Al Jefferson: Not as good as we thought?

[celticsclay]

Like a lot of celtics fans, I have a lot of love for Al Jefferson. I was really sad to see him go, even though I was excited to get KG. However, as I have followed him over the last few years I have started to become disappointed. I kind of thought that Al Jefferson would be a clear all star at this point in his career (having just turned 25 and his 6th season in the league). However, he just doesn't seem to have improved that much since leaving here. By all accounts his defense is still pretty lousy. On top of that, his offensive game seems to have fallen off some. While some may argue that it is expected his numbers would be down because he is coming off his injury
last season, the trend of his number paints a little different picture. After a slow start in November, his game picked up in december and January peaking when he averaged a double double last month. However this month he is down to 14.5 points and 7.5 points per game. Since the wolves aren't exactly an elite team I have not watched a lot of his games. Perhaps someone that has had chance could chime in. However, didn't we all expected a little more out of Big Al at this point in his career? Also, I know he is not surrounded by world beaters, but shouldn't a team that also has Kevin Love, Brewer,Gomes and a solid young point guard in Flynn be expected to do a little better then 14 wins at this point in the season? What gives? Why are the wolves still so bad, and will al jefferson ever become the superstar a lot of us thought he would?

To me its looking more and more like no. It is also looking more and more like we made really smart moves to get our championship. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[LarBrd33]

he's had some rough luck.  Injuries, starting his career on a hopeless team and getting traded to a hopeless team.

He could end up like Zach Randolph... someone who eventually ends up on a team surrounded with talent and everyone goes, "Hey... he's [dang] good".   Of course, Randolph has the stink of being a headcase to deal with along with being a loser.  Big Al only has to deal with the "loser" stink.

[Andy Jick]

great low post moves...can't play a lick of defense...injury prone.  that about sums it up.  i like al, but i think he's a 2nd-best-player-on-your-team type of player, not a guy you build a team around.

[2short]

Al has/had wonderful low post moves.  He has the injuries but I think he needs to be surrounded by some very good defensive players to look better.  Honestly I thought danny did a great job moving him but keeping perk who is nowhere near the player but cheaper and a very good defender who pairs great with (a healthy) kg.  
Would you take al or david lee?  I'd take Lee.

[celticsclay]

he's had some rough luck.  Injuries, starting his career on a hopeless team and getting traded to a hopeless team.

He could end up like Zach Randolph... someone who eventually ends up on a team surrounded with talent and everyone goes, "Hey... he's [dang] good".   Of course, Randolph has the stink of being a headcase to deal with along with being a loser.  Big Al only has to deal with the "loser" stink.

Zach Randolph was an injury replacement all star in his 8th season in the league. By the start of next season he will be 29. Even though he is a nice story (at least for this season). I think Al Jefferson having a career similar to that would be a lot less then what most people expected at the time of the trade. A lot of people were thinking Al Jefferson was a franchise guy and perennial all star. Zach Randolph is neither. Also despite Randolphs turnaround season, his team is still only .500 and probably wont make the playoffs.

[celticsclay]

great low post moves...can't play a lick of defense...injury prone.  that about sums it up.  i like al, but i think he's a 2nd-best-player-on-your-team type of player, not a guy you build a team around.

Unless the first guy on your team is named Dwight, Lebron or Kobe a team with Al as its second best player doesn't seem like it would sniff the playoffs anytime soon. For me that is a major disappointment from what he looked like at the age of 22.

[jdpapa3]

He has the problem of being on a really, really bad team. His wings are Wilkins, Gomes, Ellington, Pavlovic and Brewer and a rookie pg who doesn't look right in their offense. Also, he needs a center like Perk beside him to make it work and they just have another PF in Love and one of the worst bbiq's in the game: Ryan Hollins.

The injury seems to have taken some of his quickness away, but I don't think his game has really slipped. Just get this guy some [dang] help! They really should've taken either Curry and Flynn or Curry and Rubio. I don't think Rubio will have a great NBA impact and I can never see him playing for this team. Kahn is a clueless gm.

[Neurotic Guy]

Like most of us, I like Al, but never thought he was going to be a top 10 player. However, injuries and double/triple teams can influence one's stats.  He is a unique player and would be a great 2nd option on a good team. 

[More Banners]

He's also playing out of position.  He's a PF, not a C. 

[footey]

I'd trade him straight up for Perk in a heartbeat.

[bel-ami]

Yes.

Good volume scorer but pretty uneficient for a big.

Solid rebounder but far from being a world beater.

Massive defensive liability. Doesn't pass. Doesn't draw fouls. Shot-hog.

The only reason people though Al Jefferson was a perennial All-Start was because he was a young player drafted by the Celtics.

He's also playing out of position.  He's a PF, not a C. 

Sometimes he already looks too slow to guard Cs. Most of the PFs in the league these days would murder Al Jefferson with their speed and quickness. He's strictly a center.

I don't think Rubio will have a great NBA impact and I can never see him playing for this team. Kahn is a clueless gm.

How do you know?

[More Banners]

Yes.

Good volume scorer but pretty uneficient for a big.

Solid rebounder but far from being a world beater.

Massive defensive liability. Doesn't pass. Doesn't draw fouls. Shot-hog.

The only reason people though Al Jefferson was a perennial All-Start was because he was a young player drafted by the Celtics.

He's also playing out of position.  He's a PF, not a C. 

Sometimes he already looks too slow to guard Cs. Most of the PFs in the league these days would murder Al Jefferson with their speed and quickness. He's strictly a center.

I don't think Rubio will have a great NBA impact and I can never see him playing for this team. Kahn is a clueless gm.

How do you know?

Al doesn't have the size to play C.  His efficiency takes a hit when he posts up bigger/longer defenders every night.  That's why he's better offensively at PF. 

Defensively...well...a victim of riches, perhaps.  His offensive skills are so strong, he's thrown to the wolves (pun intended) on the other end.  He really doesn't have the bulk or the length to defend the post better than average.  His quickness to defend the perimeter--who would play a guy with those offensive skills on the perimeter?  He needs to get better there, but I doubt it's been much of a focus.  Injury really seems to have affected what limited quickness he had, too.

He needs to rotate better on D.  He needs to pass better.

He's also still a pretty good bet to be a perennial 20/10 guy for the next 8 years, which I'll take over an All-Star popularity contest winner any day.

[Roy Hobbs]

As others have said, Big Al isn't exactly in a position to succeed.  He's playing out of position, next to another power forward who has a game that doesn't complement his.  His back court and small forwards are terrible, and his coach can't figure out who the offense should run through.  To top it off, he's still recovering from multiple injuries.

Big Al needs to commit more to defense, and he could improve his court vision / passing.  However, in terms of the stagnation of his development, I blame that more on outside factors than I do on a lack of talent.

[ThaPreacher]

Al has/had wonderful low post moves.  He has the injuries but I think he needs to be surrounded by some very good defensive players to look better.  Honestly I thought danny did a great job moving him but keeping perk who is nowhere near the player but cheaper and a very good defender who pairs great with (a healthy) kg.  
Would you take al or david lee?  I'd take Lee.

LOL, David Lee over Al Jefferson

Jefferson should have been an all-star last year.


David Lee has indeed improved from his college career where he totally underachieved, from the hype he got out of Prep
School.  He has done well making a mark for himself as a scrapper.  But he is a role player at best.

Not one GM in the league would take David Lee over Al Jefferson.  David Lee's parents wouldn't take him over Al.

And don't kid yourself.  If Danny could go Perkins for Jefferson straight up, he would.  All day, any day.

Within the Celtic Organization, some are still arguing the Jefferson vs KG deal.  Though Banner 17 holds great weight, in my opinion over a "what if".  However,
So far Boston has only gotten one good complete season out of KG.  It would have been curious how the Celtics with Ray Allen
would fared.  

Mind you, I love KG and his intangibles are what make the Celtics a Championship contender.  The trade is still young.

Boston gave back to Minnesota   their First Round pick
and Minnesota's first round pick.
Jefferson,
Gomes,
Telfair
Theo Ratliff
Gerald Green.

Telfair was later dealt for Quetin Richardson
Ratliff was later bought out.
Green was traded for Kirk Snyder and a 2nd round pick.


David Lee over Scalabrine all day long.
But not over Big Al Jefferson.

And he does play some defense.  Less than KG,
but more than a lick to the center of a tootsie roll lolipop

[Roy Hobbs]

Al has/had wonderful low post moves.  He has the injuries but I think he needs to be surrounded by some very good defensive players to look better.  Honestly I thought danny did a great job moving him but keeping perk who is nowhere near the player but cheaper and a very good defender who pairs great with (a healthy) kg.  
Would you take al or david lee?  I'd take Lee.

LOL, David Lee over Al Jefferson

Jefferson should have been an all-star last year.


David Lee has indeed improved from his college career where he totally underachieved, from the hype he got out of Prep
School.  He has done well making a mark for himself as a scrapper.  But he is a role player at best.

Not one GM in the league would take David Lee over Al Jefferson.  David Lee's parents wouldn't take him over Al.

And don't kid yourself.  If Danny could go Perkins for Jefferson straight up, he would.  All day, any day.

Within the Celtic Organization, some are still arguing the Jefferson vs KG deal.  Though Banner 17 holds great weight, in my opinion over a "what if".  However,
So far Boston has only gotten one good complete season out of KG.  It would have been curious how the Celtics with Ray Allen
would fared.  

Mind you, I love KG and his intangibles are what make the Celtics a Championship contender.  The trade is still young.

Boston gave back to Minnesota   their First Round pick
and Minnesota's first round pick.
Jefferson,
Gomes,
Telfair
Theo Ratliff
Gerald Green.

Telfair was later dealt for Quetin Richardson
Ratliff was later bought out.
Green was traded for Kirk Snyder and a 2nd round pick.


David Lee over Scalabrine all day long.
But not over Big Al Jefferson.

And he does play some defense.  Less than KG,
but more than a lick to the center of a tootsie roll lolipop

I love Big Al.  However, I think you're underrating David Lee, to suggest that the two players aren't in the same class.  I mean, Lee leads in points, rebounds, rebound rate, assists, FG% (by a large margin), and FT%.  Steals, turnovers, and fouls are virtually even, with blocks the only category that Big Al leads in, either in terms of raw stats or on a per minute basis.

In terms of the KG vs. Big Al trade, you make that trade all day, every day, even in hindsight.  I'm very skeptical that any mid- to high-level member of the Celtics organization would have any second thoughts about that trade at all.