10/15/2009 - 12:30
No. 25 Back in a Big Way
by
Matt Martino
If the preseason is any indication of what fans can expect from a rejuvenated Al Jefferson, they might want to get their popcorn ready.
Big Al is slimmer, his knee is good, and he's ready to go. After losing 31 pounds in the offseason -- courtesy of ham and turkey sandwiches from Subway -- Al is feeling the benefits.
"When you start to notice the weight coming off, you get more motivated and you work harder at it," he told Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press.
"I can really feel the difference. It's a lot easier for me running up and down the court with these young guys we have."
Big Al takes it to the hole against the Bulls, Oct. 14 (Getty Images). |
Those young guys, along with veteran swingman Ryan Gomes, have noticed that difference as well.
"You can expect quicker moves off the block from Al with the weight loss," Gomes said. "We've seen it a number of times already."
"Ever since I heard that triangle offense was
coming, I've been working on that jumper."
That explosiveness was evident as the big man played his first game in eight months Sunday (Oct.4) in Mankato as he delivered an efficient performance – 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting – in 16 minutes of action before he reluctantly sat as precautionary measure for his newly reconstructed knee.
He left the game at halftime as the Timberwolves went on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 117 – 103.
"My thighs are sore and my lungs were a little suspect," Al said, "but my knee was fine."
"We’re thankful they got Al out of there," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “If he and Kevin [Love] would have played most of the time, we probably would have got beat by 50.”
"We do things that 7-footers don’t do," Love, who tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds said. "You know big Al can score. We can play together."
NEW OFFENSE
Al’s 14 points were the product of open jump shots, not post moves, created by new coach Kurt Rambis’ triangle offense.
One would think that a player like Al, who dominates the block area, would be lukewarm to a new system like the triangle, which is predicated on ball movement and cuts. No. 25, however, committed the same amount of time on refining his game as he did to refining his body:
"Ever since I heard that triangle offense was coming, I've been working on that jumper."
"If you watched the Bulls and the Lakers when they ran the triangle, they always had a big man who could hit that jumper, besides Shaq [O'Neal]. Those jumpers should be wide open for me."
DEBUT AT TARGET CENTER
The big man’s second game was nearly a carbon copy of his first; he finished with 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting and again watched the second half in street clothes.
Unfortunately, the T-Wolves lost, 112-97, to the Toronto Raptors in a game that coach Rambis described as ‘disappointing.’
No. 25 with members of Get Healthy With Big Al (Getty Images). |
GET HEALTHY WITH BIG AL
Al’s recent weight loss has attracted interest from the local American Heart Association, which is partnering with the five-year veteran for a six-week program known as "Get Healthy With Big Al."
The program started on Oct. 12 and runs through Nov. 16. School kids throughout the Twin Cities are eligible to participate. Sign-up details are online at empowerme2b.org. Kids who complete the program will receive two tickets to the Wolves' Jan. 22 game against New Orleans.
NEXT UP
The T-Wolves play their third preseason game, Oct. 14, at the Target Center as the Chicago Bulls come into town.
RELATED STORIES
For Timberwolves' Al Jefferson, less is more this season (St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 12, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_13547142?nclick_check=1
First impression of new-look Wolves a bit depressing (Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 10, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/63907127.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo...
Big Al's big return features refined 'triangle' jump shot (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, October 5, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/63490432.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQD...
Love, Jefferson lead Wolves past Bucks (Mankato Free Press, October 4, 2009)
http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/local_story_278005202.html
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