Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"This experience [with the Celtics' injuries]has taught me to be a man," said Jefferson. "You know what Danny [Ainge] told me on my birthday [Jan. 4]? He said, 'The thing about turning 22 is that now you're not a potential player anymore. You've got to show it. You've got to do it.' That stuck to me. Danny always knows the right things to say to me. He knows what to say because he's been here before."I said, 'Yeah, you're right. I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays. I've got to step up and go out there and be a man.' "Asked about the career-high 22 rebounds he grabbed against the Pistons Saturday night in an 81-73 loss at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Jefferson said all he thought about was getting every loose ball. He refused to be denied around the basket. He showed a kind of assertiveness and confidence that will be essential for his basketball growth to continue when Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West return."They're throwing different defenses at me, trapping and not trapping, and it's kind of messing with me," said Jefferson. "[Against the Pistons], I decided I was going to take what they give me. I missed a lot of shots I should have made [5 for 16]. I'll take those shots every night because I'll make them more than I'll miss them."I'm just proud of my defense. I'm proud of how I'm stepping up and not letting guys just do what they want to do on me. I'm there helping my teammates on rotations. I think I'm getting better, picking up the game, learning the game."[With all the injuries], they throw a lot of stuff at you and you've got to learn it. There's no excuses if you don't learn it. Your momma's not here to hold your hand in situations like this."An appendectomy in early November forced him to miss seven games. Then, he needed time to regain his conditioning and feel for the game. But once he did, Jefferson showed glimpses of the player everyone expected he could be.From mid-December through early January, Jefferson racked up double doubles seemingly at will. He set and reset career highs. When he recorded 10 points and 14 rebounds against the LA Clippers Dec. 27, it was his ninth double double this season and his sixth straight. Jefferson recorded his 13th double double of the season Saturday night. With his 22 rebounds, Jefferson is now averaging a double double, with 13.0 points and 10.1 rebounds in almost 30 minutes per game."I thought he was leaking a little confidence in the three games [before Detroit] because they were trapping him and he was turning the ball over; they were playing him physical," said coach Doc Rivers, who gave the Celtics yesterday off. "[Against Detroit] I thought he got it back. What I told him is, 'You've got to stop thinking, just be aggressive. Let the game come to you. Don't think the game. Your instincts will take over.' He has great offensive instincts."He understands if they're going to take his game away, then you've got to do other things to help the team win."Jefferson has learned how to take the constructive criticism offered by Rivers and other members of the coaching staff."[The coaches] have been on me," said Jefferson. "Now, I'm not taking it in a negative way. I'm taking it and learning from it. Paul taught me that they're getting on me because they think I can do it right. They think I'm a good player."I'm proud of myself for taking it and learning from it, instead of taking it, putting my head down, and acting like a baby."</div>http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/ce..._standing_tall/
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." Good to see he realizes its his time to be the big name and to shoulder the load. It sounds like he wants to be a really really good player in this league and is going to take it upon himself to become that player. God I love Al.
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." good for al, he's proving that he's not full of potential anymore, he has been stepping up in the starting role. He's averaging 13 and 10. That's pretty damn good, if he continues to work on his little base line jumper that he can occasionally hit he can have that near 20 and 10 over the next few seasons.
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." you know how you always hear about that young player that just doesn't realize his full potential? that doesn't realize how good he can be or how good he is? we know it's not al, and I find comfort in that. I like that he's taking the load on his shoulders, and hopefully he'll perform.
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Jan 15 2007, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>you know how you always hear about that young player that just doesn't realize his full potential? that doesn't realize how good he can be or how good he is? we know it's not al, and I find comfort in that. I like that he's taking the load on his shoulders, and hopefully he'll perform.</div> Agreed, and Gerald is the same way. I've seen Gerald in an interview after a good game before, and he said something like "I shot well, but I was terrible defensively. And we lost." Both Al and Gerald have a good head on their shoulders, both realize they need to work, and I think that alone will get them places in this league (aside from the natural talent they were born with). But on this interview, it's great to hear. Al knows that he's not the rookie that "could be something." He's ready to work, he's dealing with adversity, and this is all business now. I'm very happy that he has that mindset at such a young age. That doesn't happen all the time. Also, I agree with Al. I'm VERY happy with Al's defense lately as well. Is he a lock down post defender? No, but he's not playing like a softie defensively anymore. If they came around his area before, he'd either commit a dumb reach-in foul or softly try and block the shot. Now, if they come in his area, he either puts his body on them and commits a smart foul or he actually does block the shot. Keep up the good work, Big Al!
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." yeah, I love how he comes out and says that there are no excuses. tells a lot about him. We're going to need leadership in this new class of players, and maybe he can provide some of that (along with Delonte).
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." That's why I think in 5 years, he'll be a top 10 big man.
Re: Al Jefferson: "I'm not the guy who's full of potential anymore. I've got to be the guy who steps up and plays." we can only hope Mardy
