McDonald: Struggles of Spurs' Jefferson becoming a concern

Struggles of Spurs' Jefferson becoming a concern
Jeff McDonald

LOS ANGELES — Three-and-a-half minutes had passed in a game that would eventually become a disaster for the Spurs, and Gregg Popovich had already seen enough of Richard Jefferson.

Jefferson had lost track of Ron Artest on back-to-back 3-pointers early in Monday's loss to the short-handed Lakers, prompting Popovich to immediately replace him with Keith Bogans. Jefferson retreated to the bench, where the screaming commenced.

“They say when they stop yelling at you, that's when you have to be worried,” Jefferson said. “Well, he hasn't stopped yelling at me yet.”

Maybe Jefferson isn't worried yet. Others in the organization, however, are getting there.

Jefferson, a 29-year-old small forward, arrived in an offseason trade with Milwaukee, billed as the missing piece the Spurs needed to contend with the Lakers in the West.

The deal pushed the Spurs' payroll to new heights and transformed them into luxury-tax payers, but consensus was the gamble was necessary in order to maximize the few remaining years of Tim Duncan's prime.

Fifty games into the Jefferson era, here is what the Spurs have gotten for their money: 12.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting percentages well off his career averages, and far too many non-factor nights like he produced in Monday's 101-89 loss to the Kobe Bryant-less, Andrew Bynum-less Lakers.

“I'm getting good looks. I've just got to knock them down,” said Jefferson, who was 2 for 9 with nine points against the Lakers. “I'm getting open threes. I'm getting shots coming around the curl. It's just some balls aren't falling.”

Given the large contract — he is due $27.2 million between this season and next — and the larger expectations with which he arrived, Jefferson has emerged as a lightning rod for criticism during the Spurs' 29-21 season.

He isn't the only thing wrong with the Spurs, just the most glaring.

Their team defense is a shell of what it once was. Tony Parker's production has slipped from an All-Star level as he deals with nagging injuries. The chemistry and cohesion problems that have plagued this team aren't all Jefferson's fault, either.

“It's about mental toughness and physical toughness and passion, a group jelling together and playing together,” Popovich said. “And we're not doing it.”

Asked if he'd pressed that point to his team, Popovich said, “five or six times.”

“For some reason, I'm not getting through to this group,” he said.

Parker said the onus for repairing the fractured season falls on the players.

“We're not playing hard enough,” Parker said. “We're playing soft. As a group, we have to play better. Either we're going to do it, or we're not. It's just that simple.”

The same could be said of Jefferson, whose hefty contract makes him almost untradeable. The Spurs weren't expecting him to approach the 19.6 points per game he produced in Milwaukee, nor were they expecting him to replicate his career mark of 17.7 per game.

Yet they also weren't expecting Jefferson to produce 15 single-digit scoring outings or to take so long to grasp their defensive concepts or to appear so devoid of confidence, Popovich can't always play him in critical moments.

“I'm in a whole new system trying to find my way, but it's not an excuse,” Jefferson said. “I thought I would have played better by this point.”

Give Jefferson credit. He's got the personal accountability thing down. After Monday's stinker, Jefferson was among the last players to leave the locker room, standing tall to take questions about his disappointing season.

“I'm not putting all the blame on me,” Jefferson said, “but you have to look at yourself first.”

Publicly, Popovich continues to be supportive of Jefferson. Before Monday's game, he called Jefferson's transition “still a work in progress.”

Afterward, Popovich struggled to be as diplomatic. Asked if he needed more from Jefferson than he's been getting, Popovich inhaled sharply and said what many in the organization are thinking: “That would be a great thing.”

It begins.

Wojnarowski should get royalties for that rip.

Isn't this a menage a trois of a bunch of articles/quotes for the last few days?

Pop needs to STFU and take some of his own advice. You could get through to the team all you want, but trotting out shit lineups time and time again, and handicapping the guys out there isnt going to get it done.

I stuck up for RJ until about January, but the dude just doesnt care. Your team is struggling, season at a crossroads, and your getting paid $15M a year to help a Top 10 player of all time get a championship, yet the dude just roams around out there taking 8-10 shots a night by standing on the three point line. Not rebounding, not hustling, not defending. Dude just has no heart or passion.

Good riddance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

Wojnarowski should get royalties for that rip.

---

Seriously.

I still can't figure out WHY the Spurs didn't know how underachieving this guy was before they made the trade. The Spurs are known to be one of the most thorough and prudent organizations in team Sports - especially when it comes to acquiring players. I can't understand why the didn't do more background on RJ. Either from talking to players (and ex-players) that have played with him. Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten duped.

Trade him for Bourousis.

Quote:

---

Either we're going to do it, or we're not. It's just that simple.

---

I don't like that Tony even thinks not gelling is an option. Or even if he considers it certainly he should know not to say something like that to the press.(or at least not the American press:nope:lol)

Also, and others have suggested this before but I didn't give much thought to it, but remember when Sheed said he didn't like some of the recent personnel decisions (paraphrase)? Is anyone else starting to wonder if he might have been talking about Jefferson? Back when he said it I believe most people chalked it up to dumping veterans like Bowen.

Becoming a concern??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PuttPutt

Becoming a concern??

---

Ordinarily with newspapers I would ignore headlines, because often that's done by someone else and not the writer.

But with McDonald . . . who can tell?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lakaluva

:nope

---

Shutup laker bitch.

Quote:

---

“I'm getting open threes. I'm getting shots coming around the curl. It's just some balls aren't falling.”

---

If they havnt dropped at his age then he may want to see a physician.

Lol McDonald

RJ can be happy to play in SA and not NY, LA or any other big cities!!!

I've noticed that the media here in SA are REALLY "kind" with his "case". This is the first article that "critisizes" RJ production, and it's really "soft"..

I live in Paris, and in the same situation, they would talk EVERYDAY about his salary, the fact that because of him, they don't have a shot at the title, ...

McDonald and Monroe seem to receive their paycheck by the Spurs...

I'm not saying it's abad thing, but sometimes a little more pressure make people "produce" more.

"becoming" a concern?????????????????????????????????????

:pctoss

"becoming"?????

what planet has this motherfucker been at???

Spurs need to close the case on RJ already. Move the fuck on without him on the plans.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hater

"becoming" a concern?????????????????????????????????????

:pctoss

"becoming"?????

what planet has this motherfucker been at???

Spurs need to close the case on RJ already. Move the fuck on without him on the plans.

---

I totally agree, trade him for a defensive big man now!

“I'm getting good looks. I've just got to knock them down,” said Jefferson, who was 2 for 9 with nine points against the Lakers. “I'm getting open threes. I'm getting shots coming around the curl. It's just some balls aren't falling.”]

Ummm , wasnt he ment to be a slasher? IF we wanted another spot up shooter there were so many better options out there for that. What the hell is he doing crying all about outside shots!?! That statement rubbed me the wrong way a bit. "Sigh" Jefferson...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by #2!

I don't like that Tony even thinks not gelling is an option. Or even if he considers it certainly he should know not to say something like that to the press.(or at least not the American press:nope:lol)

Also, and others have suggested this before but I didn't give much thought to it, but remember when Sheed said he didn't like some of the recent personnel decisions (paraphrase)? Is anyone else starting to wonder if he might have been talking about Jefferson? Back when he said it I believe most people chalked it up to dumping veterans like Bowen.

---

It was very indirect but anyone pretty much knows what Sheed meant by that.

Fifty games into the Jefferson era, here is what the Spurs have gotten for their money: 12.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting percentages well off his career averages, and far too many non-factor nights like he produced in Monday's 101-89 loss to the Kobe Bryant-less, Andrew Bynum-less Lakers.

“I'm getting good looks. I've just got to knock them down,” said Jefferson, who was 2 for 9 with nine points against the Lakers. “I'm getting open threes. I'm getting shots coming around the curl. It's just some balls aren't falling.”

Why don't you try slashing to the rim for a dunk or maybe try to draw a foul...just because you get the ball at the 3 point line, doesn't mean you have to take a jump shot....DRIVE to the FUCKING RIM!!! Then after you try that, why don't you at least TRY to play some D...screen door is an understatement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SenorSpur

I still can't figure out WHY the Spurs didn't know how underachieving this guy was before they made the trade. The Spurs are known to be one of the most thorough and prudent organizations in team Sports - especially when it comes to acquiring players. I can't understand why the didn't do more background on RJ. Either from talking to players (and ex-players) that have played with him. Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten duped.

---

Pop brought RJ in because he coached him back in 2002 when RJ was on a national team. Pop was an assistant then, liked RJ's game and liked his defensive potential.

That was in 2002, so this illustrates how far off Pop was on that call.

But to make matters worse, he has mishandled RJ psychologically and stripped him of any confidence he ever had.

For Pop, the RJ move is a 1000% fail.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by #2!

I don't like that Tony even thinks not gelling is an option. Or even if he considers it certainly he should know not to say something like that to the press.(or at least not the American press:nope:lol)

Also, and others have suggested this before but I didn't give much thought to it, but remember when Sheed said he didn't like some of the recent personnel decisions (paraphrase)? Is anyone else starting to wonder if he might have been talking about Jefferson? Back when he said it I believe most people chalked it up to dumping veterans like Bowen.

---

Excellent point.

Who told McDonald the Spurs had traded for Jefferson?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pauleta14

RJ can be happy to play in SA and not NY, LA or any other big cities!!!

I've noticed that the media here in SA are REALLY "kind" with his "case". This is the first article that "critisizes" RJ production, and it's really "soft"..

I live in Paris, and in the same situation, they would talk EVERYDAY about his salary, the fact that because of him, they don't have a shot at the title, ...

McDonald and Monroe seem to receive their paycheck by the Spurs...

I'm not saying it's abad thing, but sometimes a little more pressure make people "produce" more.

---

RJ gets paid even though he doesn't work hard. Nobody in France would notice him.

Pop is pissed?

Let's see what happens.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

RJ gets paid even though he doesn't work hard. Nobody in France would notice him.

---

:lol cliché....

France has a much better productivity per hour than the US...

Check your "info" next time!

My advice, avoid Fox News... :lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timvp

Wojnarowski should get royalties for that rip.

---

Let's hope EN can trade McJoke too

He SUCKS

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pauleta14

:lol cliché....

France has a much better productivity per hour than the US...

Check your "info" next time!

My advice, avoid Fox News... :lol

---

It was a harmless zing. Responding with idiocy does nothing for your reputation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pauleta14

:lol cliché....

France has a much better productivity per hour than the US...

Check your "info" next time!

My advice, avoid Fox News... :lol

---

Not true, France comes in third behind Norway and the US

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pauleta14

RJ can be happy to play in SA and not NY, LA or any other big cities!!!

I've noticed that the media here in SA are REALLY "kind" with his "case". This is the first article that "critisizes" RJ production, and it's really "soft"..

I live in Paris, and in the same situation, they would talk EVERYDAY about his salary, the fact that because of him, they don't have a shot at the title, ...

McDonald and Monroe seem to receive their paycheck by the Spurs...

I'm not saying it's abad thing, but sometimes a little more pressure make people "produce" more.

---

The LA media is pretty soft, with the exception of Plaschke. It's no comparison at all to the ball of hate that is the NY media.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jace

Not true, France comes in third behind Norway and the US

---

It's true that Jefferson outworks Parker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by temujin

It's true that Jefferson outworks Parker.

---

I respectfully submit that the Spurs have two Frenchmen that outwork Richard Jefferson.

rj just doesn't fit with the spurs