OT: Huge game from Al Jefferson

[kingly222]

Because this is the NBA, on any given night anybody can beat anyone else.

Ok, Ill accept that, but I just figured with so much history, KG would have wanted to lay a beat down on Al to let the young pup know who is the big dog. Similiar to how Hakeem did Shaq, or Jordan did any guard labeled the next MJ. For all the hype he gets I just expected more.

Since day one I felt like the twolves not only got more players and picks, but they got the best player in the deal. Think Vikings/Cowboys trade back in the day, except this time Minnesota got the best of the deal/

[nasbahceltic]

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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?

One game really doesn't tell the story IMO. If this was a seven game series and the Wolves kept it close then you might be able to make this argument, but one game is hardly indicative of how this trade worked out.

The truth of the matter is the team had to choose between Al and Paul and after we lost the lottery the decision to go with Paul was the easier choice.

Another thing you gotta keep in mind is that there wasn't bad blood between these teams (especially with Al) so it isn't like the team is going to come out extra motivated due to some underlying hatred for the opposing players.

[theGreatRC]

[quote="tombattor"][/quote]

Perk was hyped for the game too, not just KG.

[darrendaye]

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Since day one I felt like the twolves not only got more players and picks, but they got the best player in the deal. Think Vikings/Cowboys trade back in the day, except this time Minnesota got the best of the deal/

Problem with that logic is, Garnett is much more Eric Dickerson than Herschel Walker, and I'm a Cowboys fan who obviously looks fondly on Herschel and what the trade did for the franchise. When its all said and done, especially considering the gap in ages of the two principles, we may look back and say that Minny reaped the most (re: prolonged) benefit of the deal. But it's extremely difficult to make that case today.

If, similar to the Colts, the Celts are not catapulted into elite territory and, like the Rams, the Wolves at least return to where they stood with KG, then sure, this analogy holds water and could be considered a "win" for Minny with the prospects of being a Big Win, if the Celts suffer the fate descibed and the Wolves have more success than they did with KG. If the Celts win a ring (or more) and the Wolves plateau at the same level they did with KG, it's a push or favors the C's.

[tombattor]

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Ok, Ill accept that, but I just figured with so much history, KG would have wanted to lay a beat down on Al to let the young pup know who is the big dog. Similiar to how Hakeem did Shaq, or Jordan did any guard labeled the next MJ. For all the hype he gets I just expected more.

Dude, chill... Because KG was so hyped up to show Al up, he only took 5 shots from the field? By your logic, KG should have been demanding the ball against Big Al all night because it was clear that we could pretty much score inside on the T-Wolves at will because of Big Al's defensive deficiencies.

Come on. Big Al is a fantastic young player and has all star years ahead of him. However, to say that one game in middle of a season, where one team was obviously more fired up, is any indication of their future or anything is absurd.

[gocelticsgo]

My 2 cents...

I think both teams can come out on top in this deal. If the Celtics win a title with KG, then no matter what happens with T-Wolves, it was a great deal for the C's and a deal they should have made. OTOH, that doesn't mean the T-Wolves lost out on the deal. If Al continues his progress and become a solid building block and can bring the T-Wolves back into the playoff picture and respectability, it was a great deal for the T-Wolves too because they now have a younger bigman stud to build around for years to come. Do they need to win a title? Not necessarily because they weren't going to with KG anyways. Now they just have more time to build towards that title with Big Al still years away from his prime.

Without the trade, neither team had a direction and sort of treading along the lottery/playoff border. After the trade, both teams have optimistic future/present and clearly defined direction.

[wigglestrue]

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.

Had the Wolves won, I would have superstitiously taken it as a very bad omen, telling us that sure we might get to the Finals a few times and win a title or two with KG, but had we kept Big Al (and others) we could have been in the Finals in many of the next 10-12 years, winning 3+ titles. As it was, KG's steal turned it into the opposite kind of omen, a really good omen. I still think Big Al is going to be a perennial All-NBA big man, but (superstitiously) I was reassured by the way the Celtics pulled out the W that the KG trade was fated, and perfect.

[kmgarnett21]

nevermind...

[DarkAzcura]

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.

Yeah 90% of Celtic fans (me included) still have a mancrush on Jefferson.

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

Big Al had another monster game, 26 and 20 while throwing in 2 blocks for good measure during a beatdown of Chicago.

Gomes had a monster night too; 25 and 10.

[Rocky5000]

Big Al had another monster game, 26 and 20 while throwing in 2 blocks for good measure during a beatdown of Chicago.

Gomes had a monster night too; 25 and 10.

And Telfair flirted with a double double with 7 points and 10 dimes. The wolves won the game btw. I think that people in Minnesota really have no reason to complain about the trade. I still wish we had been able to hang on to Ryan as his salary wasn't necessary to make it work if I remember correctly. But KG is KG and there's no other player like him in the league, he's attracted so much attention to the Celtics and allowed us to get guys like Tom Thibodeau, Eddie House, James Posey, and almost brought Reggie Miller out of retirement.

I'd say the same thing about the Ray Allen trade. If you look at it in a vacuum, Wally, Delonte and Yi/other could have given us depth that we currently lack at pg and a backup bigman. But if we hadn't traded for Ray, we would have never ended up with KG. Reputation and experience in this league is worth an awful lot, especially to other players.

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

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And Telfair flirted with a triple double with 7 points and 10 dimes. The wolves won the game btw. I think that people in Minnesota really have no reason to complain about the trade. I still wish we had been able to hang on to Ryan as his salary wasn't necessary to make it work if I remember correctly. But KG is KG and there's no other player like him in the league, he's attracted so much attention to the Celtics and allowed us to get guys like Tom Thibodeau, Eddie House, James Posey, and almost brought Reggie Miller out of retirement.

I'd say the same thing about the Ray Allen trade. If you look at it in a vacuum, Wally, Delonte and Yi/other could have given us depth that we currently lack at pg and a backup bigman. But if we hadn't traded for Ray, we would have never ended up with KG. Reputation and experience in this league is worth an awful lot, especially to other players.

A) I think you mean double double.

B) Wolves easily got the best deal out there.

C) Just a side note, between the Jersey game and this one, Al went for 20-12 against Chicago (yesterday) and it was a DOWN GAME for him. How sick is that? Go for 20 and 12 and it hurts your season averages.

[Rocky5000]

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A) I think you mean double double.

Yeah, thanks I fixed it. Too much JKidd talk I think.

B) Wolves easily got the best deal out there.

It's really true, I don't even think the earlier deal proposed by the Bulls would have worked out better than what they got. The thing is that people will still act like McHale did Ainge a favor, without looking at the production of the players that Minnesota got back. I think the Wolves are starting to turn it around and will have a much more successful second half now that Foye is back.

C) Just a side note, between the Jersey game and this one, Al went for 20-12 against Chicago (yesterday) and it was a DOWN GAME for him. How sick is that? Go for 20 and 12 and it hurts your season averages.

Amazing isn't it. After his sophomore year and the ankle injuries, people were calling Jefferson a bust and trying to get rid of him. Now he's a top 5 rebounder in the entire league, and a 20+ a game scorer. The guy just turned 23 and is still working hard on improving his skills. Instead of taking a big contract and handcuffing the wolves, he took a contract that was way below what many expected. Not only did McHale get a great player, he got a humble unselfish player.

[UGA Hayes]

Ack, Al with 26 and 20 with a win over the Bulls. I'm starting to feel nauseous.

[tombattor]

Ack, Al with 26 and 20 with a win over the Bulls. I'm starting to feel nauseous.

Why? We have the best record in the league and on our way to a serious playoff run.

[wigglestrue]

I think I called this exact thread back in September or whatever. Too lazy to search, but...it was something like "As soon as Big Al has a monstrous 40/20-ish game a lot of people are going to start panace-ing."

[billfromBoston]

I think I called this exact thread back in September or whatever. Too lazy to search, but...it was something like "As soon as Big Al has a monstrous 40/20-ish game a lot of people are going to start panace-ing."

...as well they should...

People on this board need to trash those who are going out and laud those coming in...the reality is simple: The Celtics gave up a bright future for a chance to win in the short-term....

those who were disparaging against Al Jefferson were simply foolish...he's consistently gone for huge games all year and he's developing in every facet of the game as the season has rolled on...now the Wolves are actually competing and winning some games to boot, so the "he can't help them win" argument is starting to fade from reality...

No one should be upset with the trade if you understand that the Celtics are a better team now then they would have been keeping Al/Gomes/Telfair....Pierce and Allen needed something more immediate...but 2-3 years from now Jefferson will be THE MAN and the Celtics will be game planning on how to make the transition from KG to his successor...

I wouldn't worry too much though...KG is still good for another 5-7 seasons and that's a long time to plan for a replacement...i'd say the T-Wolves chances at a title in those same 5-7 years will be a probable as the Celtics winning one in the same time frame...

[DarkAzcura]

I'm not surprised Al is having these absolutely huge games. No one here probably is...I acutally love that he is doing as well as he could and should.

[3pt %]

I like Big Al as much as anyone, and love to see him destroying the L as we knew he would.

It is pointless to state emphatically which team has won the trade at this time because the two teams had compeltely different objectives.

Celtics: Win NOW.
Minni: Rebuild.

Both teams could end up winners, and as the Celtics have gone from 2nd worst team in the L to the best at the half way break, I dont think Celtic Nation is worried about a possible all star playing somewhere else now.

We will support Big Al, hope he makes the all star game next year and resigns as a Celtic a few years after that and takes Celtic Nation to Banners 21-24 (KG, PP and RA having taken care of banners 17-20).