POLL: What to do with Big Al

[MasterIchiro]

If you guys think Jefferson was out of shape when the season started just wait until he comes back.

Exactly, it gives Cliff plenty of cover to keep Jefferson on the 2nd unit as long as it takes to instill his expected new role in KEMBALL

[Braggins]

"Kemball" I like it.

Hopefully as soon as Al went down the coaching staff started working with him on a plan to get healthy and back in shape that involved a very strict diet to control his weight or even reduce it while hes out. I'm not even sure how much that would help at this point but it definitely wouldn't hurt. At least Clifford should know how to win without Al now and will only play him the amount of minutes he can handle while giving full effort on both ends.

[MasterIchiro]

"Kemball" I like it.

Hopefully as soon as Al went down the coaching staff started working with him on a plan to get healthy and back in shape that involved a very strict diet to control his weight or even reduce it while hes out. I'm not even sure how much that would help at this point but it definitely wouldn't hurt. At least Clifford should know how to win without Al now and will only play him the amount of minutes he can handle while giving full effort on both ends.

It's ironic Clifford's talent has emerged without Al. When guys sense more involvement they grow hungry. They're not going to let Al waltz back in here and eat their lunch. Clifford can't allow that.

[Braggins]

"Kemball" I like it.

Hopefully as soon as Al went down the coaching staff started working with him on a plan to get healthy and back in shape that involved a very strict diet to control his weight or even reduce it while hes out. I'm not even sure how much that would help at this point but it definitely wouldn't hurt. At least Clifford should know how to win without Al now and will only play him the amount of minutes he can handle while giving full effort on both ends.

It's ironic Clifford's talent has emerged without Al. When guys sense more involvement they grow hungry. They're not going to let Al waltz back in here and eat their lunch. Clifford can't allow that.

It is on Clifford and the players, especially Kemba and MKG, to not let control of the team go back to Al. The young guys can't go back to deferring to him once he returns. It is on them to stay aggressive and play their way regardless of what Al wants or how he ends up fitting or not fitting with the team.

I brought up the possibility earlier in the season that being forced into the impossible situation of making everything work around Al was holding Clifford back. I pretty much completely threw that theory out the window after Al started playing hurt and Clifford still refused to change anything. Now that he has been forced to make the rest of the roster work without Al it does seem like he has done a much better job. We are seeing things in our offense I never would have expected and he has even been managing the lineups much better and holding veterans accountable. I might be the biggest Clifford hater on here with the possible exception of BD but I have to admit that this latest run of games have me breathing a sigh of relief.

[MasterIchiro]

They all have a greater stake in this team. And they're all much younger than Al. I'm grateful for that. Hendo is relevant again, so even the longest tenured player has something to lose. These guys won't let it happen. Al is going to have to work on his conditioning on the 2nd unit following in the shadow of Lance. What a perfect storm. Al can't say we're picking on him because Lance will get the same treatment before it even happens. But since Al is in such horrible shape, I believe he will be stuck on the 2nd unit for a lot longer than some expect. Clifford has plenty of cover.

One possibility though is Charlotte coaching staff and front office realize Al is a major health risk and they can't depend on him, so they have to target a big man at the deadline. That might cost Lance his place on the team if he doesn't excel as 6th man (rumor was they were shopping Lance for a big man). We really need Lance to shine to insulate him. They can get a cheaper big man that doesn't require Lance. What they should do is swing Al over to the Nets, take on a bad contract like Joe Johnson and try to get Plumlee.

[TheKingofSting]

Trade him before the deadline for whatever we can get. (Hopefully picks)

[Eoghan]

Unfortunately, I don't think it's even a possibility that Al comes off the bench when he's healthy. Clifford would start Al with a peg-leg over Biyombo, he hates Biz for ruining his #spacing and offensive rebounding just that much.

[Diop]

can one of you stat's boffins look into the offensive rebounding for me? Is Al better on the O boards?

Biz always seems active on the boards.

I think Clifford doesn't like it when Biz gets too excited and doesn't do exactly what Clifford wants. He likes low risk players.

RIP Lance

[Braggins]

You're probably right. I can still dream of the day when Cliff chooses to play Jefferson 25 minutes.