I watched the Celts/Pistons last night and was really impressed by a young individual. An individual that I pretty much bad mouth about 3 months ago and then really heard about from the Celts fans. His name is Al Jefferson. He could be the steal of the draft and could blossom into a player like Elton Brand in some sort. I'm just throwing Brand's name in there because that's who he reminded me of. He is young but has good agility, low post moves, and great hands. He should be in the starting rotation at PF for the Celts in the near future and should be there for a while.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">I watched the Celts/Pistons last night and was really impressed by a young individual. An individual that I pretty much bad mouth about 3 months ago and then really heard about from the Celts fans. His name is Al Jefferson. He could be the steal of the draft and could blossom into a player like Elton Brand in some sort. I'm just throwing Brand's name in there because that's who he reminded me of. He is young but has good agility, low post moves, and great hands. He should be in the starting rotation at PF for the Celts in the near future and should be there for a while.</div> Yes, I've been saying this for a while. A lot of attention has been focused on Dwight Howard and the rookies from last season...but guys like Al Jefferson and JR Smith aren't getting enough attention. At first, before everyone was focused on the draft, I was reading about Jefferson and looking at his stats from high school...40+ PPG and 18 boards (I believe)...and then, everyone considered his location and how small his class was, and they automatically lost faith that he could produce in the NBA. Jefferson is a beast. If he wipes the smiles off his face and starts playing like a monster, he'll be scary, and a really tough player to defend in the future.
Doc Rivers said it best: Al Jefferson is Al Jefferson. He is reffering to his game when he comes on the court. One game he can be brilliant, and the next game he can be a non-factor. However, he's too talented and good for that to happen. This is a usual thing for big men rookies. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">but guys like Al Jefferson and JR Smith aren't getting enough attention</div> JR Smith has gotten attention, but just not as much as the other cats in this draft. He has own show on NBA TV that follows him 24/7 through Training Camp and all. He'll be the franchise once Davis gets traded, or within a few years when he's fully developed. He shoots the lights out from 3 and is a freak athlete. All he needs to do is improve his consistantcy, mid-range shot and D, but that's almost what every rookie has to do, along with many other things. I said early in the off season that this guy was the most NBA Ready Player in the draft coming out of High School. Anyways enough about JR.
I have been saying this about him also since he was a junior in high school. He is a very physical tough player. I hate J.R Smith because he totally dissed UNC by leaving for the NBA. You don't do that to UNC, I loved him before that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting S.Livingston14:</div><div class="quote_post">I have been saying this about him also since he was a junior in high school. He is a very physical tough player. I hate J.R Smith because he totally dissed UNC by leaving for the NBA. You don't do that to UNC, I loved him before that.</div> So Duke fans should hate Shaun Livingston? Louisville fans should hate Telfair? Come on, unless he came out and said 'UNC is a crappy basketball school' or something, he didn't diss them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">So Duke fans should hate Shaun Livingston? Louisville fans should hate Telfair? Come on, unless he came out and said 'UNC is a crappy basketball school' or something, he didn't diss them.</div> Players skip college all the time now. Just because they commit to one school doesn't mean they can't change their mind. In that case, aren't you sort of like betraying UNC too? By being a big fan of Shaun Livingston, a Duke committee, you're basically dissing UNC too.
Jefferson's game needs some work still, but he'll be a keeper. His offensive game is already nice, although he is still acclimating to the physicality of the NBA. On defense, he may be at least another year, if not 2 towards becoming a decent NBA defender. It's nice to see non-Celtics fans seeing what we see though.
Not neccaserally Trip, he was like a Dukie for a day. And J.R was a Heel for like a year, before he pulled back on his commitment.
He was a future Heel for a year, it's not like he ever put on a UNC uniform with his name on it or anything.
Jefferson's high school numbers were redic, 42 points, 18 boards and 8 blocks or something. And yeah, I know it was in High school in some rural MS place, but as Tommy says, I don't care what level you play in, if you can average 42/18/8 (in 40 minute games, mind you), you have some ball instincts.
Al Jefferson: Averaged an impressive 42.6 ppg and 18.0 rpg as a senior at Prentiss High School...Known for rebounding and bruising inside game...Intelligent player who is very coachable...Good finisher around the basket...Has good footwork, vision and soft hands I dont think he will come out strong. But over time I think he will develope into a great player.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, if you rememer I was dogging him and Perkins.</div> So what do you think about Perkins now with all that baby fat gone and playing some decent D?
Kendrick Perkins is a monster on the boards. He has incredible athleticism and can block 5 shots any given night. If only he spent another year in college...
