Big Al in Phoenix?

by Welch on Jan 26, 2009 11:13 AM EST

After Al Jefferson had another monster game for the underrated Timberwolves, (39 points 9 Rebounds) What are your thoughts on Big Al making the All Star Team. Does your teams record really matter when it comes to being an All Star? Big Al has proven he is an All Star caliber player and he has the TWolves playing competitive and exciting basketball. Hes the new Elton Brand, guaranteed 20 and 10, but without the injury history (lets all pray it stays that way)

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Yes and No

Yes he is an all star, and no record shouldn’t matter. Record should matter in the MVP race, but not for all star voting. There has been plenty of great players on bad teams. Your team’s record says a lot about your team and not necessarily a lot about you as an individual player. All star games are put in place to display the best the NBA has to offer, so to me it only makes sense to put the best 12 players in each conference for THAT year on the court. Big Al belongs in the all star game, he’s been that good.

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Jan 26, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

He's a top 4 center in the league...

Ming, Howard, Duncan – who else would you take this year? Z could go, not better

by BillfromBoston on Jan 29, 2009 1:22 AM EST up reply actions

Big Al is playing at an All-Star level but he doesn’t deserve a call up to the All-Star team. His team’s record is too poor, and there are too many others who are winning and are deserving of a place in that All-Star team.

He’ll make the squad in the near future, just not this season.

by Who on Jan 26, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions

I want him to make it

for sentimental reasons and I think the team’s recent play might be enough to get him on despite the team’s overall record

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Jan 26, 2009 1:49 PM EST reply actions

You do have to consider record. There’s always one good “stats” guy on a bad team, so you can’t just look at the numbers. But, the fact that Minny now seems to be starting to gel – they’re tied for the best record over the past ten games with Boston and LA – makes a strong case for Big Al. Seems like Minny might prove to be a team to watch in the second half, and Big Al’s the primary reason. They’ll want to promote the up-and-coming player/team if at all possible.

by theBird on Jan 26, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Who said anything about stats?

I do have a thing they call league pass, so I’ve seen plenty of him this year. My point is not to pick an all star team by statistics, even though for the most part that is what happens. But you just have to look at each individual situation differently. There are some instances (corey maggette comes to mind) where the player producting the stats is also part of the problem. Typically because of effort, defense or attitude. So if that is the case, then yes I guess you can say that record has to be factored in. This is not the case with Big Al, nor is the case with Kevin Durant. Nothing either player could do that is humanly possible was going to make much difference on the teams they are on. Big Al is not the problem in Minnesota, he is part of the solution. So with that said, why should the fact he’s on a lousy team ruin an opportunity he deserves individually?

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Jan 26, 2009 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

Well said...

people over-simplify too much…there’s more layers to the onion…

by BillfromBoston on Jan 29, 2009 1:24 AM EST up reply actions

Record comes with a grain of salt

When a player puts up good stats on bad team, it doesn’t mean that they should be elminated from contention. They should just be looked at more closely. Is there team bad because they play a ball-hogging style that produces inefficient points? Or is their team just bad because the other players are bad, missing shots, turning it over, not playing defense, etc?

by CaptFamous on Jan 26, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions

I think Minnesota’s good run of form has come too late, maybe if Big Al had another month before the voting & ASG then he would deservedly be there …. but I think too little too late.

by Who on Jan 26, 2009 4:53 PM EST reply actions

I think he should make it. The record might be bad, but the team is playing really good ball right now…also happy for Foye.

by winsomme on Jan 26, 2009 7:37 PM EST reply actions

He deserves it over Shaq but Shaq will go because he’s a bigger name, its in Phoenix and it may be his last one.

by RebusRankin on Jan 26, 2009 9:58 PM EST reply actions

Was I the only one who thought this would be about a Big Al for Amare..

…trade idea?

Answering the OP, I don’t think so. And he may be the new Brand, except that Jefferson doesn’t defend.

by cordobes on Jan 26, 2009 10:08 PM EST reply actions

I thought the exact same thing. I was shocked it was about the All Star Game – good topic though.

by Who on Jan 26, 2009 10:40 PM EST up reply actions

My point

Cordobes and who
That was my point in putting that as a headline. I got you to read it though right? Jk of course.

by Welch on Jan 26, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions

Its about time

to introduce Big Al Jefferson to the rest of the NBA and its fans. Us here in Boston know who Al Jeff is and what he did while he was here and what he is capable of. Minnesota now knows, its time for the rest of the League to know. This guy deserves a spot on that All-star roster and I am hoping that he does get some love from the coaches. He should but who knows?

by BigDanz2000 on Jan 26, 2009 11:47 PM EST reply actions

Totally agree....

Im just thinking off the top of my head who else will make it in the west if you include Shaq and Dirk.

Does the fact that Paul Gasol plays on one of the top 4 teams in the NBA help his case. If you look at the stats you would have to give the nod to Jefferson.

If you look at the teams record then yes Gasol would get the nod, but take both of these players off there respective team and where would they be? The Lakers without Gasol would probably be in the middle or in the top of the Western Conference. The Timberwolves without Jefferson might still be sitting on 5 wins.

Paul Gasol fans, if there are any out there, might make the argument that the Timberwolves offense runs Jefferson which it does for the most part. But in the same sense how many open looks does Gasol get because he is on the court with Kobe Bryant?

Just for arguments sake imagine if these two switched teams would Gasol put up the 20 and 10 Jefferson is putting up, possibly? But I doubt it. Rolling with that same argument what would Al Jefferson do given the opportunity to play alongside Kobe Bryant?

by Welch on Jan 27, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

I'm glad you brought that up...

Here is my breakdown for how things will play out in the West for the All Star game

Obviously Paul, Bryant, Staudemire, Duncan and Yao have been elected starters.

Big Al’s biggest problem here is that in the history of NBA All Star games, there is never an even amount of guards and forwards selected as reserves. Meaning he might not lose a spot to a forward necessarily, especially when you look at how many great guards there are in the West.

Guards who are locks in my opinion: Billups, Parker, Roy, Nash
Forwards who are locks in my opinion: Dirk, Melo, Gasol

That would leave 2 very deserving players off the squad:
Durant and Jefferson

Which is real tough because it’s hard to imagine leaving either of these guys off the squad. Both deserve to be there (ahead of Nash in my opinion) but I don’t see how the league will leave Nash off the team. It won’t happen. There’s really no argument you can make amongst the 3 forwards I mentioned as locks. They are going to Phoenix, there’s no debating that. So after further research, I have to say that is very likely Big Al will miss the squad unless another 2 spots open up due to injury or any other reason. If one spot opens up, I would have to give the nod to Durant. As good as Big Al has been this year, Durant has simply been better in my opinion. Very close though.

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Jan 27, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

Durant is rediculous...

Imagine if he and Jefferson were on the same team right now with Perk and Rond book-ending the defense? Could have happened…

by BillfromBoston on Jan 29, 2009 1:27 AM EST up reply actions

In Gasol’s d e f e n s e (get it? it’s full of holes), he used to put up 20 and 10 on awful teams all the time. Come to think of it, that’s a pretty good comparison. Did he ever make the All-Star team with Memphis? If he did, there’s no reason Al shouldn’t be able to go this year.

by CaptFamous on Jan 27, 2009 9:04 AM EST reply actions

Memphis did make the playoffs 3 times during Gasol's tenure there

Not sure if he made an All-Star team as a reserve during that time, but the Grizz had a 3 season spurt as a non doormat of the league.

I personally think he deserves to start over Amare. But, the game is a meaningless exhibition. Jefferson will be a great player regardless of the common fan respecting him or not.

Vinny Del Negro interviewed for the job today. I mean come on! Nobody else thinks this is nuts?
by Juiceboxjerry on Jun 6, 2008 4:21 PM CDT actions actions 0 recs

by Ozzie Montana on Jan 27, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

All Star Criteria

The All Star game is the only time team record does not count. If team records counted, only players from the top four teams would be playing. Paul Pierce played when he was on some miserable teams….

Of course, Big Al should play. The Timberwolves have been playing well and Jefferson has been a monster lately.

by thirstyboots18 on Jan 27, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions

Al Jefferson

The All Star Game is the only time team record does NOT count. Paul Pierce played on a few All Star teams when the Celtics had a pathetic record. The Timberwolves have been playing really well lately, largely due to Jefferson, who has been a monster.

When team record counts….they call that the playoffs…

by thirstyboots18 on Jan 27, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions

It's not really about the record counting or not

The thing is that if you follow some kind of meritocratic perspective, you can’t just go by “the numbers”, like it’s the ASG of a fantasy league. In that case, no C’s player would make it. Most contenders wouldn’t have players on the game. For instance, I can guarantee you that Granger isn’t the 2nd best F in the EC, although he’s certainly the one putting up the most impressive numbers after James.

by cordobes on Jan 27, 2009 6:21 PM EST reply actions

no but not because of team record

gasol is more deserving based on numbers alone. dirk and al is a toss up in my opinion so the tie breaker goes to dirk; he’s earned it… i think al’s time will come soon, hopefully next year.
on the subject of team record: a good example is kg. the guy was just as incredibly amazing when his team was good as when it was bad. of course, he was so amazing that he got in regardless; the problem is when stats are similar between players and i guess you should go for the most popular; the all star is about stars and entertainment…

by carlherrera on Jan 28, 2009 1:57 AM EST reply actions