Would Al Jefferson Close Out these Games?

[shrink]

Yeah, we all know about the defense, and not passing out when double-teamed, but Jefferson was also an excellent low post scorer.

I think our team direction is better, but would Jefferson have won some of these games for us?

[Casperkid23]

Maybe he could have won some of them. However, Beasley is doing a better job in my opinion, so unless you're suggesting Beasley and Jefferson being on the same team... well.. then I think we'd actually have fewer of these games closed out. Beasley, in my mind, has created his own looks and hit some tough shots moreso than Jefferson showed here.

[shrink]

Yeah, I am suggesting Beasley still on the team. Maybe we wouldn't have that cap space without trading Al, but I think things could have been moved around.

And before anyone leaps to conclusions, I want to point out that I'm not saying I wouldn't do the Al trade, or that it was a mistake. But we clearly have a problem closing out games in the fourth quarter, and having Al, Love, and Beasley on the floor at the same time in the final minute or two (at least on offense) would make a more difficult group to defend.

I'm not sure I even believe he would help - I was just curious about people's opinions, so thanks CK.

[Fire Mchale]

I think you can say with some confidence that Al would have helped close a few of these games out. But I also think you can fairly question whether or not we would have had a chance to be in that position with Al in the first place.

Is it just me or does it seem like every single Wolves game comes down to the last 4 minutes of the game or is that just the NBA today?

[Calinks]

I don't know about current Al. He is improving but still not as good as he was before his injury. If teams had to worry about Beasley and Love hitting 3's I could see him having an easier time closing out games for us because he was pretty much automatic down low in those days. As long as he was willing to pass to the open players on the perimeter the double teams should have a hard time stopping him.

[Fire Mchale]

As long as he was willing to pass to the open players on the perimeter the double teams should have a hard time stopping him.

This is just it, he never passed to open players. I will cut him some slack in that his primary choices were Pavlovic and Brewer - but you still have to play the game. I think his role in Utah is perfect for him. He can be the #2 or #3 option on a good team that has an alpha PG.

[adambomb811]

Big Al consistently would get 20 and 10 but in the 4th when we went to him our offense would become stagnant and Al would not give up the ball. Somewhat of a Kobe type except Kobe as we all know can make plays for himself like Michael Beasley can do. Al was one dimensional in the 4th and in general only staying inside the paint/post. Sure he may make some shots but when double teams came our offense became slow and points became non-existent down the stretch. With Beasley that may happen also but I still like the odds just for the fact that Beasley can create his own shot and do more than just stand in the paint and shoot one handed hooks.

[Krapinsky]

Seems to me we are not closing out games because we do not have good ball handlers in the wing positions. Teams step up their defensive pressure and take away the passing lanes. This forces us to either force a pass or put the ball on the floor and turn the ball over.

[_nokturnal]

i don't think we'd be in them to begin with if al were still here.

[funkatron101]

Is it just me or does it seem like every single Wolves game comes down to the last 4 minutes of the game or is that just the NBA today?

If you listen to every supporter of Lebron James, then it isn't how the NBA is today. They claim the opposite, actually.

[fattymcgee]

Yeah, we all know about the defense, and not passing out when double-teamed, but Jefferson was also an excellent low post scorer.

I think our team direction is better, but would Jefferson have won some of these games for us?

Jefferson would not/did not close out these type of games for us in the past. But it wasn't his fault our incompetent guards couldn't/wouldn't give him the ball in these situations. I remember many time where I'd be yelling at the TV for the guards to give Al the ball at the end of the game and they would ignore him.

So really I think he probably would've won some games like this if our guards would've gotten the ball to him.

[shangrila]

Seems to me we are not closing out games because we do not have good ball handlers in the wing positions. Teams step up their defensive pressure and take away the passing lanes. This forces us to either force a pass or put the ball on the floor and turn the ball over.

This.

Big Gay Al looks pretty clutch in Utah but that's a lot easier to do with Williams feeding you the ball. Until this team can improve it's guard play and find another consistent offensive threat then they'll be in the same position they were last night and so many other nights.

[john2jer]

When did Jefferson ever close out games for the Wolves? What makes you think he would close them out now? Closers get to the free throw line. Jefferson couldn't get to the free throw line.

Not to mention, with Jefferson, we wouldn't have even been IN these games to begin with.

[GopherIt!]

When did Jefferson ever close out games for the Wolves? What makes you think he would close them out now? Closers get to the free throw line. Jefferson couldn't get to the free throw line.

Not to mention, with Jefferson, we wouldn't have even been IN these games to begin with.

sounds like almost every player in Wolves history

[deeney0]

Nothing in Al's past or present suggests that things would be much different if you put him on today's Wolves in place of Kevin, Michael, or even Darko.

[Dewey]

Seems to me we are not closing out games because we do not have good ball handlers in the wing positions. Teams step up their defensive pressure and take away the passing lanes. This forces us to either force a pass or put the ball on the floor and turn the ball over.

This.

Big Gay Al looks pretty clutch in Utah but that's a lot easier to do with Williams feeding you the ball. Until this team can improve it's guard play and find another consistent offensive threat then they'll be in the same position they were last night and so many other nights.

All this. If Al could play PG and/or perimeter defense, I would think differently.

[Ojmayo]

More of a threat than Beasley, Love, or Darko in the post any day of the week. So, yeah he would.

[shangrila]

If by threat you mean he can score over a triple team 40% of the time, then yes he's much more of a "threat"

[Calinks]

I think if we had wings that could play and a prime Al was in there instead of a Darko or Pekovic in the closing minutes we would have a little more success. The reason why I feel that way is because Al was great at creating his own offense. Right now only Beasley and(more and more each day) Love seem to be the only players who can do this.

Our team has big issues. It's pretty ridiculous that a guy like Love can have these huge games and we still turn up with nothing but losses. Our wings and PG play our are biggest weakness but I also think that if we had a more formidable frontocurt on offense things would be better. I really think the wolves need to be looking for a center who can play D and score in the low post consistently.