Why Does Jefferson Suck?

[Chieflion]

Jordan would succeed. Those two players aren't even in the same class. If Jordan failed at anything, it was his failure to get Washington into the post season, which wasn't his fault seeing as how he was their leading scorer. If your attempting to put Jordan in Jefferson's shoes, he could most certainly succeed where Jefferson has failed. Putting Jordan in the same sentence with Jefferson makes yourself sound stupid., unless of course, you were talking about Jordan Farmar, in which case, I apologize.

Do you even understand the meaning of that post? It means that any player of any calibre would have struggled outside their comfort zone and playing out of position.

[dastrey]

Just another case of fans making a scapegoat out of somebody. Manu has sucked. Tony has sucked. Richard has sucked. Dice has sucked. That makes about everyone. Now that Bonner and Finley are not the scapegoats, someone has to be the scapegoat because the Spurs lost. Instead on focusing on the declining Manu and Tony who has PF, the fans can play the blame game on RJ, because Dice was injured. Our biggest off-season acquisition in years has been "MIA", so to speak. Richard is now the scapegoat because Tony and Manu have three rings. When two of the core players has been MIA, how can the followers do well? The leaders have to step up and show some swagger. Another thing, Jefferson played about 21 minutes against the Grizzlies, he was far from the main reason why the Spurs lost. We may have to wonder why he only got that little minutes.

TP is playing terrible because he decided to play during the summer. Manu and Dice are getting old. Richard Jefferson should be in the prime of his career. There is no excuse for not stepping up when your team is banged up. At some point he has to sack up and show his worth. Stop passing the ball and make something happen! But he wont. He isn't capable of elevating his game. He can't play in a structured offense that has proven to win championships. You add Jefferson to the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, or Magic and you will get the same thing.

[Chieflion]

TP is playing terrible because he decided to play during the summer. Manu and Dice are getting old. Richard Jefferson should be in the prime of his career. There is no excuse for not stepping up when your team is banged up. At some point he has to sack up and show his worth. Stop passing the ball and make something happen! But he wont. He isn't capable of elevating his game. He can't play in a structured offense that has proven to win championships. You add Jefferson to the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, or Magic and you will get the same thing.

He played well when one of the big three or two of them were out, so I don't see your point. And passing the ball happens to be part of the offense. This is the Spurs' structured offense, the small forward standing in the corner, sometimes you can't make happen. RJ was just following orders. And Tony, Manu, Dice get a pass because of national team and being old? RJ should be the one feeling old. He has been playing huge minutes and night in and night out plays every game since a few seasons ago. I am actually suprised he has not shown visible signs that he has declined. That shows excellent work ethic to succeed to keep himself in shape and play every single game. I doubt he only shows up just to show up. His track record speaks for itself and we have people ting on him and saying he sucks.

[murpjf88]

Do you even understand the meaning of that post? It means that any player of any calibre would have struggled outside their comfort zone and playing out of position.

Loud and clear. Jordan dominated everybody. It doesn't matter what position he was playing or who was guarding him. Jefferson can't handle any position he's played. Is he not in his comfort zone at SF? That's where he spent the most time throughout his career. This is another failed attempt to make another excuse for RJ's pathetic play. I'm not buying it. Were nearly halfway into the season, and if RJ isn't comfortable yet, he's not going to be.

[Chieflion]

Loud and clear. Jordan dominated everybody. It doesn't matter what position he was playing or who was guarding him. Jefferson can't handle any position he's played. Is he not in his comfort zone at SF? That's where he spent the most time throughout his career. This is another failed attempt to make another excuse for RJ's pathetic play. I'm not buying it. Were nearly halfway into the season, and if RJ isn't comfortable yet, he's not going to be.

He would have been if Pop didn't play him at PF half the damn time. Oh ya, I really want to see Jordan playing PF or C. I am sure he would have dominated.

[murpjf88]

He would have been if Pop didn't play him at PF half the damn time. Oh ya, I really want to see Jordan playing PF or C. I am sure he would have dominated.

Why would you convert arguably one of the best clutch shooters this game has ever seen to PF or C. Your making it sound like they put Rj at point guard.

[hitmanyr2k]

There was a lot of smoke last year that RMJs game went to when Pop asked him to play out of position as the PG. No one seems to give the same take for RJ as Pop continues to try and run him at the PF. It is hard enough to come to a new team and learn your position. It is nearly impossible to be successful at two completely different positions.

Good point. I honestly don't think it would matter who the Spurs brought to San Antonio. I can almost guarantee the Spurs coaching staff would find a way to make that player not play to his potential...by either limiting his minutes or having that player never be in a comfort zone because the idiot coach doesn't know how to put together a consistent rotation, etc. It's a pattern going on here. Brent Barry came in and had has confidence ruined. Spurs fans turned on him. Michael Finley came in..same deal, Spurs fans turned on him. Then Roger Mason went south, everyone turned on him. People on this board think Richard Jefferson should be making up for the lackluster play of his teammates who have been in the system for much longer while he's been in the system for about 2-3 months The guy has been shuffled around in Popovich's Jekyll and Hyde lineups all year and he's supposed to know his role?

Offensively Jefferson is built to run in an uptempo system. Everyone knows this. The Spurs coaching staff knew this when they got him (if they didn't they're idiots). You would think they would incorporate plays in the offense to take advantage of his athleticism...back-cuts to the rim, guard-arounds, SOMETHING. Instead they're sticking with a slow-down game with an offense that's as predictable as sunshine in the Sahara. The team can't run a fast break to save their lives and that's going to be their downfall because they don't have the ability to manufacture easy points.

[temujin]

You wrote all that, which is nice and all, but you ended it with "play Haislip" LOL..

Did you resign as Jefferson's agent, or did he fire you?

Either way, Haislip, or Finley or that mater, could do what jefferson has done, only 13 millions' cheaper.

[temujin]

This guy was on Team USA and couldn't even make an impact. All that talent around him didn't even make him a better player. He is one of the reasons they didn't get the gold medal.

Unless he has a straight path to the basket, he is useless. How many times have we seen him drive to the basket and then is forced into an awkward pass when the defense rotates. He has no plan B. It isn't the system. I really think deep down inside he knows he isn't championship material. He even knows that the Big 3 realize that too. So he is going to continue to keep passing the ball and stay out of the way.

Exactly.
What did exactly happen to that Taem USA?

[Chomag]

Exactly.
What did exactly happen to that Taem USA?

I still get sick everytime just thinking about it. Could we please just not go there... please? lol

[temujin]

You know Spurs are in trouble when you have to hope that old Finley HAS to come back and play instead of the 14 millions dollar man.
At least Finley hits open jumpers more often than not.

[Spursfan 87]

Haislip at least have the balls to take some shots and be aggressive on offense, unlike an overpaid player i know.

Haislip in 4:26 min 4pts 3rebs 2-4FG
RJ in 20:46 min 3pts 1reb 1ast 0-6FG

[murpjf88]

Haislip at least have the balls to take some shots and be aggressive on offense, unlike an overpaid player i know.

Haislip in 4:26 min 4pts 3rebs 2-4FG
RJ in 20:46 min 3pts 1reb 1ast 0-6FG

Because Jefferson's job is secure, while Haislip still is out to prove himself. He knows if he isn't aggressive, he won't play. Its a completely different mindset for Haislip.

[TIMMYD!]

Because Jefferson's job is secure, while Haislip still is out to prove himself. He knows if he isn't aggressive, he won't play. Its a completely different mindset for Haislip.

Can't you still make the same argument who's being payed $14 million?

[murpjf88]

Can't you still make the same argument who's being payed $14 million?

Sure you can. But RJ's proven he can play. Obviously nobody's gonna offer him a 14 million dollar contract if he hadn't accomplished anything. Some GM grossly overestimated RJ's value because he's barely worth the MLE. Pop doesn't seem reluctant to pull him from the starting lineup and finley's return probably won't threaten that.

[Agloco]

but in all seriousness, I really dont know what's up with RJ. I dont know if it's his intensity, but he doesn't play with a sense of urgency.

This. He needs to play a lot smarter and more intense on both ends of the court. If I didn't know any better I'd say he has the look of someone who really doesn't want to be here, despite what he says.

[Agloco]

Because Jefferson's job is secure, while Haislip still is out to prove himself. He knows if he isn't aggressive, he won't play. Its a completely different mindset for Haislip.

If that's Jefferson's true mindset, we need to unload him ASAFP. I doubt it however. I think it's more of a case of not being comfortable with the personnel who surround him out there.

[Spursfan 87]

This. He needs to play a lot smarter and more intense on both ends of the court. If I didn't know any better I'd say he has the look of someone who really doesn't want to be here, despite what he says.

[bless1187]

the thing really bothering me about R. Jefferson is that he doesn't even look to attack on offense unless he's completely wide open... in terms of offensive aggressiveness... R. Mason, G. Hill, D. Blair are even looking for there own shots more than R. Jefferson. I really wonder if anyone on the coaching staff has gotten onto him about this.

[doobs]

RJ will continue log serious minutes until playoffs. That's why he's here: to keep Manu rested and healthy.

[rascal]

Good point. I honestly don't think it would matter who the Spurs brought to San Antonio. I can almost guarantee the Spurs coaching staff would find a way to make that player not play to his potential...by either limiting his minutes or having that player never be in a comfort zone because the idiot coach doesn't know how to put together a consistent rotation, etc. It's a pattern going on here. Brent Barry came in and had has confidence ruined. Spurs fans turned on him. Michael Finley came in..same deal, Spurs fans turned on him. Then Roger Mason went south, everyone turned on him. People on this board think Richard Jefferson should be making up for the lackluster play of his teammates who have been in the system for much longer while he's been in the system for about 2-3 months The guy has been shuffled around in Popovich's Jekyll and Hyde lineups all year and he's supposed to know his role?

Offensively Jefferson is built to run in an uptempo system. Everyone knows this. The Spurs coaching staff knew this when they got him (if they didn't they're idiots). You would think they would incorporate plays in the offense to take advantage of his athleticism...back-cuts to the rim, guard-arounds, SOMETHING. Instead they're sticking with a slow-down game with an offense that's as predictable as sunshine in the Sahara. The team can't run a fast break to save their lives and that's going to be their downfall because they don't have the ability to manufacture easy points.

Wow, great post and well written.

[z0sa]

Wow, great post and well written.

+1

and let me add: our entire team's mentality is just foggy. What are our goals, defensively and offensively? I know Pop thinks this team can be one of the best defensively, but the personnel is lacking and our guys don't have the "all D, all the time" mentality. It's not as simple as "give the ball to #21 and hustle back on D" and hasn't been for years, but that was always the bottom line when things went south.

As weird as it sounds to type, I think Pop needs to come to grasp with reality by first taking the reins away from injured Tony Parker and secondly, rethinking his lineups and how important consistency is for players, especially players trying to come together with a new team's people and philosophies AND win a le by the end of the season.

[Agloco]

Good point. I honestly don't think it would matter who the Spurs brought to San Antonio. I can almost guarantee the Spurs coaching staff would find a way to make that player not play to his potential...by either limiting his minutes or having that player never be in a comfort zone because the idiot coach doesn't know how to put together a consistent rotation, etc. It's a pattern going on here. Brent Barry came in and had has confidence ruined. Spurs fans turned on him. Michael Finley came in..same deal, Spurs fans turned on him. Then Roger Mason went south, everyone turned on him. People on this board think Richard Jefferson should be making up for the lackluster play of his teammates who have been in the system for much longer while he's been in the system for about 2-3 months The guy has been shuffled around in Popovich's Jekyll and Hyde lineups all year and he's supposed to know his role?

Offensively Jefferson is built to run in an uptempo system. Everyone knows this. The Spurs coaching staff knew this when they got him (if they didn't they're idiots). You would think they would incorporate plays in the offense to take advantage of his athleticism...back-cuts to the rim, guard-arounds, SOMETHING. Instead they're sticking with a slow-down game with an offense that's as predictable as sunshine in the Sahara. The team can't run a fast break to save their lives and that's going to be their downfall because they don't have the ability to manufacture easy points.

Wow, great post and well written.

+1

Yes very good post. I think Jeffersons' troubles are definitely linked to his having to play out of position, but beyond that he seems to not have any energy or intensity to boot. He's also very causal and sloppy with the ball on the offensive end. I'd at least like to see a hard foul from him, or something that gives me an indication that he's making an honest effort out there.

[spursncowboys]

Nash/Kidd would make him an all-star in their system. We should try and dump him for some d-league youth.

[timvp]

You would think they would incorporate plays in the offense to take advantage of his athleticism...back-cuts to the rim

They do

guard-arounds

They do.

Instead they're sticking with a slow-down game

This is the fastest paced team in the Tim Duncan Era. When the offense is flowing correctly and the defense is getting stops, this Spurs team gets out and runs.


Besides, offense hasn't been a problem with the Spurs this season. They were a top three offensive team in terms of efficiency prior to the last two games. More times than not, it's the defense that has caused the Spurs to lose games.