03/29/2010 - 15:32
Good Weekend to Be Big Al
by
Matt Martino
This weekend, Al Jefferson reaffirmed why he is Minnesota's franchise player.
Friday, he tallied 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals against the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard. He followed that with another double-double, 19 points and 16 rebounds, versus the Phoenix Suns.
But as Al improves from last season’s knee injury, the T-Wolves keep struggling. They lost two more over the weekend as the Magic beat them in Orlando, 107-96, while the Suns defeated the Wolves, 111-105, at home Sunday.
Al with the finish against Orlando (Getty Images). |
Al continues to be the one consistent bright spot for the Wolves throughout the tumultuous season. In fact, No. 25 has become somewhat of a poster-boy for the good player on a not-so-good team.
Last season, the big fella ranked 10th overall on ESPN’s John Hollinger’s PER (player efficiency rating) list. This season, after a slow start and knee rehabilitation, Al has climbed his way up to 34th on that respected list which is littered with players from playoff teams.
Despite losing a franchise record-tying 16th straight game on Sunday head coach Kurt Rambis told Star-Tribune, that he doesn’t believe the number is a reflection on his team.
"Everybody is frustrated," he said after Phoenix extended Minnesota's skid with a 111-105 victory at Target Center. "I'm frustrated, the coaches are, the players are, the front office is, the fans are.
"I don't believe the record demonstrates the progress we've made. If you go back to the beginning [of the season], we're a completely different ballclub now."
HELP DOWN LOW
His frontcourt teammate and second year player, Kevin Love is currently ranked 17th on the PER ratings. The tandem has provided hope for the Wolves future. During Sunday’s game versus the Suns, Love tallied a career-high 22 rebounds to go along with 23 points.
Love’s game continues to improve with more experience and minutes with Al, who is steadily regaining his All-Star form. Over the month of March, AJ has averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
Minnesota is also hoping that newcomer Darko Milicic will solidify the team’s three-man rotation down low. The Wolves essentially gave the seven-foot Serbian center a seven-week audition after he was added during the trading deadline. So far, both parties are impressed.
Milicic’s former coach and hall-of-famer Larry Brown believes Darko and the T-Wolves could have a mutually beneficial future with he, Big Al and K-Love in the mix.
"He gives them depth and they didn't give up anything," Brown said. "You get a 7-foot-1 kid who's young. You need length to play with Jefferson. That creates a matchup problem for everybody. When you have Jefferson and Love and you plug in somebody who can play with both those guys that gives you some things you can build with."
NEXT UP
Hopefully the streak ends on Wednesday as Minnesota hosts the Sacramento Kings (24-50).
Big Al has dominated the Kings this year, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds in their 3 previous meetings.
RELATED STORIES
Timberwolves lose franchise record-tying 16th game in a row (Pioneer Press, March 29, 2010)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14776888?source=rss
Does this 16-game streak look familiar? (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 28, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/89363037.html?page=1&c=y
Jerry Zgoda's Sunday Insider: Milicic is Wolves' BIG question mark (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 27, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/89304952.html
Nine to go: Down to single digits after 106-97 loss at Orlando (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 28, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/On_the_Wolves.html
Stoudemire's 30 and 17 send Suns past Wolves (AP, March 28, 2010)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300328016
Howard, Magic hand Wolves 15th straight loss (AP, March 26, 2010)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300326019
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