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Have people given up on Big Al?

When the lockout ends, I expect to hear some "Al Jefferson to Houston" rumors. Kevin McHale loves him.

Great point. KMart to the Jazz? I think it could happen (and I usually don't agree with speculation)
 
I'd like to believe he could be a solid piece for years to come. But there are some questions in his game, I keep coming back to the fact that Minnesota traded him for practically nothing and thought a suitable replacement would be Darko.

I love him as a 2nd unit scorer, but his contract is not 2nd unit. On the first unit, I don't like the ball going into him and staying there, while the other players stand and watch. Maybe Ty Corbin and his staff will make some changes that will help him work better with the 1st unit.
 
I love Al and dont get all the hate on our best player, atm. I do see all the flaws he has, obviously. But he is a very skilled post player which we havent had since.......mmm, since before Malone decided he was a good jump shooter. Yes, he needs to work on passing but it isnt as horrible as some make it seem, IMO. All that said, if we pick Kanter and can get great (Not good) value for Big Al in a trade, you gotta probably do it.
 
I think the problem this year was sap as much as i like him because the minute they started to start favors they have not lost. But big al needs to get his speed going. Being it is his first year and the way he played the last part of the year he was starting to play a lot better. His passing is better and he was starting to get a feel for the system. One thing i want to see him do better is push himself into the paint more and push people around. But favors and him together make up for each other. More then anything the jazz need a play maker like a kobe or a lebron on this team. Jazz have a lot of good players on this team just no one that can make a lot of plays and create double teams. Big al might be the one player that can create a double team on this team.
 
Still having ways to go, he actually improved on passing out of the double team close to the end of the year. Before Hayward got consistent minutes, no one was cutting to the basket after making the entry pass. Al was always forced into rolling to the basket after the pick (which he also started to improve before Deron's departure) instead of being in his sweet spot. Now if we can add some real shooters who can slash to the team rather than just some pretend outside shooters like we did last year, I expect a lot of passing out of double team from Big Al.
 
Is there a general feeling that he's not part of the future? I get the sense that everyone's jumped off the Big Al bandwagon and cast all their hopes onto Favors.

This interview with Randy Rigby kind of shocked me because it mentions having meetings with Hayward and Favors about the Jazz's future. Why weren't Big Al and Millsap invited?

Link- https://jazzfanatical.wordpress.com...lks-draft-player-development-fortune-cookies/


At the beginning of the year I wasn't a big fan. He slowed down the offense with this hideous pump fakes and over done post moves. But he won me over by being a stud in February and March. He's the only guy who played all 82 game. I'm a Big Al fan, I wouldn't mind if he finished his career here. I think he's our best shot at being an All-Star next year.

Am I alone?

I personally think Big Al will have an All-Star year next year. At least I'm hoping. I really hope he puts in hard work this off season.
 
I think the problem this year was sap as much as i like him because the minute they started to start favors they have not lost. But big al needs to get his speed going. Being it is his first year and the way he played the last part of the year he was starting to play a lot better. His passing is better and he was starting to get a feel for the system. One thing i want to see him do better is push himself into the paint more and push people around. But favors and him together make up for each other. More then anything the jazz need a play maker like a kobe or a lebron on this team. Jazz have a lot of good players on this team just no one that can make a lot of plays and create double teams. Big al might be the one player that can create a double team on this team.

Still having ways to go, he actually improved on passing out of the double team close to the end of the year. Before Hayward got consistent minutes, no one was cutting to the basket after making the entry pass. Al was always forced into rolling to the basket after the pick (which he also started to improve before Deron's departure) instead of being in his sweet spot. Now if we can add some real shooters who can slash to the team rather than just some pretend outside shooters like we did last year, I expect a lot of passing out of double team from Big Al.

I personally think Big Al will have an All-Star year next year. At least I'm hoping. I really hope he puts in hard work this off season.

iawaotp
 
I personally think Big Al will have an All-Star year next year. At least I'm hoping. I really hope he puts in hard work this off season.

If he puts in the work then it is definitely possible. If he is fat Albert again, then we will see another slow start.
 
Still having ways to go, he actually improved on passing out of the double team close to the end of the year. Before Hayward got consistent minutes, no one was cutting to the basket after making the entry pass. Al was always forced into rolling to the basket after the pick (which he also started to improve before Deron's departure) instead of being in his sweet spot. Now if we can add some real shooters who can slash to the team rather than just some pretend outside shooters like we did last year, I expect a lot of passing out of double team from Big Al.

Yes, passing out of the double team is my #1 complaint about Big Al as well. I'm willing to give him one more season... if he can learn to do that he's a keeper. If not, well then hopefully we can trade him to someone next off season.
 
Yes, passing out of the double team is my #1 complaint about Big Al as well. I'm willing to give him one more season... if he can learn to do that he's a keeper. If not, well then hopefully we can trade him to someone next off season.

A agree with the one more year rule. As many have noted, he did not start well due to injury recovery or lazy summer, but the rumor(?) is that he's with mansap working hard this summer. Secondly the "pass out of the post" issue is very blurry for me. While it is clear that he didn't pass out much, i'm unclear as to why. At one point, with Sloan at the helm, AK NEVER moved without the ball and especially when Big Al had the ball. Later, with Corbin at the helm, AK came alive and was cutting. So i think there was some serious discombobulation going on that impacted Big Al and he reverted/maintained his "i'm just gonna shoot it when i touch it." So with a fresh start, and a capable big-man running mate (Favors) i think there is reason for optimism.

I'm not ready to blame the Minnesota track record on AJ as Numberica is. It COULD be true, but it could be that Minny is just that messed up and AJ needs to learn how to play in a system. If this is the case, it will be evident after next year.
 
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