There’s a possibility that Kevin Garnett might not play Feb. 8 when the Timberwolves host the Boston Celtics because of an abdominal strain. Garnett will miss his third consecutive game tonight when the Celtics play Dallas. And Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters in Boston today there’s no timetable for Garnett’s return. The Celtics don’t play their next game until Tuesday at Cleveland. Rivers said the four days between games doesn’t guarantee Garnett will be ready. Rivers said it’s not worth risking further injury if Garnett isn’t completely healthy.
Without belaboring the point, as Jefferson raised his offense from a B+
to an A over the past week or two, his defense has been elevated from a
D to a C. Sure, some of this is two games against Ben Wallace, who will
make any defender well with his nonexistent O. But after showing little
genuine interest in denying points to the other team, Jefferson does
seem to be more engaged in deterring penetration, rotating over to the
opposite block and, albeit less successfully, showing on the pick and
roll. It’s coming.
to an A over the past week or two, his defense has been elevated from a
D to a C. Sure, some of this is two games against Ben Wallace, who will
make any defender well with his nonexistent O. But after showing little
genuine interest in denying points to the other team, Jefferson does
seem to be more engaged in deterring penetration, rotating over to the
opposite block and, albeit less successfully, showing on the pick and
roll. It’s coming.
Chris Colston/USA Today on deserving players who aren’t included on the list of All-Star reserves:
None of that trio will be in New Orleans. Neither will the Rockets’ Tracy McGrady, a starter last season, nor Al Jefferson of Minnesota, one of just two players averaging at least 20 points and 12 rebounds per game (Howard is the other).
Gerald Green, as you probably know, has been invited back to the
All-Star weekend to defend his prestigious slam dunk title. We asked
young Gerald what he had in store.
All-Star weekend to defend his prestigious slam dunk title. We asked
young Gerald what he had in store.
“It’s a secret,” he said, with an actual wink. “I got something I don’t think even the video game can do. Quote that.”
MLN-The Raw Feed on Chris Richard in the D-League:
Shortly thereafter, Richard told Sioux Falls trainer Dustin Schramm
that he intends to report to the gym one hour earlier than required
each day.
that he intends to report to the gym one hour earlier than required
each day.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be,” Richard said. “I just have to
come in with the right mind-set and right attitude and do whatever I
have to do to get sent back up.”
come in with the right mind-set and right attitude and do whatever I
have to do to get sent back up.”
If his previous years’ second halves are any indication, Jefferson is
going to put up some absurdly stupid numbers after the All Star Break,
and a lot of people will spend the rest of 2008 wondering how the hell
he wasn’t named to the team in the first place.
going to put up some absurdly stupid numbers after the All Star Break,
and a lot of people will spend the rest of 2008 wondering how the hell
he wasn’t named to the team in the first place.
From Rick Kamla/NBA.com:
Over the past week, Jefferson proved he’s not only a monster, but a
special player in terms of leading his team and willing his team to
victory against two of the best teams in the league (Warriors and
Suns). Non-special players cannot do what Jefferson did last week.
Non-special players cower under the shower of profanity poured on them
by Garnett in his house, where the Celtics are 20-4 this year.
Non-special players don’t keep optimistically chopping wood in a game
where none of his teammates join the fight until the fourth quarter,
which was the case against New Jersey. Non-special players don’t go for
39 and 40 in the same week.
special player in terms of leading his team and willing his team to
victory against two of the best teams in the league (Warriors and
Suns). Non-special players cannot do what Jefferson did last week.
Non-special players cower under the shower of profanity poured on them
by Garnett in his house, where the Celtics are 20-4 this year.
Non-special players don’t keep optimistically chopping wood in a game
where none of his teammates join the fight until the fourth quarter,
which was the case against New Jersey. Non-special players don’t go for
39 and 40 in the same week.
Al Jefferson, in spite of playing on a bad team without much help, has become one of the premier post players in the NBA using a combination of power, quickness, great footwork and a variety of finishes around the basket.
Young players tend to rush things in the post. Not Al Jefferson. He catches, looks for cutters, fakes, surveys the landscape, and then goes to work. He can bang into you and score with strength, or use a variety of jabs and pivots to blow by you. He finishes high and has a hard shot to block.
Despite his sporadic playing time, Doleac has worked tirelessly to stay
ready and prevent any rust from building up while being left out in the
cold.
ready and prevent any rust from building up while being left out in the
cold.
“Just about doing the same things, being consistent with what you
practice and how you work,” Doleac said. “It’s one of those things that
you have to be ready as best you can.”
practice and how you work,” Doleac said. “It’s one of those things that
you have to be ready as best you can.”
Those are words Jefferson thinks need to be heard around this team.
“That’s been a problem for a lot of young guys who don’t play, and when
they get called to play they’re not ready to play because they’re mad
about not playing,” Jefferson said. “That’s what separates the vets
from the young guys.”
they get called to play they’re not ready to play because they’re mad
about not playing,” Jefferson said. “That’s what separates the vets
from the young guys.”
“Our fans are giving us energy right now. They’re coming out to see us
and rooting us on and we’re feeling really comfortable at home… Lucky
they got off to a slow start also. I guess we were just moving too
fast, maybe just too excited to be back home… It was funny, but the
best thing about it was that we were making mistakes, but we were being
aggressive and playing hard making mistakes. Not lazy mistakes.”
and rooting us on and we’re feeling really comfortable at home… Lucky
they got off to a slow start also. I guess we were just moving too
fast, maybe just too excited to be back home… It was funny, but the
best thing about it was that we were making mistakes, but we were being
aggressive and playing hard making mistakes. Not lazy mistakes.”
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