Apparently Big Al made history last season

[Inigo Montoya]

From John Hollinger's player profiles:

"His ability to create shots without turning the ball over is truly phenomenal. Jefferson had miscues on only 4.7 percent of his possessions last season. Nobody in the history of the NBA has had a usage rate this high and turnover ratio this low. Nobody."

Also, usually Hollinger just uses the same bullet point that describes a player, from the year before. He made an exception in Al's case. in 2011-2012 player profiles he wrote:
• Left-block post scorer with huge hands. Needs to improve versus double-team.

Now it is changed to:
+ Left-block post scorer with huge hands. Much improved passer. Good rebounder.

Apparently he also lead all centers in pure point rating. Good for him

[red4hf]

Big Al was a much better passer last season, even he commented on his new found ability and willingness to pass out of double teams...... With better shooters that we got in the off-season, I don't think Big Al is going to regress in that department......

[Inigo Montoya]

I agree. I already mentioned here some time ago that in my opinion he would have been close to 3 assists per game last season with better shooters, and I think he will get there this year if the new added players will have a decent from long range and won't regress.

[nghedman]

... I don't think Big Al is going to regress in that department......

I think you are right!

The thing that excites me this year is the fact that the Jazzes weakness (perimeter scoring) last year reflects onto Al performance. This year with addressing that weakness it directly is going to make Al's performance even that much easier and more effecient.

The middle has to open up or else we are going to make a lot of threes and outside shoots this year. It is very possible now to expect Big Al to make the All Star team this year!

[outerspacefella]

Big Al was, by a decent margin, the most consistent and dependable Jazz player. All of them found ways to contribute to that playoff spot, but Jeffersonn was the guy all season long.

[QuantumMacgyver]

Countdown to Reapaman filling this thread with incoherent rantings: In 5... 4....

[erudite23]

Big Al is a good player. The problem is you can't build a contender around that. If you pair him with some great shooters, a dominant interior defender and a great perimeter scorer/creator, he would be an awesome third cog, provided that he would accept the lesser role. This is true, though, his ability to limit TOs while creating as many shots as he does is phenomenal. I would trade some more TOs, though, for a few % points and some more FTs. If he could just make a marginal improvement there, he would move from being very good, to star caliber.

[DelaneyRudd]

I think this proves more about the stat than it does about the player... I like Big Al though.

[reapaman]

Countdown to Reapaman filling this thread with incoherent rantings: In 5... 4....

Why would I do that? I pretty much said all that stuff hollinger said months ago and it all got dismissed as nonsese. Now it means something that he said it? Nothing thread worthy here.

[SoCalJazzFan]

Reading all of the player profiles and analysis by Hollinger http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/ ... r-profiles my take away was still wondering whether the Jazz are better off with a Milsap/Favors combo than a Al/Favors combo. I also asked myself why the Jazz signed Evans (I doubt he plays more than a few mins per game) and kept both Tinsley and Watson instead of getting a young PG.

[Inigo Montoya]

which young point guard is good enough to be a long term solution and starter at that position that is realistically available?

[Xsy]

Big Al definitely got better at passing, but he has a problem of holding the offense.

He used to get the ball, hold, and shoot no matter what.

Now he'll get the ball, hold, and pass if he doesn't have the shot.

I want Al to pass the ball if he sees someone with a better shot asap. I don't want the offense to stagnate as soon as he gets it.

[The59Sound]

I agree, Machete. Al was much better about giving up the ball as the season wore on, but the offense still ground to a halt while he took 15 seconds to decide whether he had a shot. It's nice that he's a willing passer now, but he has to be much, much more effective at reading the defense and reacting quickly.

[StocktonShorts]

I agree, Machete. Al was much better about giving up the ball as the season wore on, but the offense still ground to a halt while he took 15 seconds to decide whether he had a shot. It's nice that he's a willing passer now, but he has to be much, much more effective at reading the defense and reacting quickly.

My feelings exactly.

[SoCalJazzFan]

which young point guard is good enough to be a long term solution and starter at that position that is realistically available?

I don't think it has/had to be a long term solution or a starter PG. Earl Watson and Tinsley aren't long term solutions or starters, yet they are both on the team- go figure!

The Jazz didn't invite a single young PG from the 2012 draft class that was a serious consideration. Stockton's son's invite was a favor to get him on a d-league or overseas team, not the Jazz. It's as if the Jazz are that person we've all met that has a serious problem, but won't acknowledge the problem, hoping it goes away.

They could have, instead, invited a young PG or two to both summer league and fall camp with the hope that he would make it as the 2nd or 3rd string option. Take a chance on someone, such as Dee Bost, Reggie Hamilton, Tu Holloway, etc. and see if they surprise (as Milsap or even Wes Matthews did). Their agents would have been thrilled for their player to tryout for the Jazz given the fact that they have an expiring in Mo Williams and two over the hill backups who will surely be gone next year. They could have taken a serious look at one or two young players, but have missed out on that opportunity. Instead, they seem to have an infatuation with wing players, although that position is already stacked beyond full.

Dallas got Collison from the Pacers for practically nothing this offseason.

Other than hoping that Mo works out perfectly, I really don't know what the Jazz are thinking about the PG position.

[Inigo Montoya]

I don't think it has/had to be a long term solution or a starter PG. Earl Watson and Tinsley aren't long term solutions or starters, yet they are both on the team- go figure!

Tinsley and Watson are under contract... So unless you get rid of at least one of them, there is not room or need to bring another pg, and if you don't think the PG you want to bring has to be a starter\long term solution, then he doesn't need to be young, is he?

Tinsley and Watson have the advantage in that regard, since they have a year of experience (Watson has two) with the Jazz system, not to mention the possibility that Foye will spend a few minutes there + Mo Williams obviously and maybe some other players for spot minutes.

I do agree that it couldn't hurt inviting some PGs to camp and see what they can do, but I think it is quite clear that for this season (only *this season*) the Jazz have enough players on that position so it is also fair to assume that agents know the situation of the Jazz roster and wouldn't want to send players to a training camp of a team that is not going to sign them this season no matter what. They would much rather send their clients to a place where they have a chance and fill a need (not to mention the players themselves wouldn't want to spend precious time in a training camp when they have no chance of making the roster). Training camps happen at the same time pretty much. And also keep in mind that the Jazz already have a full roster of 15 players (thanks Raja. Really). So it does make sense that it didn't happen.

As for Collison - Dallas got him for nothing because he is not all that good, and managed to lose his starting job to George Hill. I wouldn't want him as my long term starter.

It is a valid question - what the Jazz are planing for that position long term, but I think we all know that this roster is built for this year only and that next year it will be completely different. So either they have an eye on somebody and are trying to make a trade for him, or they are targeting someone in the the coming free agency, or that they will draft someone. Either way, there is no use to take a non long term, non starter PG when you already have at least three PGs under contract. That's just not good business.

[reapaman]

I agree, Machete. Al was much better about giving up the ball as the season wore on, but the offense still ground to a halt while he took 15 seconds to decide whether he had a shot. It's nice that he's a willing passer now, but he has to be much, much more effective at reading the defense and reacting quickly.

Yea but every one complains about that when you got a player that is capable of scoring alot on isos. I mean they complain about it with kobe, lebron, melo ect .... Kobe takes longer than AL does alot of times actually. Now Al is certainly no Kobe, but the point is that a player with Al's scoring ability is not exactly common. I mean jazz fans claim they wanna see this team win, so why wouldn't you want the best players we can get. Sure Al is better off as as a 2nd or 3rd scorer (depending on who the #1 is) but unfortunatley he's the best we got and probley the best were gonna get anytime soon.

As someone stated, as the season went on then Al became a more willing passer which imo was because "almost" everyone else started playing better as the season went on. If the other player player even better this coming season then I believe he will pass even more. I mean the guy wants to win so why would he wanna pass it to a hayward when he's bricking everything in sight like he did the first part of the season. Anyway lets stop complaining about Al's shortcomings and just hope KOC makes moves to cover them up because his shortcoming are not nearly as harmful as everyone elses on the team or other team's top player are. I mean it could be worse, our best player could be Bargs who can't rebound to save his life.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I don't think it has/had to be a long term solution or a starter PG. Earl Watson and Tinsley aren't long term solutions or starters, yet they are both on the team- go figure!

Tinsley and Watson are under contract... So unless you get rid of at least one of them, there is not room or need to bring another pg, and if you don't think the PG you want to bring has to be a starter\long term solution, then he doesn't need to be young, is he?

Tinsley and Watson have the advantage in that regard, since they have a year of experience (Watson has two) with the Jazz system, not to mention the possibility that Foye will spend a few minutes there + Mo Williams obviously and maybe some other players for spot minutes.

I do agree that it couldn't hurt inviting some PGs to camp and see what they can do, but I think it is quite clear that for this season (only *this season*) the Jazz have enough players on that position so it is also fair to assume that agents know the situation of the Jazz roster and wouldn't want to send players to a training camp of a team that is not going to sign them this season no matter what. They would much rather send their clients to a place where they have a chance and fill a need (not to mention the players themselves wouldn't want to spend precious time in a training camp when they have no chance of making the roster). Training camps happen at the same time pretty much. And also keep in mind that the Jazz already have a full roster of 15 players (thanks Raja. Really). So it does make sense that it didn't happen.

As for Collison - Dallas got him for nothing because he is not all that good, and managed to lose his starting job to George Hill. I wouldn't want him as my long term starter.

It is a valid question - what the Jazz are planing for that position long term, but I think we all know that this roster is built for this year only and that next year it will be completely different. So either they have an eye on somebody and are trying to make a trade for him, or they are targeting someone in the the coming free agency, or that they will draft someone. Either way, there is no use to take a non long term, non starter PG when you already have at least three PGs under contract. That's just not good business.

Jazz created this mess by exercising option on Tinsley this summer. If they hadn't, there would be a slot for another PG, one who would be younger, faster and the potential (even if remote) of being a long term solution. If the Jazz didn't sign Evans, the combined salary of Tinsley and Evans could have bought a decent backup PG. Spilt milk at this point, and I agree we'll have to see how it unfolds.

[Inigo Montoya]

Jazz created this mess by exercising option on Tinsley this summer. If they hadn't, there would be a slot for another PG, one who would be younger, faster and the potential (even if remote) of being a long term solution. If the Jazz didn't sign Evans, the combined salary of Tinsley and Evans could have bought a decent backup PG. Spilt milk at this point, and I agree we'll have to see how it unfolds.

I don't think it's a mess at all. It is well known the Jazz need a long term starting PG, but I don't think that taking a flyer on some undrafted\unknown player would somehow fix this issue. Watson will miss the start of the season, so you'd want someone who knows the Jazz system and have some experience in the league and that's Tinsley. And you have Foye too. You can take a flyer on someone at any time and any season. No need to do it when you have a full roster which is built only for this season anyway.

[nghedman]

My opinion is Tinsley and Watson are best-man-available and that's what the Jazz are doing. I mean why have a another player that isn't very good with the "we are developingl" tagged to him and still lose games and know he is not ever going to be playing as well as Tinsley or Watson is playing now.

I would rather watch a winning team then watch a team lose with the idea that maybe they will win next year. Who knows what next year will bring, draft, trades, injury, buyouts, new coaches, new rules... It just makes no business sense in my mind. (I could go on and on. Why go for two when one is enough and you might now even have to try an extra point next time, so give yourself 4 downs instead of one to win the game. Stupid is as stupid does ,never second guess and take the best option first every time...)