Comments about ‘Al Jefferson a breath of fresh air after dealing with Carlos Boozer’

as they say talk is cheap. what did you think he would say at a press conferance? i hate it here i love being on probation for a dwi probly will get a one later. its a long grinding season when you are excpected to bring it every night. minn has a preety good team a lot of biggs to only win 15 games. someone wasent bringing it every night. hope he does could be a awsome season.if fes could get some playing time hayard and evens play like some of the rookies did last year they could go all the way. to me evens is the key only seen him a little but looked like he has a lot of abilty

Well Al all I can say is welcome to Utah and the Utah Jazz, where hard work is appreciated and expected, as well as an attitude to match. I hope that you are able to fulfill all of your potential here and help the Jazz to be a competitive team. If you learn how to play defense and work on extending your outside shooting range then you will be a better player for us than Boozer was and is. I look forward to watching you play and wish you the very best in all you undertake to do while here in Utah. Again I say welcome to the State of Utah and to the Utah Jazz. Oh and thanks for having such a great attitude about playing here in Utah as well.

A sincere, nice and hard-working big men is what Utah Jazz needs.
So who needs Carlos? Not Utah Jazz.
Who misses Carlos? Not Utah Jazz.

Hey SoCal Fan,

Who misses Boozer? Perhpas a team that needed him to be a premier PF in the NBA. Perhpas a team that likes to get 20/10 like clockwork every night. I am guessing that the Jazz do miss Boozer. He brings an extrordinary offensive talent to any team.

Jefferson is very much an unknown and a challenge and a gamble by the Jazz, so were Fes and Okur. Jefferson has more talent and playing time but like Okur had a very serious injury. Can he come all the way back? Can his attitude on the floor change enough so that he can learn to defend? Can his attitude be such he is willing to bring it each and every game? Can he get into playing shape?

I hope it works out, but there are more questions than answers that come with Jefferson.

"Can you imagine? A top-notch NBA player who actually wants to play here."

Top-notch? Let's not get carried away here, Randy. Usually you have to have made an all-star team at least once in your career to be considered top-notch. I know you're excited, and the fact that Jefferson is stroking your media ego doesn't hurt, but let's keep the hyperbole to a minimum, hmmmm?

Doug10 | 8:06 a.m. July 16, 2010
Hey SoCal Fan,

Who misses Boozer? Perhpas a team that needed him to be a premier PF in the NBA. Perhpas a team that likes to get 20/10 like clockwork every night. I am guessing that the Jazz do miss Boozer. He brings an extrordinary offensive talent to any team.

Jefferson is very much an unknown and a challenge and a gamble by the Jazz, so were Fes and Okur

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Dude, you need to get informed before you speak.

Jefferson has been and will be a 20/10 guy
Who will block shots
Whose injury was TWO seasons ago
Who played in 78 games last year
Who is bigger and LONGER than Boozer
Who may not yet be a great defender, but at least he blocks shots

It remains to be seen if AJ is an improvement over Boozer even if he can adjust his game to fit the Flex. He can play in isolation on the low blocks and usually gets double or triple teamed.

However, if he does not integrate his game and just plays his low block game he will stop the flow of the flex and that leaves 4 guys standing around.

The Jazz also need him to set picks and work/pass out of the high post. Millsap will do that much of the time with AJ at C.

AJ has a lot of adjustments to make and so do the Jazz as the flex has to be modified to run more thru the C.

AJ also has to decide he will play better D than Boozer. AJ is less quick/mobile than Boozer. He can't guard some PFs on the perimeter. He should be able to guard most Cs.

A PHO/OKC zone may be wise from time to time?

Doug10 | 8:06 a.m. July 16, 2010
Hey SoCal Fan,

Who misses Boozer? Perhpas a team that needed him to be a premier PF in the NBA. Perhpas a team that likes to get 20/10 like clockwork every night. I am guessing that the Jazz do miss Boozer. He brings an extrordinary offensive talent to any team.

Jefferson is very much an unknown and a challenge and a gamble by the Jazz, so were Fes and Okur

--------

Dude, you need to get informed before you speak.

Jefferson has been and will be a 20/10 guy
Who will block shots
Whose injury was TWO seasons ago
Who played in 78 games last year
Who is bigger and LONGER than Boozer
Who may not yet be a great defender, but at least he blocks shots

@Doug10 - There are not that many questions. You obviously haven't ever watched him play. He WILL be better than Boozer, I guarantee it. So no, we won't miss Boozer with what Jefferson will bring (Barring injury of course).

Oh, and never mention Fes and Jefferson in the same sentence again. Jefferson is a sure thing, that's why he was on the top of Deron's wish list. Fes is a space cadet.

Varnado was drafted in the second round by MIA. Who knows what they will do with second rounder. I suspect they will try to get Vets for cheap but may keep Varnado. He might be a good shot blocking prospect if he becomes available.

As long as he is willing to work hard and learn he will improve. To play for the Jazz you have to be willing to play Jerry Sloan type basketball - hard nosed, defensive minded, team play and you HAVE to be in great shape. Attitude is everything when playing for Sloan. Al is big enough to draw fouls so his free throw shooting is key. Also important is the play of Okur and how these two 6'11 / 6'10 combo play together. Getting Okur back soon is really important for the Jazz so hopefully his tendon can be ready for opening day. AK is also key to provide defense inside and inspire big Al to up his defensive game.

Brave Sir Robin is running away and chickening out! Top notch players aren't only found in the all star games. There are teams and markets that won't allow for that kind of showcasing. Cynicism is not a form of sports sophistication. It is a sign of smallness and takes the joy out of life and the sports experience. Randy clearly likes what he sees in Al (some things still in embryo). I love a fan that can bath in the joy of hopeful expectation. Am I a Ra Ra? OK guilty as charged, but for me the sun is out, the birds are singing and life is good! Al is a top notch player because I like him and he likes us, and he is willing to work hard. You would be a much happier Robin if you would get up early and greet the sunshine. Al is providing a particularly brilliant ray of light. Don't miss it while scanning for warts!

I'll tell all of you like Bugoff & SoCalFan. This guy relishes the big body contact, rough & nasty play that comes with interior, and inside play. Boozer was intimidated and had that streak down his back that we all know represents weakness. Boozer was a good rebounder inspite , because he knew positioning, but for real man grit he didn't have much of that. This guy is like Malone-"fearless". Like has been stated before what a breath of fresh air to get not one but two of these kind within days. Go Al & Raja. Hopefully it rubs off on A.K., C.J. and Memo! Lets start the new season next week. I can't wait.

Bugoff -- Occasionally you have a interesting to say -- but generally you are an obnoxious know-it-all brother. KOC and Sloan aren't reading these comments looking for your continued insights.

Of course Sloan will modify the offense - the Jazz have never had a legitimate 5 with Jefferson's offensive skills.

And anyone who says Jefferson is a 'unproven gamble' has no clue as to his game. He is THE premiere, pure-post player in this league with additional upside. Do a search on YouTube and look at his highlight videos.

2007-2008 Playing in all 82 games, he ranked 20th in the NBA in points per game (11th in total points), averaging 21.0 points per game while shooting .500. One of four players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds (the others being Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer, and Antawn Jamison). Jefferson ranked 5th in the NBA in rebounding, averaging 11.1 (4th in total rebounds) and 2nd in offensive rebounds per game (3.8), only behind Tyson Chandler (4.1). Jefferson is ranked 12th in the NBA efficiency and is 3rd in the NBA in double-doubles.

cont"

2008-2009: Jefferson was having a career best year, averaging 23.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in the first 50 games of the season before his injury.

2009-2010: The year after his ACL injury he played in 76 games averaging 32 minutes, 17 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on a team that won 15 games in a triangle offense not suited to his type of play. Additionally, one is not considered fully recovered from ACL surgery for at least a year.

Not proven?? The only thing 'not proven' is how much better he could be on a winning team, with a PG like Deron and a coach like Sloan.

And finally one final note as to Jefferson and his attitude:

"After landing in Minnesota, Jefferson quickly signed a large contract extension before the season. At $65 million over five years, it was satisfactory but he could have gotten a max deal. Instead he chose not to pursue one, due to "having not really proved myself"."

"I didn't even think I was worth max [money] this year anyway," Jefferson said at a news conference Thursday (2007). "I would've been a fool to go up there and ask for max, having not really proved myself for that. So the number I got was the number that was my goal from Day 1. And I think it was a win, win situation."

ding-ding-ding

Two of AJ's missed games last season were suspension, not injury, btw.

@ Hollis......Whats to be gained by continuing to bagg on Boozer? You media know-it-alls have contributed to his demise in Salt Lake and you've got what you want.....The man is GONE!....You should be proud.....Now let it die!!

@Yojimbo I would disagree with you on one point. The Jazz do monitor this board and other boards for feedback from the fan base.

They appear to be more sensitive to feedback from the fan base in the last 2 years. They are in the business of marketing and can't afford to ignore what the fan base is concerned about. They may not do exactly what the fan base wants but they will address the concerns. In the long run they have to keep the fan base satisfied.