Big Al's Paint: The Al Jefferson Thread

[mrknowitall215]

Am I the only one that feel like Jefferson is a important figurehead to this team despite lacking defensive ability/effort? We don't make the playoffs last year and realize our true potential without Jefferson signing with Charlotte

I dislike his defense more than anyone of us, but at the end of the day, we can win with him if he's used properly

You and I seem to be 100% on the same page when it comes to Al.

I just don't get it on why everyone want to write him off so easily just because we managed to win a few games without him. Jefferson is on a fair contract with not many years remaining on it. If somebody would've mentioned trading Jefferson being traded at the end of last year going into this year while Kemba was shooting 35%, I'm absolutely sure that the consensus of this board would've been against it. Give me Jefferson over Stephenson any day of the week, tomorrow & yesterday, because Stephenson isn't a driving force to a team being a contender, just a cog, while Jefferson had a All-NBA season on top of a 20 PPG/10 RPG career and just turned 30 years old this past month

What evidence beyond sample size has proven is that we won with Jefferson, and floundered with Stephenson

Most important of all things that should be mentioned when talking about Jefferson though is...he wants to be here. Can't say that about too many if any All-Star caliber talents around the league

[BeesWax]

Am I the only one that feel like Jefferson is a important figurehead to this team despite lacking defensive ability/effort? We don't make the playoffs last year and realize our true potential without Jefferson signing with Charlotte

I dislike his defense more than anyone of us, but at the end of the day, we can win with him if he's used properly

You and I seem to be 100% on the same page when it comes to Al.

I just don't get it on why everyone want to write him off so easily just because we managed to win a few games without him. Jefferson is on a fair contract with not many years remaining on it. If somebody would've mentioned trading Jefferson being traded at the end of last year going into this year while Kemba was shooting 35%, I'm absolutely sure that the consensus of this board would've been against it. Give me Jefferson over Stephenson any day of the week, tomorrow & yesterday, because Stephenson isn't a driving force to a team being a contender, just a cog, while Jefferson had a All-NBA season on top of a 20 PPG/10 RPG career and just turned 30 years old this past month

What evidence beyond sample size has proven is that we won with Jefferson, and floundered with Stephenson

Most important of all things that should be mentioned when talking about Jefferson though is...he wants to be here. Can't say that about too many if any All-Star caliber talents around the league

If he is held accountable and tries he is fine. Problem is he did not seem to care to start this season and every statistical measure said we played better when he was not on the floor. If he was hurt then we should have rested him way earlier because he cost us multiple games with what appeared to be just a complete lack of effort.

[yosemiteben]

Some day Cliff has to play Biz and Al together, right? Still seems so bizarre to be that that hasn't happened.

[BeesWax]

If we can find a way to hide Al's lack of effort on defense then he could be an asset. As he was playing early this season he was giving up as much or more than he was getting us. Now if he had been injured for a while that could explain it with his also being out of shape. I just don't see the need to rush him back. Get him healthy and on a treadmill ASAP and put him back in when he can give effort on both ends while he is there.

[mrknowitall215]

If he is held accountable and tries he is fine. Problem is he did not seem to care to start this season and every statistical measure said we played better when he was not on the floor. If he was hurt then we should have rested him way earlier because he cost us multiple games with what appeared to be just a complete lack of effort.

This is where I throw blame at Clifford. I think Jefferson was limited to how much effort he could put forth on the floor due to poor conditioning which resulted in a injury as it wore on him. Injuries like hamstrings & groin pulls are usually related to pushing yourself beyond your conditioning. Clifford has to learn how not to be so lenient on Jefferson, and realize that there are other ways to play other than the proclaimed 'Alfense', something I think he's figuring out as a blessing in disguise in wake of Jefferson's absence

A part of Jefferson not being able to come into this season well conditioned was because he had to stay off that foot that he caught plantar fasciitis on throughout the offseason to make sure it healed properly. I don't blame Jefferson for not being held accountable for actions beyond his ability and conditioning. I blame Clifford for that

[mrknowitall215]

If we can find a way to hide Al's lack of effort on defense then he could be an asset. As he was playing early this season he was giving up as much or more than he was getting us. Now if he had been injured for a while that could explain it with his also being out of shape. I just don't see the need to rush him back. Get him healthy and on a treadmill ASAP and put him back in when he can give effort on both ends while he is there.

We're the 4th ranked defense in the NBA this year with Jefferson & MKG on the floor together (without Stephenson). We were the same last year throughout the entire season. We probably could be even better if Clifford made situational offense-for-defense substitutions with Jefferson/Biyombo in the 4th quarter of games when it strategically could give us a advantage

[mrknowitall215]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

[yosemiteben]

I think we all agree that a hobbled Al is no fun to watch. It's like people forgot how we played defense last year though. Give us a healthy Al and MKG and it can be done.

[BeesWax]

Dirk is bad but he tries. The problem was Al did not even try. He was giving up more than he was getting and was a net loss. Al goes through spurts when he just cares about himself and not the result of the game. That is one issue you will never get from Biz or Maxiel. If Al had half the heart those two show he could be great.

[mrknowitall215]

I think we all agree that a hobbled Al is no fun to watch. It's like people forgot how we played defense last year though. Give us a healthy Al and MKG and it can be done.

We've played top-5 defense this year with a hobbled Jefferson with MKG (without Stephenson) though. It's as if people want to throw out their own theories, use advanced stats when it's beneficial to their argument, but dismay it when it make their point moot

Stephenson has been by far worse than Jefferson this year, and has no track record that would make him appear to be a more net positive player moving forward

[BeesWax]

I think we all agree that a hobbled Al is no fun to watch. It's like people forgot how we played defense last year though. Give us a healthy Al and MKG and it can be done.

We've played top-5 defense this year with a hobbled Jefferson with MKG (without Stephenson) though. It's as if people want to throw out their own theories, use advanced stats when it's beneficial to their argument, but dismay it when it make their point moot

Stephenson has been by far worse than Jefferson this year, and has no track record that would make him appear to be a more net positive player moving forward

Have we? When Al has been on the court we score less and give up more per 100 possessions. According to NBA.com stats he is -9 per 100 while Biz is +5. Outside of Taylor he has our worst net rtg. Last season his two were closer and in our favor.

[stinger14]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all. Remember how much better Portland got after signing Robin Lopez

[BeesWax]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all.

If Al had some range on his jumper we could run just like Dallas but he needs the post and Biz can barely score if not dunking so they don't mesh well on that end.

[stinger14]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all.

If Al had some range on his jumper we could run just like Dallas but he needs the post and Biz can barely score if not dunking so they don't mesh well on that end.

I don't want them on the floor together. I was making a point of why you cannot compare Dirk and Al. Biz should start, Al should run Alfense with second unit

[BeesWax]

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all.

If Al had some range on his jumper we could run just like Dallas but he needs the post and Biz can barely score if not dunking so they don't mesh well on that end.

I don't want them on the floor together. I was making a point of why you cannot compare Dirk and Al. Biz should start, Al should run Alfense with second unit

I am not sure he would accept that. It is what should happen but I do not know if he would be willing to accept a smaller role.

[stinger14]

If Al had some range on his jumper we could run just like Dallas but he needs the post and Biz can barely score if not dunking so they don't mesh well on that end.

I don't want them on the floor together. I was making a point of why you cannot compare Dirk and Al. Biz should start, Al should run Alfense with second unit

I am not sure he would accept that. It is what should happen but I do not know if he would be willing to accept a smaller role.

He should. Less minutes keeps him rested and healthy. He probably doesn't though, which serves the question, is his attitude any better than Lance? We all know he is lazy and selfish, not setting screens or hustling on defense are a couple of examples. Not doing what is best for team would be another. Do it anyway, if he is unhappy, then he will opt out which is great.

[catch20two]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all. Remember how much better Portland got after signing Robin Lopez

Whoa whoa whoa, MKG is the anchor of our defense even with Biz out there. There isn't any premier scoring bigs in the NBA like over 10 years ago. The center is not the anchor of every defense but it would help if he could defend at a above average level and give some effort unlike Al.

FYI the Mavs have had good defenses without Chandler with Dejuan Blair midget self there. Chandler just make them a little better.

[mrknowitall215]

I think we all agree that a hobbled Al is no fun to watch. It's like people forgot how we played defense last year though. Give us a healthy Al and MKG and it can be done.

We've played top-5 defense this year with a hobbled Jefferson with MKG (without Stephenson) though. It's as if people want to throw out their own theories, use advanced stats when it's beneficial to their argument, but dismay it when it make their point moot

Stephenson has been by far worse than Jefferson this year, and has no track record that would make him appear to be a more net positive player moving forward

Have we? When Al has been on the court we score less and give up more per 100 possessions. According to NBA.com stats he is -9 per 100 while Biz is +5. Outside of Taylor he has our worst net rtg. Last season his two were closer and in our favor.

I'll find the post that showed us to still be a top-5 defense this year in spite of Jefferson's lack of effort with MKG in the lineup and with Stephenson out

Have Jefferson slowed our offensive production this year? Yes, because opposing teams have scouted 'Alfense', adjusted to 'Alfense', stopped 'Alfense', and Clifford has just been too stubborn or lacked creativity to try something different...or better yet, make Jefferson sit if he isn't healthy (until recently)

[Eoghan]

I still don't think Al carried the team last year as much as natural development from the core and competent coaching. His weaknesses are so bad that even scoring at will a lot last year didn't garner all star consideration. He is not all-star caliber, he just isn't. Dude can't even set a proper screen.

[mrknowitall215]

Jefferson is no less of a defender than Nowitzki has been for Carlisle's prized defensive strategy in Dallas. Every team usually have at least one weak defensive link. We've managed to hide Jefferson in Clifford's scheme to a varying degree that could be better

Oh wow, you cannot compare the two of them at all. Dirk does not play center, Al plays center. The center is the anchor of the defense. Dallas realized their mistake and traded to get Tyson Chandler back. Chandler is the anchor, he is there to erase mistakes by others like Dirk. Biz does this for us, and Al, well not so much, in fact not at all. Remember how much better Portland got after signing Robin Lopez

Yes, I can compare the two. You don't have to be a C to be a rim protector (i.e. Serge Ibaka). We haven't addressed necessary fits or lineups on our roster to assure ourselves of having a rim protector alongside Jefferson during spurts throughout the game when it's been needed

Teams have used Nowitzki's lack of pick-and-roll defense against Dallas, but Carlisle always manage to make adjustments like switching into a zone defense to make sure his team isn't disadvantageous throughout the game