What's new
By:

Big Al ranked 3rd best NBA center- ESPN

I really do hope Utah keeps Jefferson and i'd even go as far as Fez just to have some bigger bodies to throw at Kanter and Favors at practice everyday. It would just make them that much better. ALso I want Kanter to learn the big Al pump fake!. I'd really like to see the big man rotation be Favors, Jefferson with Kanter off the bench. Then try and move Miles for Gordon Dragic.
 
Top 6 Centers

Howard
P. Gasol
Noah
Big Al
M. Gasol
Gortat

Top 11 Centers (if they weren't always injured

Howard
Bogut
Bynun
Oden
Noah
Gasol
Jefferson
Gasol
Kamen
Gortat
Chandler

Top 3 Centers End of next season

Howard
Jefferson
Kanter
 
I think I'd take Javale McGee over Gortat. McGee would be better if he was surrounded by a coherent team. I'd also take Brook Lopez over Gortat, probably Marc Gasol too. Marc Gasol had a good playoffs, but he benefited from Zach Randolph drawing double and triple teams. On his own, he's not that big an impact player.
 
Golfman said:
ESPN.com writer Chris Palmer has been doing stories recently (Insider Only, unfortunately) naming the Top 5 players in the NBA at each position.

His list of top 5 centers was interesting. https://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6815801/dwight-howard-best-nba-center

1. Dwight Howard
2. Joakim Noah
3. Al Jefferson
4. Andrew Bynum
5. Tyson Chandler

That is not a very impressive list after Howard.

Since it's an insider story, I can' post it all, but here is what they said about Big Al.

"Jefferson toggles between power forward and center, but because of his brawn he often draws defensive center assignments so I'm plugging him in here. Big Al is one of the true back-to-the-basket low post players in this league who is proud to make a living five feet from the hoop. He's got a nice variety of pump fakes and step through moves on the block and knows how to use his broad shoulders to clear space without picking up the foul. Jefferson has exceptional fluidity for a man his size and likes to turn and face from about 10 feet away tossing out an exploratory jab step before skirting the baseline to finish with a jam. His gem though is starting with his back to the basket on the left block and offering a hard left shoulder fake before spinning in the opposite direction. Using his size to back into the paint he can easily set up his efficient jump hook from the dots. His oversized mitts allow him to finish with touch at the rim when he can't elevate for the jam. He's had some durability issues in the past but seems to be beyond that playing in a total of 158 games out of a possible 164 in the last two seasons."
Click to expand...
How symbolic that this description of Jefferson makes no mention of defense
(+7.2 points per 48 when he's off the court).
 
zman1527 said:
Not to mention winning games and making those around you better. Oh, well, lets hope its true and quit believing our lying eyes.
Click to expand...
Yep, that explains the negative correlation between Jefferson's scoring and the Jazz's win rate.
https://www.saltcityhoops.com/al-jeffersons-in-season-improvement/

But yes, Big Al did put in the winning basket against that perennial dynasty, the Toronto Raptors.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/10/al-jefferson-buzzer-beater_n_834006.html

[Still crickets on the defensive discussion]
 
InGameStrategy said:
How symbolic that this description of Jefferson makes no mention of defense
(+7.2 points per 48 when he's off the court).
Click to expand...

Yea, it makes the writer seem credible for putting Jefferson in the top 3. No defense for a C is a recipe for disaster. (Which is what the Jazz got last year)
 
orangello said:
Yea, it makes the writer seem credible for putting Jefferson in the top 3. No defense for a C is a recipe for disaster. (Which is what the Jazz got last year)
Click to expand...

Whens the last time the Jazz had a defensive C again...?? Using this logic, the Jazz shouldve missed the playoffs annualy upon Eaton's departure.
 
PS: to orangello, ArmChairStrategy, NUMBERICA + all other BigAl haters who say that he detriments a team, and does have "a winning spirit" that he can instill in teammates in comparison to other Centers, heres some data that might fire a few synapses of yours':

https://www.82games.com/1011/CSORT11.HTM

Big Al is 19 Down. Not only is he the most clutch center on that list, but Durant and Westbrook were the only 2 players who scored more in clutch time after logging more "clutch" minutes. Extremely impressive stuff.
 
39-43, with Al's boost in production coming with the losing streak.

But yeah, I'm super duper impressed.
 
dalamon said:
PS: to orangello, ArmChairStrategy, NUMBERICA + all other BigAl haters who say that he detriments a team, and does have "a winning spirit" that he can instill in teammates in comparison to other Centers, heres some data that might fire a few synapses of yours':

https://www.82games.com/1011/CSORT11.HTM

Big Al is 19 Down. Not only is he the most clutch center on that list, but Durant and Westbrook were the only 2 players who scored more in clutch time after logging more "clutch" minutes. Extremely impressive stuff.
Click to expand...

When I saw the name Thornton for SAC on the list above Jefferson I knew that this had proved my point. His "clutchness" does not turn into wins. Also, to your miscredit this list is based on a per 48 min of clutchtime. So it doesn't matter how many minutes that Big Al played it was going off of his average.

I just want to point out one more time that this list just proves what I have thought about Al all season long. Thank you dalamon.
 
Here is another stats from this list for quick reference. Jeffersons assist average for clutch time is 1.7. So according to this list in 4 4th quarters Jefferson assisted on less than two baskets for the Jazz.
 
Also I don't consider some of these players to be clutch. Rose, Mo Williams, Ellis, Westbrook, Billups. They are all ahead of Jefferson on this list. This list is all about scoring. We know that Jefferson can do that, what we are talking about is overall team effectiveness and win percentages. I would say that Jefferson is very low and possiblky negative for both of those.
 
Look, I am not trying to say that Jefferson is a bad player. I liked that the Jazz went and got him from Minny. I always had this lingering doubt about if he could produce for a winning team. After watching this year I can honestly say that the answer is no, he can't. He is a great guy and I will always cheer for him. In fact I did cheer for him in Minny anytime he was playing someone other than the Jazz. I fought with others when they said that he should not be an all-star because he didn't play for a winning team. I had his back in every argument even until this season ended.

When I started looking back on things his production and his ability to help the team win games became clear to me. I hope the best for Jefferson and I hope that he can help a team win and get into the playoffs. I just don't believe that he can do that unless he has two other go to scorers ahead of him.

My biggest concerns about Jefferson and the Jazz are this. One, his contract is big and his wins are low. We are a small market team and contracts like Jeffersons and AKs hurt the organization. Two, because we have Jefferson that is one more person taking away playing tim from the young players that have potential to be good. Potential is a very dangerous word and most of the time I go with the proven player over the potential player but Jefferson, in a Jazz uniform, has not proved to be more valuable then a high draft pick to me.

I am not trying to change peoples minds about him. People will think what they want to but in the end if you want wins then it is time to look elsewhere. I hope that he cna do some contributing at the beginning of the season so that the Jazz can get some great pieces in return for him before the trade deadline.
 
I always had this lingering doubt about if he could produce for a winning team.
Click to expand...

Was he not producing when before the Jazz lost Sloan and DWill? When they were 27-13 or something?

Short window yes. But it does show it's somewhat possible right?

Al has been on some horrid teams, and I realize he is not a franchise player. However he is big and talented. I think he could produce and be a valuable piece on a winning team.
 
orangello said:
When I saw the name Thornton for SAC on the list above Jefferson I knew that this had proved my point. His "clutchness" does not turn into wins. Also, to your miscredit this list is based on a per 48 min of clutchtime. So it doesn't matter how many minutes that Big Al played it was going off of his average.

I just want to point out one more time that this list just proves what I have thought about Al all season long. Thank you dalamon.
Click to expand...

a) Thornton played less than half the minutes of Jefferson, along with several other players that are considered "clutch" IE Durant Kobe and the likes.
b) look at the second column in the graph; Total time in "clutch-time". Notice how all of the premier "clutch" players in the NBA log MUCH more minutes (around the realm of AlJeff) than someone like Thornton. Sorry Orangello, but you just proved your own stupidity with this post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top