Did I mention that I really like Henry Abbott?

[dunkonu21]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... m-approach

[Darko Miliminutes]

Good read. And more positive words about my boy, so that's cool.

Are you guys done with Al? I read everywhere on here about where you're going to trade him to. But are their some that still want him around. I've personally got some mixed notions on him. Sometimes i see him and can't understand why you guys are so done with him. And of course sometimes you see all his game too. Kinda torn on him myself. I just don't know enough about him yet to judge. I know he got hurt, and probably hasn't gotten everything back together yet. I guess i just haven't watched him enough yet.

[Slum_Dillinger]

Good read. And more positive words about my boy, so that's cool.

Are you guys done with Al? I read everywhere on here about where you're going to trade him to. But are their some that still want him around. I've personally got some mixed notions on him. Sometimes i see him and can't understand why you guys are so done with him. And of course sometimes you see all his game too. Kinda torn on him myself. I just don't know enough about him yet to judge. I know he got hurt, and probably hasn't gotten everything back together yet. I guess i just haven't watched him enough yet.

Thats basically it. He got hurt, some people are worried he wont get back to the level he was pre injury. Some are worried that even if he does we are wasting time in the rebuild by waiting so long to consider dealing him.

It's like Dr. Jefferson and Mr. Cant-pass-out-of-a-double-team-or-give-defensive-effort-to-save-my-life.
Sometimes it seems like he has made major break throughs, and that his offensive abilities are ridiculous, and sometimes he hurts the team in a major way. There are still people that want him, but its not nearly as one sided as it was last year.

[Calinks]

I'm not done with him at all. I'm still high on the guy and think he can fit. He has big holes like every player on the team. I still think he's our best scorer hands down and the only player we have that we can go to consistently in 4th quarters. This year he hasn't been that guy but I don't doubt he will be again. If he had a new deal coming or he was causing issues I'd be more so on the deal him campaign but right now I hope he stays. If it were up to me I would hang on to him for at least one more season to see how he plays at 100% in this system and see if I believe he can grow in the areas I need him to as a player. I feel like writing him off right now is too hasty of a decision, especially considering a player with his talent level.

[shrink]

Besides all theg reat stuff on Darko, I liked what he had to say leading off with Al Jefferson:

How's the team?

There's some good promise there. Al Jefferson ... wow. He's got a lot of upside, let's put it that way. He's a 20 and 10 guy pretty much just using jump hooks. Have you seen him shoot with two hands? Jump-shots? And he could get to the line a lot more. He has just scratched the surface. We worked on free throws the other day, and then he had a 36 and 16 game. Afterwards, he said "Idan, that free throw stuff was great." The guy's going to be a killer.

I think lots of people think that Al won't get better, because his numbers this year are worse. However, as Kahn said, people should remember that this has probably been Al's most challenging season:

1. Coming back from injury and his off-season rehab early
2. Brand new coach, with new responsibilities (no more just going to low post)
3. Brand new players (only 4 players back from last year)
4. Death of his grandmother that raised him.
5. More losing

If this was some other player, we'd look at a kid that just turned 25 and say, "Well, he's got four more years until he hits his prime." With Jefferson though, people are ready to pull the plug.

Yes, he's got holes in his game, but he's a hard worker. You don't get those low-post moves from being lazy. I agree with the super-trainer... Al's still got lots of upside.

[Worm Guts]

4 more years until he hits his prime? I think it was McHale who said a players prime years are 27-33, and I think it might be a little younger than that.

[shrink]

4 seasons from now is the season he's 28 and 29.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Maybe in the 1980s it was 27-33, but I'd say nowadays prime is closer to 25-31ish. The average NBA player experience in 1985 was 3.85 years, now its about a year more at the same age, so guys are getting into the league sooner and getting experience under their belt faster. I'm gonna subtract another year because of how long and athletic big men are getting and how important its becoming to be a physically dominant body; whether you're a frontcourt or backcourt player, you have to be able to work in the paint and beat those athletic defenders and most guys by the time they're around 31 or 32 have lost a step due to injuries since they've been in the league for over a decade at that point.

Also when I see guys like LBJ and Wade dominating everybody & Evans able to come in as a rookie and play like an all star - all 3 without great jumpers - its really banging home the point that the best thing in the league right now for is to be quick enough to get around the initial defender and have the size/strength to ward off help defenders. So a decade to learn skills isn't as important as having the right kind of physique and some base skills, which makes you an impact player a lot sooner.

[john2jer]

No matter what the age, Jefferson is 25, he's just entering his prime, or at least just at the start of it, and the guy's already put up 23/11. Put some players around him, give him a full off-season to prep for the season, plus another training camp in "the system" and I think we'll see "old" Jefferson back, but it won't be empty numbers.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Also like the writer mentioned, he's doing it all with jump hooks, imagine when he realizes he has not one but TWO hands! Can you say dominate?

[Calinks]

I think you get into your prime at about 27-28. At least physically for the NBA. Then you are in it until a little after 30 or 31. I also think this varies a bit as guards who are in their early 30's tend to fall off harder than bigs in their 30's. Besides 7 footers who have all of those crazy knee/ankle injuries, I think low level athletic bigs have a little be longer shelf life than athletic guards.Barring injury a guy like Al Jefferson should be able to play well for another 10 years and possibly beyond.

[Devilzsidewalk]

or you can do steroids like Karl Malone and play MVP ball until you're 37

[Esohny]

or you can do steroids like Karl Malone and play MVP ball until you're 37

It was HGH, that's why he has a giant Barry Bonds style dome.

[Devilzsidewalk]

DAMN, I was gonna say HGH too, but I changed it to steroids at the last moment.

[casey]

I think you get into your prime at about 27-28. At least physically for the NBA. Then you are in it until a little after 30 or 31. I also think this varies a bit as guards who are in their early 30's tend to fall off harder than bigs in their 30's. Besides 7 footers who have all of those crazy knee/ankle injuries, I think low level athletic bigs have a little be longer shelf life than athletic guards.Barring injury a guy like Al Jefferson should be able to play well for another 10 years and possibly beyond.

Let's not forget that he came straight from high school. How many of those guys are still playing at a high level while in their 30s? And he's already had a serious knee injury. I would say he's got another 5 years before he starts declining drastically. Funny that I stumble onto this thread cus I just read an article in ESPN the magazine about high schoolers longevity in the NBA.

[revprodeji]

I think Al needs a big like Darko just as much as love does. The biggest issue I have with Al right now is the defensive effort is not there. No excuse.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I think you get into your prime at about 27-28. At least physically for the NBA. Then you are in it until a little after 30 or 31. I also think this varies a bit as guards who are in their early 30's tend to fall off harder than bigs in their 30's. Besides 7 footers who have all of those crazy knee/ankle injuries, I think low level athletic bigs have a little be longer shelf life than athletic guards.Barring injury a guy like Al Jefferson should be able to play well for another 10 years and possibly beyond.

Let's not forget that he came straight from high school. How many of those guys are still playing at a high level while in their 30s? And he's already had a serious knee injury. I would say he's got another 5 years before he starts declining drastically. Funny that I stumble onto this thread cus I just read an article in ESPN the magazine about high schoolers longevity in the NBA.

you read a magazine? what is this, THE FIFTIES?

[casey]

you read a magazine? what is this, THE FIFTIES?

Settle down. My boss brought it in to work, he's like 60. Just trying to suck up a little.

[Esohny]

Meh. At least he's better than Bill Simmons.

[Slum_Dillinger]

Meh. At least he's better than Bill Simmons.

Ol Lobo is better than Bill Simmons. He's funny without all the forced movie references.