02/17/2010 - 14:41
Minnesota's MVP
by
Matt Martino
Despite not being fully recovered from knee surgery that caused him to miss the final 32 games of last season, Al Jefferson is still the unanimous MVP of the Minnesota Timberwolves through the first half of the season.
The Pioneer Press noted that Minnesota’s go-to guy has had to endure a lot this season to post a steallar first-half performance:
"He has labored through conditioning problems and lingering discomfort to lead the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game. Has shown signs of regaining his form as one of the NBA's better post-up players and received a huge emotional lift last week when he was named to the 27-man USA men's basketball national team roster."
Last year, Al averaged a career best 23.1 points and 11 rebounds before tearing his ACL on February 8, 2009. Only a year later, Al is already back to double-double form with 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest.
Here are some other numbers from the first half of this season in which Al has reclaimed his place amongst the NBA's elite big men:
2 Games missed out of 53 contests before the All-Star break. A true testament to the commitment and effort Al has put forth to rehabilitating his knee.
2 Also No. 25's number of assists per game, a career-high that new coach Kurt Rambis’ triangle offense has fostered.
5 Al's season high in blocks, recorded against the Utah Jazz on December 30.
11.6 Average number of rebounds AJ pulled down during the month of January.
13 Number of times in which Al has tallied at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same game.
25 No. 25 turned 25 on January 4. Already halfway into his sixth NBA season, Al has accumulated 5833 points and 3324 rebounds.
26 The record for most rebounds in franchise history, achieved on January 14, 2010, against the Houston Rockets. The big fella also added 26 points.
26 Also the number of double-doubles No. 25 has collected, eighth in the NBA.
50 Number of total games played last season. AJ has already eclipsed that mark with 51 games played prior to the All-Star break.
52 Al’s clutch field goal percentage. 82games.com tracks "clutch" statistics during the 4th quarter or overtime with less than 5 minutes left and neither team ahead by more than 5 points.
GAME TIME DECISION
Al declared himself ready to play merely an hour before tip-off last night against the Detroit Pistons.
He started the game and played nearly 25 minutes, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds as the Pistons defended their home court with a 108-85 victory.
No. 25 stated that it was his knee that had been bothering him. Fortunately, it is his left knee, not his surgically repaired right knee. The knee has been an issue ever since Wednesday’s home loss to Charlotte, the team’s last game before the All-Star break:
"Fourth quarter, I just came down on it wrong," Al said. "Now I got two bad wheels. It was sore, but it wasn't sore enough that I couldn't play. You just fight through it. Continue to get treatment and play through it, that's what you got to do, baby, in this league."
NEXT UP
According the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis waited with a lineup sheet until the last possible minute before assistant coach Bill Laimbeer approached and told him Al deemed himself fit to play on Tuesday.
This will likely be the scenario tonight when the Wolves (13-41) travel to Washington to battle the Wizards (17-33).
Al still put up a solid overall line the last time these teams met with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and a block. Look for No. 25 to have a big night considering Washington just traded their only true presence in the paint, Brendan Haywood, a few days ago.
RELATED STORIES
Jefferson is a last-minute definite to see floor (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, February 17, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/84532692.html
Minnesota Timberwolves play poorly in return from all-star break (Pioneer Press, February 17, 2010)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14414125?source=rss
Jerebko leads balanced Pistons past Wolves (AP, February 16, 2010)
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300216008
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