duncan228
10-08-2009, 02:47 PM
Big difference for Jefferson lies in the 'Spurs way' (http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/fran_blinebury/10/08/spurs.jefferson/)
Fran Blinebury
NBA.com
SAN ANTONIO -- The first time Richard Jefferson walked onto the practice floor with his new teammates, he could feel it.
The first time Coach Gregg Popovich blew his whistle and barked out a command, Jefferson could hear it.
The first time he glanced up at the Spurs' four NBA championship banners hanging from the wall at the practice facility, he could see it.
A difference.
It's in the way the Spurs carry themselves even through the dullest drills of training camp. It's in the way they relate to each other just while sitting around together in the chill of the cold tub or the warmth of the Jacuzzi following practice.
"Oh yes, definitely. There's a Spurs way, an attitude that I could spend the rest of the afternoon talking about and trying to describe," Jefferson said. "I'm not saying it's better than everybody else's way of doing things. It's just their way that makes them unique."
Quite fitting then, since it is the arrival of Jefferson that is expected to make the Spurs stand out from the pack again. After an injury-plagued season that had Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all on the shelf at various times and a dismal first-round playoff loss to Dallas, the 29-year-old swingman is regarded as the prescription to cure what ails the Spurs.
"If we didn't do the Jefferson thing, we'd all have fallen asleep during training camp from the excitement," cracked Popovich.
"I think we were beginning to lag behind as far as talent and depth were concerned...And he was the key to what we needed to do this summer. We needed to make a trade for somebody who would instantaneously inject more talent and offense more than anything. He was the guy."
The Spurs' reputation as one of the league's top defensive teams took a hit over the past two seasons as their rankings in opponents' field goal percentage and points allowed drifted closer to the middle of the pack.
However, much of the problem actually grew out of a lack of offense, because two-fifths of the old starting lineup -- Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto -- were often non-contributors. That not only increased the scoring burden on Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, but forced the Spurs to try to play defense for too long on too many possessions.
Even if Jefferson isn't quite the same high-flier who helped the New Jersey Nets reach the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, he still has the quickness and athleticism to juice up the Spurs' attack.
"Maybe Tony will have a little bit more of an open lane because I'm in the corner," Jefferson said. "Or maybe they'll be a little less hesitant to double Tim Duncan, because I'm driving down the lane. Of course, those things they're doing will also open up things for me. I'm gonna have more 1-on-1 coverage because guys will be afraid to leave Manu."
The Spurs have also added veterans Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff and Keith Bogans, along with second-round steal DeJuan Blair in their extreme home makeover.
But there are boats and there are boats -- the Queen Mary 2 and the S.S Minnow -- and there is no doubt that Jefferson is the key part of the renovation. He is, after all, the one who required team owner Peter Holt to dig deep to take on the $29 million for the two years left on his contract that got him out of one season of limbo in Milwaukee and sent the Spurs soaring over the luxury tax threshold.
"One of the things I took pride in during my time in New Jersey is we helped change the image of that franchise," Jefferson said. "We re-made that franchise over during a six-year stretch -- playoffs every year, second round every year but one, four division titles, two NBA Finals.
"Even though we didn't win a championship, they had no banners until that group I came in with got there. When I left, they had four division banners and two Eastern Conference banners hanging up there. That's pretty good for a team that previously won 26 games."
One of those huge world championship banners in his new gym is from when the Spurs beat Jefferson's Nets in the 2003 Finals.
"Yeah, it kind of makes your little Eastern Conference banners look a little bit dinky when you see these," he said. "But it's really cool to come in here and look at them. It's cool even to see that 2003 banner from the Finals that we lost to them. You come here to practice every day and see what they did to win, those people that beat you."
Now he tries to keep up with them, tries to raise his level to keep raising their level.
"You find out real soon," said Jefferson, "it's what they expect around here."
A difference.
*********************
Video: Richard Jefferson - Spurs Media Day 2009
YuR68_CAyt8
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/fran_blinebury/10/08/spurs.jefferson/
Fran Blinebury
NBA.com
SAN ANTONIO -- The first time Richard Jefferson walked onto the practice floor with his new teammates, he could feel it.
The first time Coach Gregg Popovich blew his whistle and barked out a command, Jefferson could hear it.
The first time he glanced up at the Spurs' four NBA championship banners hanging from the wall at the practice facility, he could see it.
A difference.
It's in the way the Spurs carry themselves even through the dullest drills of training camp. It's in the way they relate to each other just while sitting around together in the chill of the cold tub or the warmth of the Jacuzzi following practice.
"Oh yes, definitely. There's a Spurs way, an attitude that I could spend the rest of the afternoon talking about and trying to describe," Jefferson said. "I'm not saying it's better than everybody else's way of doing things. It's just their way that makes them unique."
Quite fitting then, since it is the arrival of Jefferson that is expected to make the Spurs stand out from the pack again. After an injury-plagued season that had Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all on the shelf at various times and a dismal first-round playoff loss to Dallas, the 29-year-old swingman is regarded as the prescription to cure what ails the Spurs.
"If we didn't do the Jefferson thing, we'd all have fallen asleep during training camp from the excitement," cracked Popovich.
"I think we were beginning to lag behind as far as talent and depth were concerned...And he was the key to what we needed to do this summer. We needed to make a trade for somebody who would instantaneously inject more talent and offense more than anything. He was the guy."
The Spurs' reputation as one of the league's top defensive teams took a hit over the past two seasons as their rankings in opponents' field goal percentage and points allowed drifted closer to the middle of the pack.
However, much of the problem actually grew out of a lack of offense, because two-fifths of the old starting lineup -- Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto -- were often non-contributors. That not only increased the scoring burden on Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, but forced the Spurs to try to play defense for too long on too many possessions.
Even if Jefferson isn't quite the same high-flier who helped the New Jersey Nets reach the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, he still has the quickness and athleticism to juice up the Spurs' attack.
"Maybe Tony will have a little bit more of an open lane because I'm in the corner," Jefferson said. "Or maybe they'll be a little less hesitant to double Tim Duncan, because I'm driving down the lane. Of course, those things they're doing will also open up things for me. I'm gonna have more 1-on-1 coverage because guys will be afraid to leave Manu."
The Spurs have also added veterans Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff and Keith Bogans, along with second-round steal DeJuan Blair in their extreme home makeover.
But there are boats and there are boats -- the Queen Mary 2 and the S.S Minnow -- and there is no doubt that Jefferson is the key part of the renovation. He is, after all, the one who required team owner Peter Holt to dig deep to take on the $29 million for the two years left on his contract that got him out of one season of limbo in Milwaukee and sent the Spurs soaring over the luxury tax threshold.
"One of the things I took pride in during my time in New Jersey is we helped change the image of that franchise," Jefferson said. "We re-made that franchise over during a six-year stretch -- playoffs every year, second round every year but one, four division titles, two NBA Finals.
"Even though we didn't win a championship, they had no banners until that group I came in with got there. When I left, they had four division banners and two Eastern Conference banners hanging up there. That's pretty good for a team that previously won 26 games."
One of those huge world championship banners in his new gym is from when the Spurs beat Jefferson's Nets in the 2003 Finals.
"Yeah, it kind of makes your little Eastern Conference banners look a little bit dinky when you see these," he said. "But it's really cool to come in here and look at them. It's cool even to see that 2003 banner from the Finals that we lost to them. You come here to practice every day and see what they did to win, those people that beat you."
Now he tries to keep up with them, tries to raise his level to keep raising their level.
"You find out real soon," said Jefferson, "it's what they expect around here."
A difference.
*********************
Video: Richard Jefferson - Spurs Media Day 2009
YuR68_CAyt8
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/fran_blinebury/10/08/spurs.jefferson/