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I already know he's a beast on offense. His defensive stats are good, but do they reflect his presence on defense? I was thinking if my team could either trade for him next season or offer a contract in the '13 offseason. I hear mixed things about his defense. I rarely get to watch Jazz games and when I do it's only for a few minutes, or a quarter at the most. What can he do on the defensive end?

I'd say his post defense is average. His help D is bad, he's slow to rotate and doesn't get in position to take charges all that well.

Sometimes he'll play hard and block shots, other times he'll just let them go by for a layup. Energy on defense is sorely lacking a lot of the time... though he was alot better last year and early this year. Its kinda trailed off.. maybe he's gassed, maybe he's lost optimism or something. Also disappointed in his rebounding energy too.

Al is poor at boxing out and terrible at rotating. He's a competent post defender, though.

He needs work

dannyt0 wrote:I already know he's a beast on offense.

Before we get to his defense, you'll find a number of people who will challenge this assertion. He can usually dominate poor defenses, but he can completely ruin a team's offense when faced with a good defense, because he really struggles to adapt to what that defense throws at him.

He'll shoot over double- and triple-teams and does a poor job getting to the free throw line despite an impressive array of up-fakes that routinely get defenders in the air. He's not known for his passing, though he's gotten better at it this year. He still rarely looks to pass unless he has absolutely no other option.

In short: he gets you 19 points on 17 shots a game and not much else.

Disclaimer: I might be the most critical person on this board when it comes to Al.

Offense is a thing of beauty-- defense is abysmal. If he's on your favorite team, you'll go back and forth from loving him and hating him every day of the week.

Soul Patch wrote:I'd say his post defense is average. His help D is bad, he's slow to rotate and doesn't get in position to take charges all that well.

This, and if he gives up position he's going to foul. When he boxes out he is a dominant rebounder, but usually he doesn't and it really hurts us when Millsap is on the floor because he just doesn't have the size to make up for it.

MacheteConfetti wrote:Offense is a thing of beauty-- defense is abysmal. If he's on your favorite team, you'll go back and forth from loving him and hating him every day of the week.

His offense is over-rated as he is an inefficient scorer and bad passer. He isnt Boozer level but his defense is bad. With that said, I think we have seen growth in his game this year. He is passing the ball better, blocking some shots, and wants to win and be a team guy. I think getting no college coaching and not having a mentor in the NBA has hurt his game. He even said recently that he just learned alot this year about the game. He is still young but fundamentally he is behind our rookies which is hard to believe.

Jefferson is learning that winning surely beats losing and makes going to work alot more fun. He would be an awesome back up C/PF that kills second unit guys. Unfortunately, Corbin is not smart or Brave enough to do that change in the lineup that would help the Jazz win.

Terrible, arguably the worst in the NBA. If your perimeter players get beat off the dribble, expect no further resistance if Al is guarding the rim.

Wow! THis was unexpected. So he is like Amar'e SToudamire on defense, and rebounding? His offense is severely overrated? I was thinking if he were to be next to a solid defensive and rebounding center, he'd play a lot better. So his numbers are empty stats? He cant be a 3rd option for a team making a deep playoff push?

Actually I think he'd be a lot better as a 2nd or 3rd option. He will single handedly win you games with his offense, but when he's off, as a #1 option, he will lose games for you. I think he'd be great surrounded with shooters and at least 1 elite wing player.

dannyt0 wrote:Wow! THis was unexpected. So he is like Amar'e SToudamire on defense, and rebounding? His offense is severely overrated? I was thinking if he were to be next to a solid defensive and rebounding center, he'd play a lot better. So his numbers are empty stats? He cant be a 3rd option for a team making a deep playoff push?

Depending on who is your power forward, he is a good enough defender. Next to Favors, he does a fine job - putting him in with an undersized power forward who can't really protect the rim is just asking for trouble. He's much better than A'mare or Boozer on defense but will never be mistaken for Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett. His offensive game is simply stunning when it's on - which is about 70% of the time. The other 30%? You really need another offensive option. Surround him with some shooters and another guy who can act as a primary option and you have yourself a nice playoff core. Off the top of my head, Oklahoma City would be a good fit - even without Westbrook - and so would Denver. Someone like Serge Ibaka/JaVale McGee would be a perfect fit next to him in the post.

babyjax13 wrote:He's much better than A'mare or Boozer on defense but will never be mistaken for Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett.

I don't think he's "much better" than Boozer on defense. In fact I think you can make an argument that Boozer is a better defensive player than Al. It's perhaps a strange thing to say, but Boozer has had a better defensive rating than Al virtually every season he's been in the league, including his years in Utah where he was playing along side "defensive stalwart" Mehmet Okur.

And if you factor defensive rebounding into your evaluation of his defense (and I think you should) then Boozer's case becomes stronger.

Al has some length on defense. His standing reach isn't bad, and it helps him contest and block some shots, and take care of some defensive rebounds. He's average otherwise.

HappyProle wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:He's much better than A'mare or Boozer on defense but will never be mistaken for Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett.

I don't think he's "much better" than Boozer on defense. In fact I think you can make an argument that Boozer is a better defensive player than Al. It's perhaps a strange thing to say, but Boozer has had a better defensive rating than Al virtually every season he's been in the league, including his years in Utah where he was playing along side "defensive stalwart" Mehmet Okur.

And if you factor defensive rebounding into your evaluation of his defense (and I think you should) then Boozer's case becomes stronger.

They both have similar weaknesses, Boozer didn't box out either - he just shoved them out of his way. I wish Al would at least try to do even that sometimes.