Combination post here as we try and deliver a new look for 2008. Unfortunately I only got a B- in Computer Literacy and Coup is getting clotheslined by HTML. So bear with us. Another day, another dollar…the good thing about a gimmick is that its reliable. Which means even if I have nothing to say on a Thursday…I can always write about the two or three games scheduled. Thank you TNT and David Stern, thank you very much.
Luckily for you. before I get to tonight’s slate..I do have something on my mind. And that something on my mind is Al Jefferson. Yes the Al Jefferson who broke out in Boston last year and was the centerpiece of the poo-poo platter that McHale received from Danny Ainge. Seriously it’s like McHale really owed Ainge or the Celtics something because that’s the equivalent of giving someone a Rolls Royce and getting a bunch of fruitcakes back. Back to Big Al….everyone was questioning whether or not he could be effective in the Western Conference. As a matter of fact most everyone was actually doubting that he would be able to replicate his numbers from last year. Many thought he wouldn’t come close.
Well…many were wrong. Let’s take a look on the surface shall we:
06-07: 16 points, 10.9 rebounds
07-08: 20.6 points, 12.2 rebounds
On the surface it seems like Jefferson is excelling in Minnesota. However if you dig a little deeper there are some telling statistics. Jefferson is shooting nearly 5 more shots a game (from 12.8 last year to 17.4 this year) and playing more minutes (up from 33.6 to 36.5). Sadly he’s shooting just about the same number of free throws (about 5 times a game). So the big question…is Al Jefferson for real?
The answer isn’t clear cut at all. On one hand you look at the numbers and the man is obviously a beast. Yao, Boozer, Jamison, Dwight and Jefferson are the only 5 players in the NBA who are currently averaging 20 and 10. That’s right…he has to get his props for that right? Obviously. But there’s the argument that he is the vocal point of Minnesota, pretty much the only consistent player and should be getting those numbers. I’m not sure I buy that either because if he is the only guy out there and their main option…how are teams not able to keep him from getting his numbers? True his team is horrendous but he has to get a slice of credit for putting his hard hat on every day and getting it done on a nightly basis.
That being said….Where does he rank in the West? Is he better than Camby, LMA, Kaman? Is he up there with Bynum and Amare? When you think of Big Al you think of a big question mark.
Now that I’ve gotten that out…on to tonight’s games:
Portland/Chicago: Obviously we had to talk about this one. Chicago is coming in having won 3 out of their last 4 (including a tough OT loss to Orlando) and are playing some damn great basketball. Ben Gordon off of the bench absolutely scares me. He’s averaging 29.2 since coming off the bench and is shooting 52.4% during the stretch and a staggering 57.8% from behind the arc. To say the man is hot would be an understatement…he’s the guy we have to look out for. Other than him we have to try and keep Hinrich and Deng in check. We get Hinrich to turn the ball over and take bad shots we’re in good shape. He keeps playing like he has (2 turnovers in the last 3 games) and we’re in for a long night. Our keys remain the same. We need the bench to step up, as last night showed we’re a completely different team when that second unit gets it going. Utah and Minnesota was like night and day. Big Joel has to stay out of foul trouble and someone named Travis, Martell or James has to step up and have a big day. In my eyes the game could go either way because this Bulls team is on the way up.
Phoenix/Seattle: Normally I would proclaim a blowout but last week my ignorance turned into stupidity. Phoenix should win this game easily but you can’t rule the Sonics out. They are scrappy that is for sure they will compete, unfortunately they can’t put a full 48 in yet. Also you can’t count them out because of the fact that we don’t know which Amare will show up. If it’s the guy who wants to play defense, actually tries and stays out of trouble I would call a somewhat close game where the Suns pull away. If he doesn’t..look for a lot of Chris Wilcox dunks and maybe a Kurt Thomas double-double. I’m not excited about this game for some reason I don’t enjoy watching Durant play that much. Can’t explain it to you either.
San Antonio/Denver: The Spurs beat the Nuggets last time without Tony Parker and with Ginobli only chipping in 11. I don’t think they will have much of a problem beating Denver tonight but I’ve been wrong before.