Al is Serious

[Klomp]

Add in a nearly doubling of his assists-per-game rate (2.0, versus a career 1.1 average) and a slight dip in turnovers compared to the previous two seasons, and it's clear Jefferson is serious. And as the most challenging part of his career comes to a close, Jefferson deserves recognition for the silent grind, for his persistence and eagerness to adapt.

"Last year it was all about Al getting the ball in the low block," he says. "I've been 'The Man' before, but we've won 24 and 22 games the past two years. Losing has been happening for a long time, and winning teams have more than one scorer. I like to see guys getting better and trusting themselves. I like to see guys trusting me, and I like trusting my teammates. We need to keep it going and trust that Kahn and Kurt didn't come here to put up with another three years of losing. Believe me, that losing is already old."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/w ... jefferson/

Read the whole thing, its very good.

[Devilzsidewalk]

seems a bit premature, shouldn't they wait until we stop sucking before they roll out the glowing "look at us now" articles

[moss_is_1]

Very nice find there. It's nice to see Al's assists getting up there, and showing improvement on defense. Hopefully it'll just keep getting better with Rambis preaching defense.

[Klomp]

"I'm not going to lie: There were times in October and November where I was going, 'Why the hell are we running this offense?'" Jefferson says. "There were nights where I wanted to say this offense is not getting me my shots. But then I'd look at the stat sheet and see I'd gotten 14, 15 shots and I just wasn't making them. So, I want to blame the offense, but I can't. I've got to be a man about that."

[Tirion]

seems a bit premature, shouldn't they wait until we stop sucking before they roll out the glowing "look at us now" articles

it's Britt Robson, man. he knows this team inside and out.

[Calinks]

That's what I'm saying. Al's improving and working to get better and he isn't even the real Big Al yet. Wait until next season, its going to be really fun.

[southern wolf]

"I'm not going to lie: There were times in October and November where I was going, 'Why the hell are we running this offense?'" Jefferson says. "There were nights where I wanted to say this offense is not getting me my shots. But then I'd look at the stat sheet and see I'd gotten 14, 15 shots and I just wasn't making them. So, I want to blame the offense, but I can't. I've got to be a man about that."

This part stood out to me to. I love the new open and honest Big Al, not that he wasn't in the past, it just seems this season he's opening up about his struggles and thoughts a lot more. He's had to deal with a lot of change in his career and the only constant has been losing, so you can understand why he's been so frustrated.

[younggunsmn]

It's clear he's still got alot of rust to kick off. His conditioning is especially bad, and his shot is flat.
His shots are coming from different spots on the floor than he's used to, and he has to make his moves quicker (IE can't dribble and fake for 5 seconds anymore). Once he gets comfortable with where his shots are coming from and gets his conditioning back, I think we'll get the old Al back.

He's got a long, long way to go on the defensive end though.

[Calinks]

I actually think his D is coming along. He's not a good defender yet but he's definitely getting in the adequate range.He seems to be changing more shots this year.