Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Paul Pierce on Al Jefferson: “No one on the planet can guard him.” (And Bonus Big Al MVP Talk)

Proudiddy

By Proudiddy,
in Charlotte Hornets

Recommended Posts

Proudiddy Grand Master

Proudiddy

Posted
Posted

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/03/26/4797211/charlotte-bobcats-brooklyn-nets.html#.UzQkcoXlbDs

 


Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker come up big in Bobcats’ OT win
 
By Rick Bonnell
[email protected]
Posted: Thursday, Mar. 27, 2014
  • oNRDh.Em.138.jpeg
    PHOTOS BY Jeff Siner - [email protected]
    Kemba Walker drives to the basket against Brooklyn’s Andray Blatche for two of his 20 points during Charlotte’s victory Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. With the win, the Bobcats are 12-7 since the All-Star break.

The way the Brooklyn Nets passed and shot through four quarters Wednesday, you wondered how they ever have an empty possession.

The way the Nets shot during overtime, you wondered how they ever got to 100.

The Charlotte Bobcats extinguished the Nets over the extra five minutes, holding them to 2-of-9 shooting, for a 116-111 victory at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The win made the Bobcats 35-37. They are solidly in seventh place in the East after this victory and closed to 1 1/2 games behind the sixth-place Washington Wizards, who lost Wednesday to the Phoenix Suns.

“We made a step tonight the way we locked in on defense,” said center Al Jefferson, who finished with 35 points and 15 rebounds. “This was about getting stops – we’ve got to have that effort every night at the defensive end.”

The finishing touch on this game came from a somewhat unexpected player. Chris Douglas-Roberts grabbed in the ball after Nets center Mason Plumlee blocked Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts’ 3-foot shot.

Douglas-Roberts nailed a 21-foot jump shot for a five-point lead with 10 seconds left – ball game.

Douglas-Roberts got almost 27 minutes Wednesday, in part because the Bobcats are shutting down Gary Neal until his ankle and knee injuries improve. Coach Steve Clifford said the beauty of Douglas-Roberts is he’s the same reliable guy whether he’s playing six minutes or 24 on a given night.

(CONTINUED - Paul Pierce's quote is at the end of the article)

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/03/26/4797211/charlotte-bobcats-brooklyn-nets.html#.UzQkcoXlbDs

 

I also forgot to post this last week:

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/03/21/mvp-ladder-make-room-for-big-al/

 

 


HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — Moses Malone?

To most players currently collecting NBA paychecks that name evokes memories of one of the game’s all-time greats, but a face many of the league’s young stars might not recognize. That’s not the case for Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson, captain old school himself, who fashions his pristine low-post game after the great Moses, who put on big man clinics on a nightly basis during a career that included his ABA days and his time in the NBA.

Jefferson is bringing old school back today on the KIA Race to the MVP Ladder. The Bobcats big man joins the party this week at No. 9, and truth be told has been knocking on the door for weeks now. Not only is he leading the Bobcats’ march to the playoffs, he’s doing it with a style that has been lost among today’s generation of big men who prefer stretching their shooting range out beyond the 3-point line rather than mastering a two or three pet moves around the basket.

 

Which links to this:

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder/?ls=iref:nba:gnav

 


A Quiet Force, 'Big Al' Being Heard Now

March 21 -- You don't have to be a connoisseur of the classics to appreciate what Al Jefferson is doing for the Charlotte Bobcats.

It probably helps to have a keen appreciation of the past when watching Jefferson work in the low post, though. And if you have working knowledge of Hall of Famer Moses Malone and the way he schooled opposing big men for years in the ABA and NBA, getting a handle on Jefferson's game will be much easier.

Jefferson admits to patterning his game after the great Malone, whose work around the basket earned him legendary status -- he won a title in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers, was named Finals MVP, was a three-time league MVP, a 12-time All-Star, an eight-time All-NBA pick, a six-time rebounding champ and was one of the 50 greatest players of all-time -- during his 21 season of pro ball.

While he won't be able to match the career feats of Malone (what big man could?), it's noble of Jefferson to model his game after Moses ... especially during an era when big men are drifting from the paint to show off their shooting touch in the era of "stretch 4s

Jefferson has averaged 24.6 ppg and 10.3 rpg since the All-Star break. The opposing big men getting worked by "Big Al" can thank Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers for the education.

Rivers turned Jefferson on to Malone during Big Al's rookie season in Boston when Rivers was coach there. He asked Jefferson if he remembered Malone's game, having noticed the similarities. He showed up two days later with a DVD for Jefferson and told him to go home and study it. The rest is history.

(continued)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...