Big Al's Paint: The Al Jefferson Thread

[mrknowitall215]

Great signing, especially considering that it's only 3 years. However, I would like to see him progress or play even keel to his career averages with Charlotte, instead of showing some signs of regression to the mean

[mrknowitall215]

Q&A: Al Jefferson On The Competent Charlotte Bobcats

Q: People questioned how you'd fit defensively here. Do you take pride in how well the team is doing defensively when you're out there?

A: Yeah. We got a lot of success so far right now. We just gotta keep on it. We've still got some ways to go as far as staying consistent for 48 minutes. But I'm really proud of the way we're coming together on defense and really locking things down when we have to.

Q: It's you guys on the floor doing the work, but how much credit do you give Steve Clifford's schemes for your success on that end?

A: He gets all the credit, in my opinion. Well, I'll say 90 percent because the 10 percent, we gotta go out there and do. But Coach is the one who planted the seed. When I first got here, even when I came on my visit to come to Charlotte and I was thinking about it, he made it very clear then that this was going to be a defensive-minded team. I've always been criticized for my defense and he's the one who told me that I'm really not a bad defensive player and gave me that confidence. He's the one who planted the seed, he's the one who came from a defensive-minded program in the years he's been in the league. He teaches real well, we just gotta go out there and do it.

Q: What's it like to work with [Bobcats assistant coach] Patrick Ewing?

A: Sometimes, still it's too good to be true. ‘Cause this is the guy that I watched growing up, who helped Yao Ming reach his peak, who helped Dwight Howard reach his peak, and here I am having a chance for him to help me reach my peak. It's still amazing. I just love to pick his brain. I love to sit there and listen to him talk because he knows what he's talking about. It's just amazing.

Q: Do you get to talk about when he played and that kind of thing?

A: Yeah. And in his head, sometimes you would think that he can still go out there and play. His mind thinks it, but his body, nah. But he'll get the ball and start talking a little noise about how he used to do this and used to do that.

Q: What about Michael Jordan. Have you been around him much, did he recruit you?

A: I've been around him. Honestly, I didn't talk to Jordan at all as far as the recruiting. I didn't see Jordan for the first time until training camp. But I know he had to put the okay call in. He's just one of them guys, I think he plays his role as far as the owner, he lets the coaches and the GM and the president do their jobs. But you know, when he's around, it's still kind of amazing because he's the best player in the world to ever play the game, in my opinion. So when I'm around him and he acts just like a normal guy, it still kind of messes with me a little bit. But he always gives some great advice. When MJ speaks, you listen.

Q: What kind of stuff does he tell you?

A: He'll tell me when we're playing against a team that don't have a lot of bigs on their bench, post up, get ‘em in foul trouble, they don't have nobody else that's gonna come in and be a threat. Stuff like that. It won't be nothing big, but he'll just give me advice. And of course, like I say, you listen.

Q: This team has never had a post presence like you. Coming back from injury, was it easy to adjust to your teammates and for them to adjust to you?

A: As far as playing the game, yeah, it was an easy adjustment because I'm just going to go do what I do best. Some of these young guys like Kemba Walker, or any of these young guys, they never played with a post-up guy like me, but the only hard part for me is just still trying to get back to 100 percent. I'm getting better and better each week but I've still got some ways to go. But as far as my teammates and me playing with them and them playing with me, it was pretty much easy getting on the right page. And I think right now we're there. To the point that we've got a chance to see how great we can be on the offensive end, like we are on the defensive end.

Q: What do you think of where Kemba's at right now?

A: I said when I first got here that this is Kemba and Gerald [Henderson's] breakout year. Kemba, you can tell he's been working and he's even still working now during the season. He's just becoming a better and better player, understanding the game, understanding the offense, understanding defense and just becoming a better player and one of the top leaders on this team. We're going to need that from him ‘cause he's our gas.

Q: Josh McRoberts doesn't get a ton of attention, but coaches and teammates seem to really appreciate him. What is it about him?

A: He's a very underrated player, number one. He's just a smart guy when it comes to the game. He's got a high IQ of the game. He just knows all the right things to do. And believe it or not, he's our captain on that defense because no matter where you're at or no matter where Josh is at, you're going to hear his voice on the defensive end telling you what to do, where to be. It's just great, he helped me out a lot. Especially on the defensive end, he just really helped me out. And he's really, believe it or not, kind of like a point guard on the offensive end. He makes all the right decisions with the ball, he puts a lot of us in the right situation as far as scoring the ball. He's a great guy to have, great guy. I'm not going to say I wasn't a fan of his game, I just didn't know him before I got here because he's always been on the Eastern side and I've been on the West side or vice versa, so I never knew him as far as a player. But this little time I have spent with him, it's amazing how gifted he is.

Q: I know you haven't gotten a chance to play with him a lot, but do you see Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as a special defensive talent?

A: Oh my God. I mean, I seen him in preseason when were playing against Miami, matter of fact the game I got hurt. The way he was defending LeBron, I mean LeBron is going to be LeBron but he and Jeff [Taylor] were defending LeBron and LeBron had to just make tough shots. Or they were making him miss shots. The way they just looked at LeBron James, it was like, ‘Okay, this is LeBron, I'm gonna step it up.' Instead of some young guys, it'd be like, ‘Oh, this is LeBron James, uh-oh.' Them guys didn't do that. They took the challenge. That's when I knew MKG and Jeff Taylor, they're going to be something special on the defensive end.

Q: You still keeping your eye on Derrick Favors and Big Turkey [Enes Kanter]?

A: Oh yeah, man. I watch Utah games, I keep up with my guys. Them guys, they're like little brothers to me. I keep up with ‘em. Matter of fact, I get a chance to play ‘em twice in the next two weeks. I'm looking forward to that, too, ‘cause Big Turkey always says he can stop me. So I'm gonna see where he's gonna be at.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/12/19/ ... ature-2013

[fatlever]

interesting stuff about mcbob

jefferson calls him the "captain of the defense"

Josh McRoberts doesn't get a ton of attention, but coaches and teammates seem to really appreciate him. What is it about him?

He's a very underrated player, number one. He's just a smart guy when it comes to the game. He's got a high IQ of the game. He just knows all the right things to do. And believe it or not, he's our captain on that defense because no matter where you're at or no matter where Josh is at, you're going to hear his voice on the defensive end telling you what to do, where to be. It's just great, he helped me out a lot. Especially on the defensive end, he just really helped me out. And he's really, believe it or not, kind of like a point guard on the offensive end. He makes all the right decisions with the ball, he puts a lot of us in the right situation as far as scoring the ball. He's a great guy to have, great guy. I'm not going to say I wasn't a fan of his game, I just didn't know him before I got here because he's always been on the Eastern side and I've been on the West side or vice versa, so I never knew him as far as a player. But this little time I have spent with him, it's amazing how gifted he is.

[mrknowitall215]

Kemba Walker on Jefferson's offense: "I've never had a guy like Al in my life. I've never played with such a great post player like that ever. He just attracts so much attention. He takes a lot of pressure off myself and the other guards on the team. He just makes life a lot easier. We just have to sit there and expect a pass and make shots."

Steve Clifford on Jefferson's defense: "People don't want to give him credit. Our defense was good when he was out and it's actually improved since he started playing. He's putting a lot into it."

[Note: The Bobcats rank third in the league in defensive efficiency this season and first since Jefferson returned to action 14 games ago, per NBA.com.]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/12/19/ ... ature-2013

[Liver_Pooty]

Jefferson is an absolutely horrific P&R defender, but thats well known. His defense hasn't been bad thus far at all. and Im glad you guys posted some stats to back that up. Clifford is doing a great job at masking his defensive inefficiencies with great team oriented defense.

[Eoghan]

Steve Clifford on Jefferson's defense: "People don't want to give him credit. Our defense was good when he was out and it's actually improved since he started playing. He's putting a lot into it."

Correlation does not equal causation, coach.

[catch20two]

Everyone keep talking about Kemba's slight chance of making the all-star team but Jefferson has a real legitimate shot that I can't see why the coaches wouldn't vote him in. There's only Drummond and Horford that could be considered competition in the East with Lopez out for the season. I think Jefferson should be considered a lock for the all-star game if we're still anywhere near playoff contention come February. This could be his first all-star game appearance in his career and the first Bobcats player since Wallace in 2010 which wasn't that long ago but it feel longer.

The world will end before the decision makers of the NBA allow 2 Bobcats players in the all-star game at once. So there will be no Kemba in the all-star game. Y'all can quit that talk. Jefferson is and will be every bit of deserving.

[mrknowitall215]

Al Jefferson has been on a tear lately, starting off games slowly, but finishing strong offensively. You can tell that he is & was finally finding his groove with the young Bobcats early in the season after struggling to recover from that ankle injury he suffered in the preseason. Hopefully last night's tweak of the ankle doesn't cost him a setback or any ongoing pain moving forward. Jefferson has only been shooting 43% for the month of December, but he's averaging a double-double of 17 points & 11 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. That's rather impressive considering the lack of post presence that Charlotte has had to witness through their franchise history. Indeed, Jefferson should be voted into the biggest achievement of the All-Star festivities, and is the most likely Bobcats player to receive such a nod

[JDR720]

Al should make the All-Star team, he wont make the fan vote but the coaches should put him in for sure

[HornetJail]

Al should make the All-Star team, he wont make the fan vote but the coaches should put him in for sure

Horford is also quietly having the best year of his career. Of course, now Brook Lopez is injured, it could happen. Hibbert is a lock. Noah is his usual self, but Chicago is looking awful. Chandler's been hurt and NY is a wreck. Gortat looks alright, but nothing special. Nikola Vucevic is looking great as well, but again Orlando is terrible. Bosh is part of the big 3 and will still make it despite averaging 15/6. Al Jefferson has an outside chance, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[catch20two]

I don't see how Jefferson wouldn't make it unless his ankle injury lingers. The only players at the C position that can arguably considered better this year is Horford and Drummond. Horford don't rebound as well and Drummond don't score as well. Add in the emergence of the ahem lowly Bobcats as a playoff contender and they have to let him in.

[JDR720]

well the Center position isn't on the ballots anymore so that is one thing going against him, so he'll have to out do one of the forwards to get in which shouldn't be that hard if he averages close to 20/10 and Charlotte stays in the playoff hunt

[catch20two]

I know they no longer have the C position on the ballot but the coaches usually tend to vote with needing the C position in mind. That's how Noah got in last year without outstanding raw numbers.

[Marvel]

I could give a stuff about the all star team, as long as this team is winning i'll be happy with that.

[Elden Payton]

I think every step on the path to credibility is progress and having one or possibly 2 all-stars this season will help with that in mind.

Al needs to get his FG percent up and if he does and we are entrenched in the playoff hunt then he (and Kemba) deserve it.

[JDR720]

a lot of people still talk about this team like it is still the worst team in NBA history, one of our players getting into the All-Star game will help a lot

[HornetJail]

a lot of people still talk about this team like it is still the worst team in NBA history, one of our players getting into the All-Star game will help a lot

Kemba has Irving, Wall, Deron, Jennings, Teague, and MCW as his main competition for the all star game.
Jefferson has Noah, Hibbert, Vucevic, Bosh, Horford, Hawes, Drummond as his main competition.

Looks a lot more like for Kemba than Al. Al isn't passing Hibbert or Drummond and Bosh will get voted in as a member of the Heat's Big 3. Lucky for Kemba, all of Jennings, Teague, Deron, and MCW aren't likely to make it because their teams suck/they suck.

[thruthefire]

Let's see how he does over the next 8 weeks. There are several centers who are more deserving right now.

[catch20two]

Let's see how he does over the next 8 weeks. There are several centers who are more deserving right now.

Like who? Only Horford and Drummond can make a case as being better than Jefferson and of course Hibbert will get the winning team vote. I don't know about several being more deserving. Maybe a few.

[Elden Payton]

Hibbert is definitely better than Jefferson imo.