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Utah's Jefferson back in best shape ever (6 photos to look at)

sepanol said:
How good was Hornacek. i didnt watch jazz back then, so i am just curious
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Here's a couple highlight video's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Jwt00dYHQ

Here's my favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5j6ORbPJYI&feature=related
 
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Thee jazz fan said:
You missed out he was as good if not a better shooter then Korver was, more consistent foul shooter from year to year. Unlike Korver he could create his own shot, wasn't just a spot up shooter, was crafty with the ball in his hands, and an elite passer. He had a great tear drop shot that was near impossible to defend. Before he came to Utah, the Jazz they were always considered a good team but never elite. Jeff Hornacek was the final piece that made the Jazz championship contenders
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Before he came to Utah I HATED HATED HATED when we played against his teams. He always seemed to have big games against us. Probably because of Sloan's defensive mentality that left 3 pt shooters open, and with his ability to drive and get off a shot if you challenged him it always seemed he had a hayday against us. I was THRILLED when we picked him up.

I really think Hayward could be that type of player. His play last year reminded me a lot of Horny. That is probably Hayward's ceiling. I sure hope we get to see that kind of play from him.
 
Thee jazz fan said:
You missed out he was as good if not a better shooter then Korver was, more consistent foul shooter from year to year. Unlike Korver he could create his own shot, wasn't just a spot up shooter, was crafty with the ball in his hands, and an elite passer. He had a great tear drop shot that was near impossible to defend. Before he came to Utah, the Jazz they were always considered a good team but never elite. Jeff Hornacek was the final piece that made the Jazz championship contenders
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Also an excellent passer. Could pass off the bounce and IMO was the best post-feeder in the game. As good as Stockton as making that lob pass to Malone (when Karl was fronted in the post). Could advance the ball on his own and can't say how many times in the Delta Center he would punctuate a Jazz run with a pullup jumper and force the other team to call a timeout.

Also he was the master of the off-balance runner, and made some of the most difficult shots imaginable - and he would take them in big situations.

This could be the greatest shot I ever saw Horny make - and it was with less than 2 min left in an elimination game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWX2FAYs3ks#t=1m15s
 
Hornacek at 6'4" was like a miniature Larry Bird on the court. Neither big, strong, or fast, he relied on pure smarts and competitiveness. I remember a game where he hit a 3, stole a pass, hit another 3, and either hit a jumper or maybe got fouled. Anyway, it was like 8 points in just a few seconds...
 
From locke's page, discussing al's offseason


Head Coach Tyrone Corbin lit up when talking about Al ““He looked good, his body looked good, he moved very well, his athletic ability improved ,his knees are really strong, it was really important he spent the time (in Santa Barbara) we are seeing the value.”

Al’s commitment stems back to how he felt at the end of the season .* Despite a strong second half of the season averaging 22 pts and 11 rebs while shooting 52% with career highs in blocks, assists and free throw % he would not call the year a success.

“Not a success, can’t be satisfied with that, can’t wait till after the all-star break.* I have to make my teammates better.* I have been a guy with good numbers on a bad team, I want to be the guy with ok or good numbers on a good team.”

Al’s final workout in Santa Barbara showed his hard work.* The drill is to jump on top of a 12 inch box and then back down and then jump up to* 24 inch box and down and then to a 36 inch box.* Al set the goal to be able to clear the entire 36 inch box.** On the final day he did it. ***“No way in the world I could have done that at this time last year,” *said *Jefferson.** Just to add to the accomplishment he jumped to the top of the 42 inch box.

Coach Corbin has noticed, “really has the first two practices on the defensive end, the way he is rotating and getting back, he has already taken three charges in practices.”*

“jumping higher, moving faster,I feel it the hard work is definitely showing right now. Got it keep it going, it was never a problem coming in shape it was staying in shape in season.* I don’t want to let anyone down.* I promised *Kevin I would work, I want to keep my word.”
 
I don't care what anyone else says, I like AJ. I think he is a hard worker and we will see it pay off. He does have a bit lower BB IQ than others, but that can often be made up for by a willingness to put in the time and buy into the team concept. He may surprise a lot of people this year.
 
I agree that Al may suprise alot of people. I think back to a couple of other bigman aquisitions in their transition to Jazzbasketball.

Okur showed up in 04-05 woefully out of shape (played bench minutes w/Detroit then got married that summer) and was so out-of-shape he started behind Jarron Collins to start the season (fyi this wasn't so much a Sloanism - Okur was pretty bad the first week of the season). He showed up in 05-06 in better condition and had the best season of his career.

Carlos Boozer obviously had the foot injury in 04-05, but showed up in 05-06 reportedly in unbelievable shape. Then he injured his hamstring and was setback, but when finally healthy in 06-07 he had the best season of his career in leading the Jazz to the WCF.

We hear Corbin and O'Connor always say how there's being in shape, and then there's being in Jazz shape and it takes a season of first-hand knowledge of what conditioning is required to fully prepare yourself. Alot of big guys in the nba are used to running to a spot on offense and remaining there for much of the possession. They're not used to moving, flashing to the highpost, constantly screening, and they're especially not used to thinking.

If Al's going to make a major leap in improvement w/Utah, it will be between his 1st and 2nd seasons.
 
vslice02 said:
With the exception of guarding Dwight Howard, I don't think arm strength matters as much as endurance, conditioning, quickness, flexibility and mobility. Alot of times big guys worry too much about brute strength and overlook that basketball is a game of skill and quickness.

As always take these training camp reports w/a grain of salt. Remember Kirilenko had about 5 straight years where he "added 10-15 pounds" to his frame in the offseason.
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Yes I remember questioning - how is AK not 250 lbs? 235 lbs + 10 to 15 does not equal 235 lbs.
 
Utah's Jefferson back in best shape ever (6 photos to look at)


....if they show any of his jailhouse tats....I don't want to see them!
 
After watching those hornacek videos all I have to say is...... Please, please, please Hayward learn from him!
 
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