11/13/2009 - 18:57
The Need for Patience
by
Matt Martino
Nine games into the 2009-10 season, Al Jefferson and the Minnesota Timberwolves are discovering that success isn't going to come easily or overnight, and that to get to where they want to be, there's a lot of work to be done.
Al scores during the recent game against Portland (Getty Images). |
So far, Minnesota is 1-8, having lost the last eight contests. The reasons why have been well documented: the team is young, they’re learning a new offense, Kevin Love is hurt, and of course, Big Al is still recovering from knee surgery.
The latter is probably the most significant reason to why Minnesota has struggled to begin the season. No one figured that the Wolves would lead the Western Conference or that Al would return to form immediately after having his ACL surgically repaired last season.
No. 25, however, is frustrated with the limitations of his own play and that of his team as a whole. Head coach Kurt Rambis’ team mantra has been patience, and until recently, it has been difficult for Al to adopt that slogan.
“I used to think that patience was just the right thing to say, but it’s really going to take some time,” Al told the Star-Tribune. “It really is. Look at where Portland was three years ago: They were where we were. We got to understand that. We’ve got young players, a new system we’re trying to learn. That’s not an excuse for not playing hard. Myself, I was thinking, ‘Yeah, OK, I’m back. My knee’s good. I’m going to pick right up where I left off.
“That’s not the case. I talk to other guys who had this surgery. It takes a year to get back to where you were. I’m not patient with that. I feel if I’m not bringing 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds] every night, I’m not doing my job. I just have to realize that 20 years ago, this was a career-ending injury. I worked [hard] to get back to where I am right now and I got to continue to work to get to where I was when I got hurt, and even better.”
SPEAKING STATISTICALLY
When comparing the current season with last year, it is clear that Al's averages have been impacted by his recovery:
2008-09: 23 points, 50 percent shooting, 11 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
2009-10: 15 points, 43 percent shooting, 6 rebounds, 1 block
When evaluating those numbers, consider that the Minnesota staff has been forced to limit their center’s minutes due to his recovering knee. Al is playing fewer minutes (30 minutes per game) than last season (36.7 minutes per game). According to Rambis, that's by design.
“We don’t want him to coast for 30-35 minutes,” said coach Rambis after playing his starting center 35 minutes against Milwaukee. “I’d rather him play really hard in shorter bursts. He’s frustrated with himself, but he’s not in condition. I’m very pleased with his defensive commitment. He’s trying to rebound. He’s trying to defend the post. These are things I was told he wouldn’t do, and he’s clearly making that commitment.”
At the same time, on a 48 minute per basis, (48 minutes constitutes an entire game) the stats reflect the same reality.
2008-09: 30 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks
2009-10: 24 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Big Al is anxious to get back to being a dominant force and leading the T-Wolves back into the win column:
“I’ve never experienced an injury like this, and I am frustrated,” Al told the Pioneer Press. “I want to pick up where I left off last year. When I’m on the court, I want to be who I know I can be, and I can’t do that. It takes time.”
“My knee has good days and bad days. Conditioning wise, I still have a ways to go. But I’m really happy where I’m at right now. I wasn’t supposed to be ready for training camp, I wasn’t supposed to play preseason, and I did all that. I think I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“I want to pick up where I left off last year. When I’m on the court, I want to be who I know I can be, and I can’t do that. It takes time.” -- Al JeffersonNo. 25 has made a commitment to becoming a better overall player, and interestingly enough, he is averaging career highs in assists (2.4) and steals (1.4).
One other factor that a number of observers have mentioned: Rambis’ newly implemented triangle offense could be impacting Al’s post game and overall offensive production. It's a logical conclusion to draw. The triangle is a more complicated and foreign offense to that of years prior, which was simply this: dump the ball into the low post and let Al do his thing. Once Big Al and the rest of the Wolves get the hang of the triangle, however, everyone -- particularly No. 25 -- should score easier baskets despite fewer touches.
DON’T FORCE IT
After a loss against Milwaukee, Rambis reprimanded his team for resorting back to their old habits and thought they were trying too hard to get their center the ball.
“I don’t think you can look for Al too much,” point guard Johnny Flynn responded to the Star-Tribune. “He’s a proven guy in this league, a proven scorer. Whenever we get the ball to him, most of the time good things happen. I don’t think that was the main thing.”
Rambis felt otherwise:
“There’s plenty of opportunities for Al to get the ball on the backside of the offense if we just swing it. But we can’t continue to grind and grind and grind and hold and hold. They’re just leaning on Al. They’re wearing him out.”
So, is the triangle taking shots away from Minnesota’s franchise player and offensive focal point?
The statistics say yes, although it’s not a significant amount.
2008-09: 19.5 field goal attempts in 36:42 minutes (25.4 shots per 48 minutes)
2009-10: 14.2 field goal attempts in 30 minutes (22.6 shots per 48 minutes)
Furthermore, and most importantly, Al has no qualms with the triangle. When asked after Wednesday’s loss to Portland if the offense hinders his freedom in the low post, Al was defiant in defending his coach’s system:
“To answer your question: no,” he said. “If you notice, I’m getting my shots. I’m getting the shots I got last year, the year before that and the year before that. I’m not making them. I don’t have any complaints about this offense. I’d understand if I’m not getting my shots. I’m just not making them. That stinks for me, but it’s going to come.”
VIRTUOUS WOLVES
Last year, when Al was healthy and Kevin Love was peeking, the frontcourt duo led the Wolves to a 10-4 record during the month of January. The following month, Al continued to dominate with Love at his side, averaging a gaudy 25 points on 50 percent shooting and 14.6 rebounds before tearing his ACL and missing the remaining 32 regular season games.
Currently, No. 25 is still recovering while Love is out with a broken hand, and small forward Corey Brewer is also rehabbing from his own knee surgery. With a healthy frontcourt, coupled with standout rookie point guard Johnny Flynn, there’s no telling how good the Wolves may be in the future.
“This is not something that’s not going to turn around in the first 10 games,” Wolves coach Kurt Rambis told the Star-Tribune after an embarrassing loss to the Golden State Warriors. “We still don’t know who we are as a ballclub until Al Jefferson is back 100 percent, until Kevin Love is back, until we have an idea of a nice starting unit and a set rotation where guys can feel comfortable. Until then, we’ll probably continue to play up and down and be inconsistent.”
Until then, patience is a virtue.
“I keep telling myself every night when I go to sleep; I just got to be patient. Let it come back,” Big Al said.
AL TAKES LEAVE
Completely unrelated to Minnesota’s tough start, Al will miss at least the next two games due to an illness in the family.
He left for Florida Thursday morning and is expected to reunite with the team early next week. Minnesota will face the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies without their starting center and No. 25’s replacement has yet to be determined.
“We’ve played around with a couple of ideas. But this team, with our situation, we might change [the lineup] every game,” head coach Kurt Rambis said. “We’ll address that tomorrow.”
RELATED STORIES
Stuck on the dunk tank (Minnesota Star-Tribune, November 11, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/69803627.html?page=1&c=y
Wolves lose to Warriors in record-setting fashion (Minnesota Star-Tribune, November 10, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/69619547.html?page=1&c=y
Wolves wait for leader to emerge (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, November 8, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/69487727.html?page=1&c=y
Timberwolves’ Al Jefferson frustrated, yet pleased with comeback from knee surgery (St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 8, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_13745035
Jefferson to miss next two games (AP, November 12, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4648693
Jefferson is given family leave (Minnesota Star-Tribune, November 12, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/69929157.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7...
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