Article: What’s Left in RJ’s Tank?

[angelbelow]

RJ is not doubt an instant upgrade at our 3 position. Just him and Finley and a project like Hairston make this the deepest 3 spot for us since Sean.

[Sugar]

Sugar

You called, honey? I have lots left for you after dealing with Leeroy.

[Malice]

Nice try jack off. Next.

[HarlemHeat37]

As I've been saying since the trade, it's impossible to judge his current ability defensively..

there's 2 factors..

yes, he has lost some athleticism, which has affected his lateral movement defensively..but the season he had the injury was also the year where he had the biggest offensive responsibility of his career, where he had to be the main option in New Jersey along with Vince..the year after was in Milwaukee, where he had to be the #1 option for most of the year with injuries to Redd and Bogut..

naturally, when your offensive responsibility is diminished, you'll have more energy that you can use towards other aspects of the game, defense in this case..

impossible to judge right now, because the injury problems and the responsibility factor happened at the exact same time..we'll see how he looks when he actually steps on the court as a Spur..it'll be the first time he's a 3rd or 4th option since his 2nd or 3rd last year in Jersey..

[SpurCharger]

Since When Are Players best years Behind them at 29?? I can See If he had like 2 or 3 Knee Surgerys.... but the Guy has Been Healthy, and His Better Years Should be Now.

[ffadicted]

28 is the new 30 in the NBA

[wildbill2u]

Anyone ready for this off season with all the BS articles to be over?

[The_Worlds_finest]

Tony parker is old

[Fabbs]

Anyone ready for this off season with all the BS articles to be over?

I'm ready for someone, anyone with accurate info as to how often Richard Jefferson took the ball to the rack.

[Obstructed_View]

damn, lakerfans are afraid.

qft.

[lotr1trekkie]

Who is Neil Paine? Sub the names "Artest or Odom" for Jefferson and the article rings equallly true. Both Artest and Odom are past their primes. Fischer--way past. I thnk Bynum has acturally reached his prime. As long as Kobe can maintain his level of play this team will be tough to beat. "Swipe the leg!"

[Obstructed_View]

Who is Neil Paine? Sub the names "Artest or Odom" for Jefferson and the article rings equallly true. Both Artest and Odom are past their primes. Fischer--way past. I thnk Bynum has acturally reached his prime. As long as Kobe can maintain his level of play this team will be tough to beat. "Swipe the leg!"

If you sub one of those names, then it's not an article talking up the Lakers, and will not be printed.

[spursfan1000]

Damn what's with this.
Why would people be questioning how much he has in the tank if he's only 29? he has more than enough, it's not even like we need that much from him. He would be the 3rd or 4th option on the team.

[qiuyizeng]

The article isn't that horrible. But the point he's missing is that with less responsibility on the offensive end, Jefferson will be able to dedicate more of his energy to the defensive end. That should allow Jefferson's defense to improve.

Jefferson was never going to be as good as Bowen defensively. As long as he's a significant upgrade over Finley, that]s about all that can expected.

yup,i think so!

[Sean Cagney]

GOOD LORD throw in the towel on him already at 29? You have to be f in kidding me, stupid article.

[Danny.Zhu]

Defense: Bowen>RJ>>>Finley
Offense: RJ>>>>>>>Finley>Bowen

I'd say we're in good shape.

Agree the first part.

On the second part, I'm still not convinced to be that optimistic.

[raspsa]

I think after all the recent controversy, RJ can't wait to get back to playing BB. So he's definitely motivated. Physically, he's fine. By this point in his carreer, he's learned to play smarter and conserve his body. His perimeter game is more prominent though he can still slash to the rim or run the break if the opportunity presents itself. He fits the Spurs needs like a glove.

[Fabbs]

I'm ready for someone, anyone with accurate info as to how often Richard Jefferson took the ball to the rack.

He didn't take it to the rack or inside very often with Milwaukee, but it doesn't appear to have anything to do with injuries or loss of athleticism, since he had the same injuries during his last year in NJ, and he still took it inside as much as he had in the previous years before the injuries..he's definitely different than his younger years though..he's clearly lost some athleticism from his days of participating in the dunk contest and running all the time with Kidd and Martin, but his jumper has significantly gotten better..

You or anyone got time and the dvd of 2003? Did he take it to the rack vs the Spurs?

BTW, even if you forget all this..we still got him for Bruce Bowen, it's not like we gave anything up...

blasphemy!

[Rogue]

I think you're giving finley a bit too much credit, Sean Elliott is a better defender than Mike right now.

It is a shame. At the beginning of last pre-season we though Finley could be as good as his Mavs days. The articles hyping how he was in shape like a 29 year old and some of the people I talked to were just wow'd at how good he looked. Then when it came to the rgular season he showed some flashes early, but nothing really. How often did he get lit up on by average scorers? Didn't John Salmons have like a 40 point game on him earlier this season? Sure Salmons had a very good season, but that was double his scoring average.

Actually Fin deserves more credit than what LJ gives him. With Jefferson playing as the starting SF and Mason at the 2, Fin will be resting on the bench during the first tense minutes of the game, and steps up into the game to give Jefferson some time for rest. Last season, Fin was the starting SF and played 30minutes or some night in and night out, averaging about 10 points per game. However, some Spurs fans kept throwing bullcrap blames onto this veteran while ignoring the inactivity of Bruce who was around the same edge with Fin in terms of age.

[hater]

Agree the first part.

On the second part, I'm still not convinced to be that optimistic.

R u serius??? RJ averaged 20ppg last year. He is easily >>>>>>> Finley/Bowen offensively

[cherylsteele]

Whoever wrote the article must have just seen:

[Agloco]

And I was trying to make you Spurs fans feel good.

Thought it was a interesting read. No more, no less.

Some are just way too sensitive.

Thanks for the "Emotional Head".....

At least I know where to go when I need some now.

[peskypesky]

wow what an idiotic article

[manufor3]

Pretty good mix of rj (starts to get good around the 1:05 mark)

[z0sa]

While the article is written well, its point thoroughly worked, and its main idea kept in tact even til the end, there couldn't be a worse premise. The guy has played every game for 2 straight seasons, his best since his 2nd-3rd seasons, while averaging 38 MPG; these alone severely quake and split the ground which the argument rests on. The fact he's 29, generally considered within an NBA player's prime, also helps to dispel the author's misgivings.