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[quote]So much potential. So close to finally realizing it. For all intents and purposes, that should just about sum up Al Jefferson’s relatively brief stint in the League thus far.

Things, however, figure to be different moving forward.

The six-year veteran appears poised to tap into his seemingly untapped inner NBA All-Star this season and transform himself from a player who’s been labeled as someone with tremendoAl Jeffersonus upside into one of those cats that needs be reckoned with on a nightly basis.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

The future, however, has never looked so promising. Think about it, Jefferson won’t be wasting away in basketball exile with the Timberwolves in Minnesota. An offseason move to Utah assured that much, and could be the fresh start he so desperately needed.

All that’s left is for him to prove his true worth.

It’s not as if Jefferson hasn’t showed glimpses of a well-rounded game in the past, on both ends of the court, mind you. He spent his first three years in Boston, the final of which was an eye-opener for everyone. He took advantage of extended minutes with Celtics, and as a result, finished with averages of 16 points and 11 rebounds a game.


http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/sl ... son-no-25/

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Good article, but I'm starting to wonder if we are overrating Al Jeff just a but right now.

Dont get me wrong, nobody was happier with the trade than I was. Especially since I was in the camp that said we needed to let Boozer go and reload.

That being said. it seems everyone and their dog is high on Al-Jeffy and is saying our trade is comparable to the Lakers stealing Gasol. While I do think the trade is extremely lopsided for us, I need to see Al be a 25/10 guy before I think he is one. I mean, 25/10 is Mailman caliber, and as we all know, there are only a handful of guys like that in history.

I really, really, really hope Al progresses from the dump down center to the pick and roll monster the Jazz need him to be. He may be the best offensive center we've ever had (low post wise, Okur is pretty good from range) but his Minny way of scoring would slow our offense and our cuts/passes down.

I really hope this hype is warranted and we do get that #2 seed so many of you think we will get. I still say it might take a while for this thing to work out, and I could see us ending up as a 6th seed due to strong competition if we dont get off to a fast start.

I dont want to call Al "overrated", but I am wary we are overyhping him a bit much now. Any one else feel this way? hope I am wrong....

DWill_daShizzle wrote:Good article, but I'm starting to wonder if we are overrating Al Jeff just a but right now.

Dont get me wrong, nobody was happier with the trade than I was. Especially since I was in the camp that said we needed to let Boozer go and reload.

That being said. it seems everyone and their dog is high on Al-Jeffy and is saying our trade is comparable to the Lakers stealing Gasol. While I do think the trade is extremely lopsided for us, I need to see Al be a 25/10 guy before I think he is one. I mean, 25/10 is Mailman caliber, and as we all know, there are only a handful of guys like that in history.

I really, really, really hope Al progresses from the dump down center to the pick and roll monster the Jazz need him to be. He may be the best offensive center we've ever had (low post wise, Okur is pretty good from range) but his Minny way of scoring would slow our offense and our cuts/passes down.

I really hope this hype is warranted and we do get that #2 seed so many of you think we will get. I still say it might take a while for this thing to work out, and I could see us ending up as a 6th seed due to strong competition if we dont get off to a fast start.

I dont want to call Al "overrated", but I am wary we are overyhping him a bit much now. Any one else feel this way? hope I am wrong....

I call an apple an apple and an orange an orange.

I don't expect D-Will to come out an average 24-16 cause that's not in his ability.

Since Al was my second favorite player besides Deron in the leauge before he came here I only predict what I know he can produce. There's a lot of skill packed in that body. And it seems like he's willing to put in the work.

Two quotes he said over the past three days make me completely confident in him.

It's kind of like it's going to have to improve. ... I know defense is one of the biggest keys here for winning a championship. So, when you've got guys like my teammates who know how to win and know what it takes to win, I'm not going to be the sore toe sticking out on the defensive end. I'm going to do what it takes. Defense has always been something I have to improve in. And one thing I know about Coach Sloan: He motivates you. He'll make you run through a wall for [him]. And I just think all that's going to bring up my game, my defensive game, all together. Coach Sloan, he's the type of guy that if I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, he's going to let me know. And that's what I need, and that's what's going to make me that great defensive player. Because one thing about defense: It's a mind thing. It's all mental. So, you've just got to do it, man. If your guy get beat, you've got to be there to help him. And I've got to trust that my guy is going to help me. It's a system. And that's just what it's going to take; there's just no excuses.

One thing that I've got to do this year that I didn't do last year is pass the ball a lot more. Because last year I didn't have to do it.

He has the talent to be able to be that good. I think the trip writer summed it up the best.

Al Jeff could be just another 20-10 guy like Boozer. Or he could push himself to his potential, complete his came and push 25 ppg with 10+ rebs

Those quotes are awesome and if he does improve both of those things, he'll be amazing, but I am still a bit skeptical

I always said this the only two things I look for in a very talented young player

1. To acknowledge your weaknesses

2. Put in the time and effort to try and get better

Purch wrote:I always said this the only two things I look for in a very talented young player

1. To acknowledge your weaknesses

2. Put in the time and effort to try and get better

These are of course important, but I too think a lot of people are talking about Al and this improvement as though he has already done it.

This is going to be a big change --and a big test-- for Big Al. I'm glad he's here but I'm not going to hope for the moon until I see how he adjusts.

loserX wrote:

Purch wrote:I always said this the only two things I look for in a very talented young player

1. To acknowledge your weaknesses

2. Put in the time and effort to try and get better

These are of course important, but I too think a lot of people are talking about Al and this improvement as though he has already done it.

This is going to be a big change --and a big test-- for Big Al. I'm glad he's here but I'm not going to hope for the moon until I see how he adjusts.

I agree. I am optimistic, but talk is just that talk. Let me see you play defense and pass the ball. Then I'll gush about Jefferson.