NotDeadYet
Well-Known Member
Oh, and he RARELY missed a foul shot...
Utah's Jefferson back in best shape ever (6 photos to look at)
- Thread starter TurboNed
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Thee Jazz Fan
Well-Known Member
He was truly one of the NBA's true hidden gems.
Thee Jazz Fan
Well-Known Member
Best game I ever went to was against the Sonics, where he went 8 for 8 from three. He just didn't miss in that game.
Sorry, I was busy living life and didn't see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s6AFho1XtE roughly the 3 min mark he talks about his reputation for poor defense and how he is going to change that in Utah. I could wade through several other local articles where he mentions that he promises to lift his defensive game. That work?
jope
Well-Known Member
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.”
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.”
LogGrad98
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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.
vslice02
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
Zerol
Active Member
Yes I remember questioning - how is AK not 250 lbs? 235 lbs + 10 to 15 does not equal 235 lbs.
carolinajazz
Well-Known Member
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!
....if they show any of his jailhouse tats....I don't want to see them!
