RE: Re: RE: Re: road report

Wed Apr 18 14:20:49 CDT 2007

We get it ... we get it. You hate Al Jefferson. You'd think of all the things having to do with the Celtics, that we all could agree that Al is a huge bright spot and is turning into a hell of a player. But I guess not. Seems like a weird guy to be tearing down.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On Behalf Of ryanmnelson at verizon.net
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:16 PM
To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
Subject: Re: Re: RE: Re:  road report

In case any of you missed jackie macmullan's article from ESPN.com last week on big al http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&id=2833022 it included this tidbit:

""He's matured so much since he got here. His work ethic has changed dramatically. I used to joke with him, 'Al, you were born tired and lazy.'"

Last summer Jefferson committed to staying in Boston for the team's conditioning program. He began seriously lifting weights for the first time in his career and spent most mornings doing agility drills and floor work with teammate Ryan Gomes. He lost 30 pounds, changed his diet dramatically and almost immediately noticed the benefits, particularly in terms of stamina. Jefferson said he will participate in the same program again this summer and will avoid retreating to his home state of Mississippi, where bad habits await.

"I've got to stay away,'' he said. "If I was home in Mississippi, I'd be eating my mom's fried chicken, and my grandmother's collard greens, cornbread and sweet potato pie. If you don't eat her food, it's like a slap in the face.''"

So my question is, why did it take him 2 years to decide to get into shape?  hmmmmm, anyone else smell contract time coming up?

and how many other franchise players have had their GM refer to them as "tired and lazy?"

rmn

>From: ryanmnelson at verizon.net
>Date: 2007/04/18 Wed PM 01:12:45 CDT
>To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List <celtics at igtc.com>
>Subject: Re: RE: Re:  road report

>I don't hate al.  i like him.  he is not a franchise player though.  
>
>as long as you want to quote simmons, i assume you read his recent tirade aganst the celtics which featured this: 
>
>"And that's before delving into the dangers of bringing back a frustrated Pierce (who could sabotage his own trade value like Iverson did) or giving Jefferson a max contract extension (when he's struggled with weight/injury/intensity issues over the past three years)."
>
>Like i said, we have to hope Al doesn't revert back to his lazy stage once he makes huge $$.  It's not clear how much he really cares about winning.
>
>And if we get oden/durant, he will be the third best player on our team.  So i guess with 3 all-stars, we will be in the top 4 in the east next year, right?
>
>rmn
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>From: "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym at BATTELLE.ORG>
>>Date: 2007/04/18 Wed PM 12:22:01 CDT
>>To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List <celtics at igtc.com>
>>Subject: RE: Re:  road report
>
>>Wow, you really hate Al, don't you?
>>
>>People are slow to notice this stuff, but the Al-Howard argument is becoming a good one. Howard isn't progressing as an offensive player the way some hoped, and Al is making quantum leaps. Let's see how it plays out.
>>
>>This is from Simmons' column today:
>>
>>63. Al Jefferson
>>Did you know that the best young low-post player in basketball right now is only 11 months older than Dwight Howard? It's true. Howard is a more powerful player than Jefferson, and he's definitely a better rebounder, but as we witnessed on Sunday night -- when Jefferson soundly outplayed him, by the way -- Big Al is a much more polished offensive player and needs to be double-teamed at all times. Howard's points come on fast breaks, finishes and putback dunks and that's it. I don't know who's better, but it's definitely up for debate. Check out their post-All Star break numbers: 
>>
>>* Jefferson: 19.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 56 percent shooting.
>>* Howard: 17.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 62 percent shooting.
>>
>>(I'm just sayin'.)
>>
>>
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On Behalf Of ryanmnelson at verizon.net
>>Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 1:16 PM
>>To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: Re:  road report
>>
>>i am betting 99.99% of non-celtics fans and 99.9% of people not on this list would prefer Howard over Big Al.  Usually the masses are wrong, but not here.
>>
>>Al is a decent player, Howard is a franchise. 
>>
>>I can understand maybe thiking Al is an all-star, but he is not nor ever will be dwight howard.  let's see if he gets lazy again after danny signs him to a big contract.  Even danny has remarked about how lazy al is/was.  He's not only not a leader, but will be the third best player on a lousy team next year if we get the 1st or 2nd pick.
>>
>>rmn
>>
>>
>>>From: gene kirkpatrick <gk_tyler at yahoo.com>
>>>Date: 2007/04/18 Wed PM 12:07:33 CDT
>>>To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List <celtics at igtc.com>
>>>Subject: Re:  road report
>>
>>>There's a reason why so few plays are run for Howard.  At the start of the season, my preference for Al was a lonely one; now, I suspect that your preference for Howard is, at least, in the minority.  Gene
>>>
>>>Eggcentric at aol.com wrote:  
>>>I'm happy to have Jefferson, but certainly would be happier to have
>>>Howard.
>>>
>>>
>>>Egg
>>>
>>>
>>>
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