Al Jefferson Update

[Klomp]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/0 ... index.html

It's been more than seven months since Jefferson went down in a heap along one baseline at the New Orleans Arena, grabbing his right knee and fearing the worst late in a Wolves loss on Feb. 8. Everyone else in Wolves Nation (is there a Wolves Nation?) feared the worst, too, and that's what they got: A shredded anterior cruciate ligament that immediately ended Jefferson's season, a 7-25 slide that spoiled what had been the modest promise of 17-33 (including a 10-2 start to calendar 2009) and all the attendant harsh realities -- firings, trades, changes of every sort -- that typically follow when a team misses the Playoffs for a fifth straight spring.

Since then, it's been largely a bummer summer for Jefferson. Six weeks in a knee brace and on crutches gave way to countless hours in rehab from his Feb. 18 surgery, a repetitive and lonely pursuit despite serious bonding time with fellow Wolf Corey Brewer. Brewer tore the same ligament in his same knee back in November, putting him more than two months ahead of Jefferson in terms of recovery, physical grind, occasional setbacks and recurring doubts.

Now, Brewer is one of just four teammates returning to a roster torn down and rebuilt, McMansion-style, by new Wolves president David Kahn -- McMansion without the Big Mac, since Kevin McHale was bounced in favor of Rambis. And as valued as Jefferson is -- his 23.1 ppg and 11.0 rpg would have ranked him with Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh as last season's only 20-10 players, had Jefferson played enough to officially qualify -- he has heard Kahn tell fans and media more than once that Minnesota won't be a serious contender until he is the team's second-best player. As opposed to the default franchise guy, a surrogate thrust into what used to be Kevin Garnett's suffering role.

That has stoked the fire of Jefferson's comeback, too, a comeback now in its final stages.

[john2jer]

That doesn't really tell us anything new.

[Klomp]

That doesn't really tell us anything new.

Did you read the whole thing? At least we're being covered...

[john2jer]

That doesn't really tell us anything new.

Did you read the whole thing? At least we're being covered...

I read the section you posted. I didn't realize you expected me to do work and actually open it up. Boo!

Having read it the part that stands out to me is the comment about work in the pool. How are we ever going to become a championship basketball team with a 1st option that can't swim? He'll tank games just to avoid the Gatorade and champagne baths afterwards. We can't have that.

[john2jer]

Love the comments about Rambis at the end. I know he was a bit bummed about losing McHale, but sounds like he's in love with Rambis already. When your best player buys into what the coach is preaching, it makes it much easier for the rest of the team to do so. Good things there.

[tvwolves7]

Anyone else concerned that Al is rushing himself? If anyone has read anything lately with G. Arenas he stated he felt fine but the team/medicall staff should have held him back. Should the Timberwolves be holding Jefferson back?

Also, I recall Kahn stating in the Sessions Press Conference when asked about Brewer that he sometimes has sat out of scrimmages because of soreness and he is 2 months ahead of Al on the recovery.

[Klomp]

Arenas, Brewer, Amare, and others Al's situation all depend on their pure athleticism to be successful. Al doesn't.

[tvwolves7]

Arenas, Brewer, Amare, and others Al's situation all depend on their pure athleticism to be successful. Al doesn't.

I understand what you are saying but we are talking about a fast paced offense and Al will have to run up and down the court with a ~250 lb frame which puts stress on the knee no matter how you look at it. Plus his low post moves have him twisting and turning a lot with that knee. I am no expert just stating a hesitance to let him do too much, too early.

[Calinks]

Anyone else concerned that Al is rushing himself? If anyone has read anything lately with G. Arenas he stated he felt fine but the team/medicall staff should have held him back. Should the Timberwolves be holding Jefferson back?

Also, I recall Kahn stating in the Sessions Press Conference when asked about Brewer that he sometimes has sat out of scrimmages because of soreness and he is 2 months ahead of Al on the recovery.

You can't rush destiny.

[mandurugo]

Arenas, Brewer, Amare, and others Al's situation all depend on their pure athleticism to be successful. Al doesn't.

I've seen a lot of fans say this, so I don't mean to single you out, but this doesn't make sense to me. Al's low-post game is built entirely on his footwork and body control in a contested lane. The reason he never goes to the line is more than the fact that he doesn't initiate contact, he whirls like a dervish to avoid it. Sure he was slow up and down the court pre-injury, so that part of his game can't be seriously diminished by a knee injury. But his low post footwork, which is basically his game, is another matter.

[southern wolf]

More often then not, athletes return from severe knee injuries really well. Sometimes better then ever. Jefferson is the type of player that would have put absolutely everything into his rehab, especially when he's got Brewer there with him. He will be back, better then ever!

[Klomp]

Kahn said on Barreiro yesterday that Al played at 285-290 last year, and is currently at 263.

http://kfan.com/cc-common/podcast/singl ... rreiro.xml

[Klomp]

"Al is a 5 basketball-wise, but a 4 body-wise"

[revprodeji]

See I do not buy that. He has the standing reach of a center. He has the skillset of a center.

[Worm Guts]

And the height of a power forward.

[revprodeji]

Why does height matter? Do we shoot with the top of our head? Is Elton Brand really a 6'8 pf or a pf with a 9'2 standing reach? I think height is overrated.

al jefferson's pre-draft wingspan was 7'2.5 with a standing reach of 9'2. That is assuming he did not grow since then. Dude is a center.

[Worm Guts]

Height usually implies a bigger, stronger frame. Also, your eyes on your head, being taller improves your sight lines and it also does more to impair the vision of others while you're playing defense. Standing reach does alot to make up for lack of height, but it doesn't completely compensate.

[Breakdown777]

I always thought that a traditional center was supposed to be a defensive anchor. I think Al can play either position really well, but maybe that is why it is difficult for some to view Al as a 5, because of his defensive limitations.

I'm not going to try and label big Al to a single position, so I'll just call him a kick arse big man.

[Narf]

Als defense last year was significantly better than the year before. If he takes similar strides this year, he'd actually be a solid defensive player. That's a really big if, but he's got the physical tools and work ethic to get there. I'm not sure why people are willing to write him off on the defensive end. Bigs usually develop a little slower there than other positions....and he's just 24 this season. That's younger than Carney, who people think might still develop defense at SG/SF.

[Krapinsky]

wow AL has lost 31 pounds?!?