a 1.5 sec delay between his eyes seeing the ball moving and his brain receiving the information that the ball has moved. Jefferson is like the anti-Millsap.