Fried Chicken and Bonghits: The Al Jefferson Thread 2.0

[yosemiteben]

I still think Al was by far the most dependable offensive weapon on last year's team, so I don't fault him as much as others for Cliff over relying on him.

I do agree that we are at a crossroads and have embraced an identity in our perimeter shooting and ball movement that will help us to be much more successful, and the jury is out on whether Al can fit in with that identity. I also agree that Cliff needs to show some flexibility with how Al is used. I just don't think we can point to our last two seasons to support the argument that he won't rely on better offensive options when really we didn't have better offensive options on the roster.

Time will tell.

I would like to see Al get about 28 MPG and wouldn't mind having him be the first sub out, then get plugged in early in the second quarter to get some run with the second unit. I'm not opposed to him coming off the bench, but I'm also not convinced that would be good thing for our team. I am positive though that he doesn't play well with Cody and I think the sooner that Frank can get plugged into the starting lineup, the better.

[HornetJail]

You newcomers dont understand how clueless Clifford is...

Early results suggest that maybe he's not so clueless.

You're absolutely right, but it's preseason. I'll believe it when I see it in the regular season. I'll say that I'm hopeful that Clifford has learned that Al shouldn't be the #1 guy in this offense, but it's pretty evident that Al has been coasting through the preseason. It's entirely possible that Al just gets the ball 800 times a game in the post just like he has the last two years, but at least this year we have enough spacing so that may actually not be the worst offense in the NBA.

This season's roster is built around the 4-out, 1-in offensive mentality that got the 2009 Orlando Magic to the Finals. There's no doubt that Al is important to our offense this year (unlike last season). I'm mainly worried about defense, since instead of Dwight Howard and Marcin Gortat holding down the center position, we have two of the worst defensive bigs in the league.

Last season, when Al sucked, we had the option of benching him for an elite rim protector/rebounder who could actually set screens. This season our backup center is a poor man's Josh McRoberts that defends like Jefferson. I don't think we gain anything by benching Al Jefferson.

[Braggins]

I would prefer Al come off the bench, but i agree that until Frank is ready to start that it probably cant happen. Although, a lineup of Kemba, Lamb, Batum, Marv, Cody, is intriguing.

It does seem Clifford has at least learned that we cant ride Al and Im satisfied with where our offense is heading.

My main concern is with what Clifford does when Al is getting torched on defense. He may be in much better shape, but he is still extremely slow and still an awful defender. Weve seen what happens when teams start to focus more and more on targeting Als D as games progress and how it can snowball out of control. The question for me is whether Cliff will be willing to yank him for potentially long stretches when it needs to be done instead of just standing there dumbfounded as teams score at will with pick and rolls. I still think Clifford overvalues Al and i still havent seen anything to make me believe Clifford is interested in deviating at all from his preset rotation strategy, let alone that he would be interested in deviating from it to bench Al.

[MasterIchiro]

It does seem Clifford has at least learned that we cant ride Al and Im satisfied with where our offense is heading.

This is a must see clip for you. Al basically says it's not all about him posting up. He said that Clifford is asking him to do things he's not used to doing, namely to set up teammates with screens and pass more frequently. It's really a relief for me to hear al making these adjustments and not playing selfish. There is no way Clifford let's him take over. Alfense is dead and Al is a willing participant in the new scheme. It's a great interview and makes me much softer toward him. He did lose weight as well. He's a good teammate thus far and a huge positive for this club.

Hornets Postgame | Al Jefferson - 11/3/15 http://www.nba.com/hornets/video/teams/hornets/2015/11/04/1446609600405-151103-Al.mov-94632 via @hornets

[Braggins]

It does seem Clifford has at least learned that we cant ride Al and Im satisfied with where our offense is heading.

This is a must see clip for you. Al basically says it's not all about him posting up. He said that Clifford is asking him to do things he's not used to doing, namely to set up teammates with screens and passing more frequently. It's really a relief for me to hear al making these adjustments and not playing selfish. There is no way Clifford let's him take over. Alfense is dead and all is a willing participant in the new scheme. It's a great interview and makes me much softer toward him. He did lose weight as well. He's a good teammate thus far and a huge positive for this club.

Hornets Postgame | Al Jefferson - 11/3/15 http://www.nba.com/hornets/video/teams/hornets/2015/11/04/1446609600405-151103-Al.mov-94632 via @hornets

I agree with everything except him being a "huge" positive. He hasn't really hurt us outside of our first two games and I really did like the way he played at Chicago. He had a couple really nice passes. He may end up being an effective player for us this season but I'd still much rather have someone who could defend. The Bulls are one of the few good teams (allegedly) that isn't really equipped to take advantage of Al's crappy defense. His defense is still going to get exploited a lot by good teams, especially late in games. It won't be much of an issue if Clifford will bench him when it happens. But yeah, I definitely like the adjustments he is making to his game. I was pretty depressed about our season after that brief return of Alfense in our first game.

[MasterIchiro]

Fair enough, I still think Alfense is dead. Clifford knows it's not a winning formula. I still hope we get Horford. I'd let Batum walk in order to get him. I don't like him as a SG anyway but that's for another thread. Alfense is dead.

[Braggins]

Alfense definitely seems dead. Hopefully playing in this new system will show Al how he can make us more deadly using passing and playing off the threat of his post game than actually just constantly posting up like hes done his whole career, then we might be onto something.

I want Al Horford so bad lol. I want us to resign Batum as well, but mostly just because we gave up Vonleh for him. If we found an equally good wing to replace him with in free agency then I wouldn't care at all if he bolted.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I don't think that Alfense is dead, it's just that it's an option now, not something the team has to depend on every game.

This was actually one of my biggest issues from the Chicago game. There was a period of time in the game where Kemba was gunning and Al was just about the only guy it seemed like he would pass to.

[Dancingpanda]

Great win. Al, Marv and Kemba carried us this game. It was nice to see the defense pick up in the second half, and even more nice to see Lamb have another solid game. I really like his assertiveness and confidence, I think he and our team are a perfect match for what each needed.

For the folks complaining about game management and the odd subs in the 2nd quarter, most were driven by foul trouble. The Roberts sub for Cody was interesting, it pushed Lin off the ball and was Roberts first meaningful minutes of the season. I was surprised by it and was hoping Frank would have subbed in for Cody, but given his preseason play I thought Roberts earned a shot and it was interesting to see Hawes and Marv together, we haven't seen that much. I honestly thought folks would be happy to see Cliff tinker with lineups and rotations (isn't the narrative critique around here that he's too fixed on his rotations?).

On an unrelated note, I present this without comment:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fd52wjZFJ0[/youtube]

Would love to hear about this instead of how Lamb needs more minutes in another blowout but I just post here

(put my comment here because felt more fitting)


Im actually glad to see this video. Looks like Cliff isn't affraid of holding Al acountable on D. Was it the Miami game where Cliff sat AL down for the half after we gave up a bunch in the paint?

Al's D isnt terrable when he actually puts in the effort and tries (see that bulls game). its the standing around watching them drive in that annoys me and assumeing it also annoys Cliff. And our intirior D is one area we cant afford to mess up or relax.

[sidestep]

If Cliff is going to make an example of someone about defense, who else would he do it to if not Al? Cliff isn't going to publicly chew out a nobody player (some coaches do that but doesn't seem like Cliff is that type), and he and Al are on good terms so it won't cause lingering issues.
Cliff communicated what he wanted, and the players did not, and will not, tune him out, so it's all good.

[Eoghan]

I think Clifford should STFU and yell at his players when their play is actually detrimental to the game.

Yes, you just read a pro-Al Jefferson statement from BrotherDave.

[fatlever]

I think Clifford should STFU and yell at his players when their play is actually detrimental to the game.

Yes, you just read a pro-Al Jefferson statement from BrotherDave.

I think someone hacked BDs account.

Has there been any more talk about why Cliff was so mad? I didn't really catch when the yelling happened during the game.

[Eoghan]

buckets from HP seems to think it might have been this play:



Even Batum is like "Dude, the right play is to pass to Kemba" but Al is bound and determined to shoot over 5 Mavs.

[fatlever]

LOL, yes, I remember that play. It was an awful shot considering how open Kemba and Batum were. But when Al is rolling, he don't care. That shot is going up.

[Eoghan]

Clifford: Al! You got to pass out of the quadruple team!

Al: Frig off, coach. I gave up fried chicken for this!

[Braggins]

Hopefully Al doesn't start rolling and think he no longer has to pass or play defense since hes scoring well.

[DY_nasty]

buckets from HP seems to think it might have been this play:



Even Batum is like "Dude, the right play is to pass to Kemba" but Al is bound and determined to shoot over 5 Mavs.

Makes sense.

If Al was gonna get ate up for his defense, it would've happened already.

We got guys trying to gel and learn a new offense and he's taking amazingly selfish shots. Contract year, fuego, whatever - I'm glad Cliff called him out.

[ChokeFasncists]

Al-pha

'nuff said.

[TinmanZBoy]

J Oakfor looks like Al's long lost son

[fatlever]

James Plowright ‏@JPlowright_NBA 5m5 minutes ago

Al Jefferson has now lost 33lb after the pre season and training camp, lost another 7/8lb since media day