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By Paul Troupe
The San Antonio Spurs made a pretty big trade a few years ago when they were able to acquire Richard Jefferson for Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen, and Amir Johnson. San Antonio said youth and scoring were the key factors in making the swap. In the three years since that trade, Richard Jefferson has not been as productive as anyone would have hoped.
After averaging about 20 points per game from 2003-2009, minus his injury shortened year, Jefferson has not averaged more than 12 points per game, and that was his first year with the Spurs. He averaged 11 points last season, and this year he is averaging the lowest in his career since his first season, at 9.9 points per game.
RJ also has not been able to score double digits in the past five games. So far this season, he has a PER ranking of just 11.56. For those of you that do no understand what PER is, it is a formula developed by John Hollinger who attempts to use all statistics from a game to find the overall Player Efficiency Rating. For more information, and the formula used, check out the Wikipedia page on it.
Anyways, RJ’s PER is horribly low, and his defense has been pretty lackluster too. I understand that Coach Popovich wants to keep things consistent, but it’s time for RJ to move over if he is not going to produce. Scoring 6, 7, 9, 5, and 1 point(s) fo the last five games is just not going to cut it, even with Tony Parker shouldering the load.
I say it’s time to give Kawhi Leonard some more minutes. He plays better defense than RJ, has a better PER (14.08), and when given more minutes and shot opportunities, he has done a better job than Jefferson. Perhaps they should give Daniel Green or Gary Neal some more looks, although those guys would be a little small for the position. The best player, however, would perhaps have to be acquired in a trade.
Whatever Coach Popovich/RC Buford decide to do, it’s time for a change.
Having Manu and Kawhi start... I would like to think the two could set a great tone every game... Kawhi playing defense early on so the opponent star players don't get into an early groove and Manu just being Manu and getting everyone amped... don't do that.
why did we trade amir, he's better than Blair!!
We didn't.
I'm Paully T, an avid Husker, Broncos, Spurs, White Sox, Fire, Maple Leafs fan. I watch anything that ESPN shows, and am a huge international soccer fan. I am studying aerospace engineering, but don't let that fool you, I love my sports.
Who would have thought Kurt Thomas would still be playing. I'd rather have him
As long as he consistently hits the three, he's not going anywhere (until they amnesty his ass next year).
thatsthejoke.jpg
Leonard and Manu in the starting lineup makes the most sense. However, Leonard does not spread the floor quite as well as Richard, so I bet they keep him, even if he is not producing much, just because he is the better 3pt threat.
Leonard is basically useless unless he is used against as a stopper against a scoring threat, which usually does not exist against a bench, so he needs to start.
Does putting "Article" in the le add credibility to a random blogger?
I'm Paully T, damnit!
He looks like he's 15. I'd bet money he's never heard of Dale Ellis.
I'm Paully T, damnit!
Yet another article, compilation, argument of why Jefferson needs to be brought off the bench.
Man... when is Pop going to start reading these things?
lol rj 40 mil
lol "article".
I wanna write an article with bad facts and get published too.
the problem is even a scrub like JA cant even beat this scrub out of the rotation....
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this happens . . . in the playoffs. And this time, they'll most likely be a quicker hook. For two reasons. 1) It's going to be difficult to not play one of Leonard, Neal or Green and 2) At that point, they won't care about completely losing him mentally, because he's all but assured of being amnestied anyway.
Anyways...
I would agree with this even if I hadn't come to the exact same conclusion. The amnesty makes RJ expendable.
RJ needs to be benched and be given only limited mins. Leonard should start in his place with Green the backup. Ginobili should also start with Neal as his back up. That would give us a good offensive/defensive combo. Unfortunately, Pop will stick with RJ to the bitter end.
My ideal scenario is that if Kawhi could become a solid 3 point shooter and take over the starting role with James Anderson getting in the rotation as his backup, then we can completely bench RJ. That would be ideal.
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