12/14/2009 - 13:29
Six Straight for Big Al
by
Matt Martino
With consecutive 20-10 nights over the weekend, Big Al Jefferson took his biggest steps yet in returning to his prime.
Friday versus the Los Angeles Lakers, No. 25 tallied 24 points and 13 rebounds, followed by a 26-point and 11-rebound performance the very next night against the Sacramento Kings.
Al swats Jon Brockman of the Kings (Getty Images). |
No. 25's double-double in Sacramento was his sixth straight. Unfortunately, Al's impressive numbers did not equate to wins as Minnesota's losing streak increased to four, dropping them to 3-21 overall.
Both games were competitive until the third quarter, which has become a common thread throughout the year. The Lakers, who won 104-92, finished the third with a 14-3 burst that provided an 86-68 advantage, and Big Al and the Wolves never recovered. The following night, the Kings closed out that same quarter with a 29-11 edge in building a 20-point lead.
"We're a young team and we have to learn to play the proper way," Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis said after Saturday's 120-100 loss. "The Kings are a young team that wants to get up and down the floor, so we got caught up trying to play too fast. We lost our focus and attention to details."
Sacramento sprinted to 34 fast-break points and 33 assists.
Al has remained positive as he works to improve in the midst of adversity. He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, playing the Lakers is part of that a learning experience:
"We can learn from them," Al said of the Lakers, who won 104-92. "Especially the best team in the league running the same offense we run. We can learn a lot from that."
Learning the triangle has been a bit of a struggle for the Timberwolves this season, but Al is not willing to make excuses for the team's misgivings:
"We've got to learn that offense," he told HoopsWorld.com, although Al refused to use the triangle as a crutch for Minnesota's struggles. "We can play defense every night regardless. . . I think we've got a good chance to win any game we're in. I feel good about it. We're still a pro team regardless of if we're rebuilding or not. We've still got to out and play.
"Of course we need a couple pieces here and there, but I think the biggest thing is experience. We've got a young team, man. A rookie like Jonny (Flynn) is playing big minutes and is put in tough situations. The experience he's getting will be big down the line."
As for his own future, Al was enthusiastic about his recovery from knee surgery.
"It's coming," he proclaimed confidently to Hoops World. "I think I'm getting back anywhere from 90 to 95 percent right now. I really never was an above the rim player. My concern has been more with my quickness, and I can see it coming back big time."
THE LOVE THEORY
Kevin Love received his first two starts of the season over the weekend and did admirably along side Al, averaging 10.5 points and 15.5 rebounds.
No. 25 and Love are the future frontline of this Minnesota franchise; however, they have only started alongside each other ten times in two seasons. Playing them together is still an experiment, but Steve Aschburner of NBA.com loves the combo:
"There is no reason the two shouldn't be able to co-exist, even thrive, offensively. Jefferson has extended his game a bit but remains most formidable down low; Love can step out, face the basket and find cutters or nail 15-footers in Rambis' triangle."
NEXT UP
The Wolves end their three-game road trip at Utah tonight where they'll face the Jazz (14-9), a team they beat nine days ago at home.
During Minnesota's previous encounter against Utah, Al produced 15 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block in what was Minnesota's third victory of the year.
RELATED ARTICLES
Timberwolves lay an egg, get scrambled by Sacramento (St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 13, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13987952?source=rss
Lakers top Wolves for 11th straight win (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, December 12, 2009)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/79092897.html
5 Things We Learned In The NBA This Week (HoopsWorld.com, December 12, 2009)
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14638
Kings snap 4-game skid, pound Timberwolves (AP, December 12, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291212023
From Minnesota with Love: Wolves finally looking better (NBA.com, December 11, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/steve_aschburner/12/11/love.double...
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