Al Jefferson Is Finally Playing Like An All-Star
Al Jefferson
This was supposed to be Al Jefferson’s year. Coming into the season, the Timberwolves star was supposed to be the most dominant big man in the West and a lock for the All-Star Game in Dallas. Between him, Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn, the Wolves were expected to be an improved team this season.
But things haven’t quite panned out like that so far. As of today, the Wolves are a horrible 3-21 and have lost four straight games. Jefferson’s season has also been a disappointment so far. His stats are significantly down from a season ago (16.5 ppg, 9 rpg, 1 bpg on 46.5 percent shooting versus 23.1 ppg, 11 rpg, 1.7 bpg on 49.7 percent shooting in 2009-10). As for being an All-Star this year? Big Al isn’t even in the running.
In fairness, the Wolves have been dealing with a variety of issues that date back to last summer. Jefferson is coming back from a knee injury that shelved him for the final 32 games of last season. The team had to adjust to new coach Kurt Rambis and the triangle offense that he runs. Jefferson had also missed a few games this season due to the death of his grandmother. Love, had missed the the team’s first 18 games due to an injury of his own. Ricky Rubio refusing to play for the T-Wolves also didn’t help.
While this season is on its way to being another lottery-bound year, things have started to look up for Jefferson. Despite starting the season slow, he has really shown glimpses of his old self in the past few weeks by putting up six-straight double-doubles. In that six-game stretch, he’s averaged 19 ppg, 12.6 rpg while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. Jefferson clearly plays better and feels more comfortable when K-Love is in the lineup. The defense can’t just focus on shutting down Al now, they are also forced to concentrate on Love.
It’s going to be a long, cold season in Minnesota, but expect them to continue to make strides. Jefferson has the talent to be one of the top three centers in the League and along with Love, could form one of the the best frontcourts in the NBA. With Flynn, Corey Brewer and the additions they’ll likely get through the draft and free agency, the Wolves might be relevant again by next season.
Is Jefferson and Love the best young frontcourt in the NBA?
December 14th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Jefferson is a nowadays Center..
We’re so big on Pts and Boards.. Look at how effective Ben Wallace has been in his career and dude rarely ever scored over 6pts a game..
Center position protects the rim and deters drivers.. Jefferon is a great 20&10 players but THATS IT..
Like Danny Granger manning the SF spot but never getting steals or blocks but still dropping Pts.. All sizzle but no pop..
December 14th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
two times says:
Z-Bo is a great example of a 20 and 10 player that will never be a winner…Hopefully Al Jeff isn’t that kind of player.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Name (required) says:
Love and Jefferson both are/will be really good players. But i don’t see them together as a great frontcourt. They both score and grab rebounds but play no D and shy away from the dirty work. They’re both power forwards who really need to be playing next to a good Defensive Center. Right now they kinda remind me of Z-Bo and Eddy trying to play together in NY (except less fat’n'attitude)
December 14th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
AirJustinn says:
Great write up!
Definitely, I feel the same way(As the writer, not the commentors). I watched their past two games, and their offense seems way more fluid than before. With Rambis tere running the triangle, I think they’re one of the best big man front courts in the league. But, basketball is a team game, and the mixture of youth, lack of experience and skill is going to hurt them.
While their front court is exceptional, it’s going to be hard for the rest of the players to excel in the system. The Lakers triangle is so effective cause almost everyone in their starting lineup can post up and isolate the floor at any given time, the same can’t be said about the ‘Wolves. Their sg and sf play is pretty weak and probably one of the worst around the league, and Johnny is essentially ineffective in the system – ala Derek Fisher.
Long story short: For the system to work, they’ll have to invest in a sg that can score and consistently avg around 13-15 ppg
December 14th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Rafa23 says:
@ Lakeshow
I agree granger could do more, but lol @ him not getting steals or blocks. he is better than lebron in those categories and wasn’t far behind last year.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Coop says:
LakeShow are you joking about Granger? The guy has averaged over one steal and one block for the last 3 seasons including this one.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Ok ok i mightve over exaggerated on Granger a lil lol..
My bad my bad.. But u guys kno what im talkin about..
December 15th, 2009 at 1:58 am
gregory says:
He played really well tonight in Minnesota’s win AT Utah. He put up his usual as of late 20 plus points and double digit rebounds and he hit a very important jumper late in the game. He’s not usually the clutchest of players but he came through.
What put Minnesota on the winning side was having guys on the perimeter contribute along with him. He hasn’t had that much in his career, not even in Boston because he didn’t get to play with Pierce much during his three years there. The first year, as a rookie out of high school, saw the floor little because of youth and constant foul trouble and when he did, it was usually when Pierce was resting. In his second season, he was injured a lot and was terribly foul-prone and in his third, when he finally got going, Pierce was out for a long time with an injury.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:04 am
jau says:
bosh/bargnani vs jefferson/love? I like the twolves frontcourt for rebounds and defence but the raptors frontcourt can score with the best of em
December 15th, 2009 at 9:16 am
AdvancedMind says:
Al’s lack in numbers is more so a product of Johnny “i never saw a shot i didnt like” Flynn. Also i see alot of Corey Brewer jacking shots up looking like a small JILL NOAH, or what ever her name is, you know the chick that plays for the BULLS, Anderson VaJayJay’s long lost twin brother/sister. The Wolves actually have a good front line with Love and Jefferson, but they dropped the ball on there draft picks this year. They need a true point guard to help the bigs get some easy buckets. Instead they went with that really chocolate elf Flynn and a SCRUB from Spain who “for what ever reason” thinks hes to cold blooded to play for the Wolves.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Arno says:
Howard – Anderson is young and much better.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Pet Society Help says:
Zach Randolph did more than this bum on worse teams.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:13 am
sh!tfaced says:
As long as we don’t talk defense, then yeah, Big Al and Love is the best young frontcourt is the NBA.
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:11 am
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