What do you expect from Richard Jefferson?

[TAI8]

Do you expect him to be the 3rd or 4th option?

Do you expect him to return back to his Jersey days in terms of defense now that he's on a team as defensive-minded as the Spurs?

What kind of season do you expect from Richard Jefferson?

[Donald Kaufman]

I'm tempted to say he should be the 4th option, but that might be underusing what he offers offensively.

I think on this team he goes for about 14 to 16 ppg and maybe 4rpg. Hopefully he reverts to his early career defensively speaking, though I'm not counting on it.

What we need from him most though, is a scorer to pick up the slack so we don't go on any of our infamous scoring droughts. The amount of big leads lost over the past couple of seasons will hopefully be a thing of the past with the help of RJ.

Like any of the big names that switched uniforms this offseason, RJ's true value won't be determined until the playoffs. If he steps up big time in the postseason, he'll have done his job.

[Blame Rasho]

I think he is an avg player for his position but given that he is replacing Finley, it is a massive upgrade. I have to get my hopes given that he does one thing that we have lacked for years... the ability to score.

[NetsForce]

When he isn't focused so much on scoring and trying to get his name out there, like he was in Milwaukee and his last year in NJ, he's an excellent complimentary player and a very hard-nosed / versatile defender.

[Nolan]

I'd like to see him play like he did in his early days in Jersey. More focused on defense and rebounding and getting his shots in the flow of the offense.

[co_laper]

Personally, I think if we want to utilize Jefferson's offensive skills, we got to move Manu to the bench again. Right now with Manu starting, I think Jefferson don't get enough offensive touches and the bench needs severe firepower.

I haven't watched Jefferson for a long long time. My question is, has he turned into a Ron Artest type in terms of who he can defend? Artest, in his younger days, was leaner and quicker so he was at his best guarding SG and SFs. Now, he's gotten thicker and a bit slower and add the fact that the league has gotten smaller over the years, he's now better suited to guard SFs and PFs on small ball.

Is that what Jefferson is now? Cause he seems to be bigger or thicker than his NJ days and his rep as a defensive player has taken a hit but that seems to be because he's taking a bigger offensive load than before.

[Donald Kaufman]

I think Manu will be coming off the bench anyway. Mason will likely start over him.

[LyMinh]

I expect a Championship.

[johnnyjohnnyjohnny]

Depends on the lineup.

Assuming we have a starting lineup of:

C/PF: Duncan
PF/C: McDyess
SF: Jefferson
SG: Mason
PG: Parker

I'd expect him to be the third option behind Duncan and Parker. Or, just as much a second option as Parker, perhaps.

eh., it really depends on the lineup and the lineup of the opposing team at the time.

[SApuro_]

I expect him to be the third option most nights but the 2nd option from time to time. Jefferson was brought to SA to shore up those long scoring droughts we always have. He needs to drive to the whole and get us to the free throw line when we can't buy a bucket. He did that well in NJ and Mil so I expect the same here. I hope he averages around 12-14 pts per. His career totals are higher but doubt pop turns him lose so early in a spurs uniform.

I'd like to see a little more rebounding from that position. Finley has been terrible on the glass and below average defender at one of the hardest positions to guard in the league. If RJ can add 4-5 rebounds per and make his opp work for their points that would seal the deal.

[halfHAVOC]

i expect some more of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2fu6hz ... r_embedded

[co_laper]

Well, I have to say.. If we're getting 12 points and 4 boards from our 15 mil SF, I'd be rather dissapointed. I have a much higher expectation than SApuro's 12 points 4 boards averages.

I think for Jefferson to be a successful acquisition, he's got to meet his expectation or atleast gets close to it and that's atleast 16 points (his lowest scoring average since 2002) and atleast 5 boards a game considering his focus should be on the defensive end anyways.

[halfHAVOC]

as a 3rd or 4th option
you can't expect him to get more than 15 ppg

although if guys like timmy are playing less that might mean more shots for RJ so i can realistically see him averaging at most 17 ppg 5 boards 3 assists ,

[realfung]

I expect him to score 20+ points and Ginoblili can rest more.

Dice will be a effective player off the bench to support TD too.