OT: Huge game from Al Jefferson

[nasbahceltic]

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does the name Tim Duncan ring a bell?? if he was just going out there for stats like Al hed average the same if not more.

If Al got half the respect from the refs that Duncan has accumulated (and rightfully so) the man would be approaching Shaq like numbers in terms of points in the paint.

Don't get me wrong I think that this is defintely debatable its just my personal opinion that Al is the best one on one post scorer in the game today (not trying to get into another debate of his low post offense i.e. passing, I'm strictly referring to his ability to score on his man in the paint)

[greenbeans]

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If Al got half the respect from the refs that Duncan has accumulated (and rightfully so) the man would be approaching Shaq like numbers in terms of points in the paint.

Don't get me wrong I think that this is defintely debatable its just my personal opinion that Al is the best one on one post scorer in the game today (not trying to get into another debate of his low post offense i.e. passing, I'm strictly referring to his ability to score on his man in the paint)

so you honestly think Al is a better lowpost scorer?? wow. do you ever watch SA play??

[nasbahceltic]

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so you honestly think Al is a better lowpost scorer?? wow. do you ever watch SA play??

Hey man you're entitled to your opinion, but I'm not just saying this because I'm a Big Al fan. I've watched Duncan since he was at Wake and nearly gave up on watching basketball after the lottery debacle in 97'.

Duncan is a great low post scorer don't get me wrong, but considering that Al does basically all of his scoring in the paint and does it against guys who are about 2-3 inhes taller than him night in and night out I think i'd have to give him the edge in scoring ability in the low post. JMO

[greenbeans]

ok, so right now :
best lowpost PF: TD
best lowpost C(out of place even): Al

when Minny gets a legit big man (or a legit anything)then this argument will have more legs, as of right now though, its hard to tell since they put so much on Al up there.

[UGA Hayes]

I've felt for some time Al's lack of FT has been purely a respect thing. I mean almost every shot Al takes is a post move with some kind of shot fake incorporated into it. And he gets a good amt of o-boards.. How else is he going to create fouls?

[TheOGJabroni]

Yup. Another monster game by Big Al. Does the end of KG's contract coincide with Big Al's? Big Al would be a very nice replacement for KG in about 4 years. He'd be a full-grown monster by then.

While this would be great. I've heard a lot of talks about having former players just come back here once our Big 3 begins to fade, but why would these players that were just traded from our team really want to jump right back on and sign with us later? Especially someone like Big Al. The only I can really see that could help us is the friendship that Al and Perk had and that really could be a dynamic duo in the future, but that's it. It's clear Al wanted to stay here and we traded him away for a top player in the NBA, and rightfully so. But if I was Al Jefferson, I would feel used to get KG and hopefully a championship, so I'm not sure I'd be so willing to sign here.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Well, do you mean.....?

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Because the way things are going, McHale may not be around in 4 years. Despite things looking encouraging lately for the Pups.

Mchale/Hoiberg whoever

[tombattor]

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While this would be great. I've heard a lot of talks about having former players just come back here once our Big 3 begins to fade, but why would these players that were just traded from our team really want to jump right back on and sign with us later? Especially someone like Big Al. The only I can really see that could help us is the friendship that Al and Perk had and that really could be a dynamic duo in the future, but that's it. It's clear Al wanted to stay here and we traded him away for a top player in the NBA, and rightfully so. But if I was Al Jefferson, I would feel used to get KG and hopefully a championship, so I'm not sure I'd be so willing to sign here.

Who knows what he's thinking. I'm not expecting him to want to come back to Boston, take ex-hometown discount, or anything. I was just saying that it would be a nice transition from KG to Big Al if their contracts coincide.

[toecutter]

For years, no one has played the post the way Al Jefferson does. His skill set is exquisite in today's game and his BBIQ is well beyond that of Dwight Howard or Zach Randolph, with whom he's most often compared.

[theGreatRC]

I can understand why you guys wanted to keep him.

His game is really something beautiful to watch.

[DarkAzcura]

Al Jefferson had 29 PPG and 13 RPG this week. Wow.

Player of the Week for the Western Conference

Go Big Al!

[horaceworthy]

Nice to see all the Big Al love here. He's a unique player, and I can't wait to see what he does when he gets some more help. I really hope his Minny career isn't bungled as badly the last All-Star caliber PF we had here. Most Minny fans seem a tad perturbed at KG at the moment, but it'll blow over.

[tombattor]

For years, no one has played the post the way Al Jefferson does. His skill set is exquisite in today's game and his BBIQ is well beyond that of Dwight Howard or Zach Randolph, with whom he's most often compared.

I'm not saying I disagree, but I hate when people make blanket statements like this without actually having watched either D-Howard or Randolph consistently.

FYI, you need BBIQ to play D too. But of course, we don't count that.

[kingly222]

Does anyone find it strange that the Celtics traded 5 players and picks for one player, yet they struggle to beat those same 5 players? I would be worried if I were a celtics fan. If you think about the reasons behind the trade, that game should have been a blow out. Much props to the defensive gameplan. They did a great job of bringing the double from the middle to keep Al out of the paint. I wonder why more teams dont do that.

I wonder why such a 2nd option on a good team draws so much attention lol. Once Al's teams start winning there will be nothing left for the haters to hang their hats on.

[Worm Guts]

Does anyone find it strange that the Celtics are 34-8 and the Wolves are 8-35? The Celtics have no reason to be worried or remorseful about the KG trade.

[darrendaye]

Does anyone find it strange that the Celtics traded 5 players and picks for one player, yet they struggle to beat those same 5 players? I would be worried if I were a celtics fan. If you think about the reasons behind the trade, that game should have been a blow out. Much props to the defensive gameplan. They did a great job of bringing the double from the middle to keep Al out of the paint. I wonder why more teams dont do that.

I wonder why such a 2nd option on a good team draws so much attention lol. Once Al's teams start winning there will be nothing left for the haters to hang their hats on.

I'm the furthest thing from an Al hater, but a large part of the reason they almost lost to the T-Wolves was missed shots. Which happens time to time to even the best teams. Pierce made a commitment to drive that game, but had trouble finishing. Al's a first option, as I'm sure you'll agree. He's arrived to a large part and only modest improvements are needed to go from near all-star to perennial, or even superstar level, status. I still believe a large part of how far he goes defensively will come down to his commitment to remain at the center position and withstand the battering and fighting that's required on many nights.

[sam_I_am]

8-35 says more to me than 40/19. Can you imagine a 22 big man who truly is dominant unable to lead a team to a better record?

Dwight Howard at 18 right out of high school had more of an impact.

Al Jefferson's statistics are might excite fantasy basketball fans. But there is a reason they don't translate into wins. He cannot control a game. He cannot impose his will on the game. And he cannot control the paint defensively. That means he needs help down low. And big guys who control the paint are max salary guys.

It means if Minnesota intends to win anything..... they need to find another KG to pair with Big Al.

Of course, with Al as the main guy.... they will have plenty of chances of getting that player in the lottery.

[kingly222]

Does anyone find it strange that the Celtics are 34-8 and the Wolves are 8-35? The Celtics have no reason to be worried or remorseful about the KG trade.

Yup but Im sure Paul and that guy hitting game winners who didnt play for them last year may have something to do with that too. It is much nicer to be 34-8 than 8-35, but there is reason to be concerned.

Some please answer this question Why didnt they dominate a team full of guys that the organization felt was not as good as one player they got in return?

Why didnt KG lay the smack down on Al to show the fans that they got the right guy?

[Worm Guts]

Because this is the NBA, on any given night anybody can beat anyone else. I think their records indicate the gap between the two teams.

[tombattor]

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Yup but Im sure Paul and that guy hitting game winners who didnt play for them last year may have something to do with that too. It is much nicer to be 34-8 than 8-35, but there is reason to be concerned.

Some please answer this question Why didnt they dominate a team full of guys that the organization felt was not as good as one player they got in return?

Why didnt KG lay the smack down on Al to show the fans that they got the right guy?

Damn bro, you are spewing some hate here.

Why didn't the Celtics blow out the T-Wolves at home? The same reason the Spurs lost to Memphis and Sacremento. For the T-Wolves, this was their championship game. They were fired up. Celtics, except KG, has nothing to do with the T-Wolves, so just took them as some crummy team they can walk all over.

You know, these are human beings, so things like emotion come into play. Not quite like your Xbox where if you own the game and use the highest rated team, you can beat your friend who's playing the game for the first time, every time.

Some nights their shots fall and some nights, they don't. That's why they play 82 games and not just cherry pick the best or the worst one and expand it into 82 games.