Chris Broussard on why Big Al doesn't get Big recognition

Post #1 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:05 am

A little interview off of Timberwolves.com

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Na ... -1193.html

JB: Ok Chris, let's move to Minnesota here where I cover the Timberwolves on a nightly basis. Obviously the team is going through some struggles right now, but Al Jefferson has been consistent all year scoring 20 points, 10 boards, he really does it in a variety of ways in the post. What are the national thoughts about Al Jefferson? Is he considered one of the top forward/centers in the league?

CB: Well, people like him. He shoots a nice percentage from the floor, like you said he has a plethora of moves down there in the low block. He doesn't defend. Everybody knows he doesn't defend. Offensively he's a very good player, and he can rebound, but until you can win some games, you're not going to get the recognition that you may deserve. He's not going to get All-Star consideration with a team that's 4-20. For him to really go to that next level where people begin to think of him as a star, he's going to have to win some games. Obviously it's not all on Al, but you gotta win more than four. KG was still an All-Star when he didn't take Minnesota to the playoffs, but they were at least in the hunt or close to the hunt for most of those three years they were out. Al's going to have to take that team to the next level and make his teammates better, for him to really get some recognition.

hijacktheparade · Post #2 » by **hijacktheparade** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:16 am

It's really unfortunate. Al getting into the All-Star game would be the saving grace of the season for me. That and being able to draft Harden.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #3 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:00 pm

mostly seems an accurate depiction - play better defense and carry the team to more victories. He leads us on offense, but not on defense.

invno1 · Post #4 » by **invno1** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:10 pm

This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

collin_k41 · Post #5 » by **collin_k41** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:52 pm

I was thinking the other day, and I know I'm against what ifs and such but what if Al was a 7 footer? I'm sure he'd play way better defense....be UNFREAKINGSTOPPABLE on offense and probably average more rebounds per game. We also wouldn't be 4-20 right now and probably wouldn't have gotten him in the KG trade. Anyways, I just thought it's pretty fun to imagine...maybe slip some HGH into this guy's diet.

john2jer · Post #6 » by **john2jer** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:08 pm

invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

I still don't see why this makes sense.

Otherwise Charlotte wouldn't be as bad as they are because they have Felton and May. Takes more than a couple guys who were scucessful in college. We're small enough as it is, you don't trade your best big guy for a couple guys playing positions where you're already loaded with bodies. Who's left to start, Love and Smith? Yuck.

Post #7 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:30 pm

He is very good on offense already and rebounds. Those things are not a concern with Love/Al. The issue is defense and helping each other. Al has the tools and I want to believe he has the desire. The issue is his teammates do not defend. We need to defend as a team.

A Hardin type player would add a lot to this team. A hardin/Foye backcourt. Add a healthy brewer, a better conditioned Love and maybe we have a foundation.

Post #8 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:03 pm

john2jer wrote:
invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

I still don't see why this makes sense.

Otherwise Charlotte wouldn't be as bad as they are because they have Felton and May. Takes more than a couple guys who were scucessful in college. We're small enough as it is, you don't trade your best big guy for a couple guys playing positions where you're already loaded with bodies. Who's left to start, Love and Smith? Yuck.

Felton and May are different types of players than Westbrook and Green, I'm not sure about that comparison. I think if we're sitting at no. 1, we have to consider all trade options for Love, Jefferson and Griffin. Drafting Griffin and trading for Green and Westbrook would make us alot more athletic. That doesn't mean I'd do it, though.

john2jer · Post #9 » by **john2jer** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:12 pm

Worm Guts wrote:
john2jer wrote:
invno1 wrote:This is excatly why Big Al for Westbrook & Green makes so much sense. It takes a team, Russell and Love were team mates as well.

I still don't see why this makes sense.

Otherwise Charlotte wouldn't be as bad as they are because they have Felton and May. Takes more than a couple guys who were scucessful in college. We're small enough as it is, you don't trade your best big guy for a couple guys playing positions where you're already loaded with bodies. Who's left to start, Love and Smith? Yuck.

Felton and May are different types of players than Westbrook and Green, I'm not sure about that comparison. I think if we're sitting at no. 1, we have to consider all trade options for Love, Jefferson and Griffin. Drafting Griffin and trading for Green and Westbrook would make us alot more athletic. That doesn't mean I'd do it, though.

IF we get the #1 pick and get Griffin, maybe we consider something like that, although I'd prefer the established 20/10 23 year old on a great contract than 2 guys that aren't going to make us better right now, until the draft.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #10 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:47 pm

would OKC trade Durant for the #1 pick do you think? I'd definitely shop it around, but I don't know what else I'd want besides Durant. I'd want someone to make a nice inside/outside threat w/ Biggums

I'd probably trade Brewer and the #1 for Durant.

Then OKC can roll out:
PG Westbrook
SG Brewer
SF Green
PF Griffin
C Thabeet

nice!

Wolves:
PG Foye I guess
SG Miller
SF Durant
PF Jefferson
C Love

nice!

Post #11 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:51 pm

Interesting idea Devil.

LEts say we get the #1 pick, and Seattle gets #4. They want Griffin bad. Green is producing 15/5 as he is now and clearly a 3 not a 4. We can offer the #1 for Durant.

Hmm, I like that deal. I would even include more possibly.

Post #12 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:52 pm

I think Durant is untouchable.

Post #13 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:55 pm

I don't think it is wise to trade Al. This team failing is not because of Al Jefferson, he is not the central problem. We have to get players around him. He has to continue to work on his defense and improve his game.

Post #14 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:03 pm

You're right that the team is not failing because of Al Jefferson, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't trade him in the right situation. The problem with Al is that you have to cover for his lack of quickness and athleticism on defense, Griffin won't have those problems. I don't know if Griffin will be able to score and rebound like Al, but I think we could probably get more for Jefferson in a trade and Griffin might be easier fit players around.

Post #15 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:06 pm

How can you say Durant is untouchable, but then argue that we should move Al?

Jefferson can take the ball into the post and score. Something that is rare in the modern NBA and a tool we should not move lightly. Griffin does not have that tool.

john2jer · Post #16 » by **john2jer** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:12 pm

I'm not overly impressed by Durant. Just seems like another scorer on a bad team. He's Mike James + 8 inches. He doesn't make them any better. He puts points on the board and that's it. His rebounding sucks for someone 6-9 or 6-10. He needs to eat a cheeseburger.

Post #17 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:15 pm

revprodeji wrote:How can you say Durant is untouchable, but then argue that we should move Al?

Jefferson can take the ball into the post and score. Something that is rare in the modern NBA and a tool we should not move lightly. Griffin does not have that tool.

Durant just turned 20 at the beginning of the season and is averaging 23.3 points per game on a higher efficiency than Al, and Al's about to turn 24. I really don't know if Durant's untouchable, though, it's just a guess based on numbers and how he was viewed coming into the league. I haven't been watching him.

I didn't say we should give Al away or that Griffin is better than him. I said we could get more for Al, and it might be easier to build around Griffin.

Post #18 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:59 pm

I think that when you have a player who wants to be great like Al, and is great in many facets of his game, you got to hang to a guy like that. His contract is very reasonable, he's not pushing for all the glory, and what he does right now he does exceedingly well. He has nearly mastered a craft that very few players ever do and he is only 24. Al is a guy you work with, you bring in players to cover up his deficiencies and you create a team that can contend.

RD&KG2 · Post #19 » by **RD&KG2** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:09 pm

Calinks3 wrote:I think that when you have a player who wants to be great like Al, and is great in many facets of his game, you got to hang to a guy like that. His contract is very reasonable, he's not pushing for all the glory, and what he does right now he does exceedingly well. He has nearly mastered a craft that very few players ever do and he is only 24. Al is a guy you work with, you bring in players to cover up his deficiencies and you create a team that can contend.

Couldn't agree more. Very well said Calinks.

invno1 · Post #20 » by **invno1** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:05 pm

Al & Love are power fowards, especially Love. Timberwolves are in shambles! Jefferson has the most value. Love will be a better defender in the near future & is a real scrappy player, Timberwolves dont run plays for him, they run them for Jefferson and Love still gets points and rebounds the hard way. These two will never do well against the Duncans & Bynams. Westbrook is an exciting jump out of the gym afterburner. Green is way more phycial then even Crash, and is developing. OKC desperatly needs a Power Foward. Some thing like this makes to much sense especialy with the picks where Timberwolves can maybe get a slasher & a center. Al is a very nice player, I just cant belive they brought Love in to play back up. If it came right down to it I might do AJ for Westbrook straight up.......Tryin to build around him is not even close to tryin to build around KG.