Wojnarowski: Spurs’ patience with Jefferson running low

[L.I.T]

The article hinted at something really important; Jefferson has completely and totally shot the chemistry of the Spurs. For a team that has always relied on superior chemistry and execution to beat opponents (hence why they could win with arguable inferior talent at times) having an important cog so completely unhinge them is the root of a lot of their problems.

He doesn't know what to do on offense (and the Spurs have one of the most complicated offenses) and doesn't know where to be on defense (and the Spurs have a very system oriented defense)...and that, I think, is causing immense problems.

Manu and TP have alluded to it in other interviews, I believe. Essentially, some players just don't know where to be. Even Dice has said as much with regards to him...and other players.

[L.I.T]

The article hinted at something really important; Jefferson has completely and totally shot the chemistry of the Spurs. For a team that has always relied on superior chemistry and execution to beat opponents (hence why they could win with arguable inferior talent at times) having an important cog so completely unhinge them is the root of a lot of their problems.

He doesn't know what to do on offense (and the Spurs have one of the most complicated offenses) and doesn't know where to be on defense (and the Spurs have a very system oriented defense)...and that, I think, is causing immense problems.

Manu and TP have alluded to it in other interviews, I believe. Essentially, some players just don't know where to be. Even Dice has said as much with regards to him...and other players.

[Xevious]

The only thing I can think is that Pop is getting pressure to make RJ fit. And benching 14+ million dollars is not good for his own job security.

The problem is RJ is a huge, sloppy pussy. As others have said, his game lives or dies by his shooting. If his shots don't go down, he mopes around, plays weak D, and looks like he doesn't care.

[all_heart]

Very disappointing, RJ needs therapy or something. Anybody got Tony Robbins number? But that doesn't excuse the poor play from our other guys, unless it's chemistry related to RJ. I think Pop should reduce his minute to 15 or less and put MF on the IR, and bring in Hairston, because really what's the worse that can happen? At the very least, Hairston could get a jumpstart for next year, and the Spurs can evaluate what he has. Same goes for Bonner, just put him on IR and bring in Ian. Clearly we are on the road to no where right now and it's affecting the team.

It really seems the Spurs were doing better with Bonner and Finley were on the IR.

[alchemist]

I don't understand all the RJ hate. The guy didn't demand to be traded here, his confidence is really low just by reading his quote. RJ is being made the scapegoat unjustifiably

[galvatron3000]

RJ just doesn't fit the system. It's no knock on him, he would thrive in a more open court situation and fluid type offense, Spurs need a SF in the mode of Stephen Jackson or Kevin Durant. Jefferson's game is neither, not a bad thing but it just doesn't fit here and to top it off, most importantly, his defense is not what was expected. Can it be remedied before the end of the season, perhaps but not likely. The Spurs' problems are a bit more than Jefferson and it's become more evident even to all the, we are above .500 and a win is a win crowd. Hey, a loss is a loss but it means so much more when Kobe and the starting center NEVER played a minute in the game.

[SenorSpur]

Hopefully the FO will continue to work the phone feverishly to find some team willing to take this guy off the Spurs hands - and give something substantial in return.

[Agloco]

Hopefully the FO will continue to work the phone feverishly to find some team willing to take this guy off the Spurs hands - and give something substantial in return.

I hear you, but realistically......

Two words:

Pipe Dream.

[Big P]

I've been saying it for a month....RJ does not fit in....glad to see someone write about it...the truth hurts. And the part about not being able to trade him this year...blows.

[BacktoBasics]

There are some problems here that go beyond what Richard Jefferson is as a player. If they wanted a role player with intangibles they shouldn't have brought in a slashing 2nd or 3rd option player and then play him out of position for 3/4ths of the game. Then expect him to get 18 on 7 shots. He's not that guy.

Which touches on what the real problem is. He's not a 4. Not ever going to be a 4 and has proven to be ineffective in such a capacity. His inability to handle post players has caused his game to suffer at the other end of the court.

He's a 3 and he needs more touches if you want to reap the benefits of his talent.

You can't expect a guy to play a out of position for nearly his entire time on the court and then cry that he's not fitting in. I've seen Pop misuse guys before but this one takes the cake. You can't fit a square peg in a round hole. At least not this square peg.

[Big P]

He's been playing the 3 most of the time...Pop has let Jefferson have free reign with the ball & all he does is ...choke

[doobs]

RJ should just lead the scrubs when the real players---Duncan, Manu, TP, Blair, Hill, McDyess---are resting.

[BacktoBasics]

He's been playing the 3 most of the time...Pop has let Jefferson have free reign with the ball & all he does is ...choke

So who played PF last night against Odom? Manu, RMJ or that other kicks ass defensive specialist Bogans?

[SenorSpur]

Keep working the phones.

[SenorSpur]

There are some problems here that go beyond what Richard Jefferson is as a player. If they wanted a role player with intangibles they shouldn't have brought in a slashing 2nd or 3rd option player and then play him out of position for 3/4ths of the game. Then expect him to get 18 on 7 shots. He's not that guy.

Which touches on what the real problem is. He's not a 4. Not ever going to be a 4 and has proven to be ineffective in such a capacity. His inability to handle post players has caused his game to suffer at the other end of the court.

He's a 3 and he needs more touches if you want to reap the benefits of his talent.

You can't expect a guy to play a out of position for nearly his entire time on the court and then cry that he's not fitting in. I've seen Pop misuse guys before but this one takes the cake. You can't fit a square peg in a round hole. At least not this square peg.

I agree with you there. As much as I've soured on RJ, I do agree with that point. Again, this is Pop trying to force-feed players into a role they're clearly not meant for. See Mason at the pont.

All that said, this doesn't explain RJ's laziness on defense and his apparent fragile mental makeup that has affected all other areas of his game.

[z0sa]

No one has befuddled Popovich like Jefferson. The Spurs are dumbfounded about how to reach him, how to use him, how to get him to play fluid, mistake-free basketball. Jefferson missed nine of his 11 shots against the Lakers, wide-open jumpers that didn’t fall

Herein lies the problem.

Richard Jefferson is not Michael Finley or even Brent Barry. He's not going to find anything near his comfort zone taking jumpshots. He needs looks at the basket early in a game and consistently, every single night, whether it's in one on one situations or through better recognition from his teammates to set him up in the half court sets.

This team didn't need another jumpshooter. It needed Richard Jefferson. Pop and Company have tried turning him into a glorified Michael Finley.

[Bruno]

Nice article. It's strange to see that Yahoo has made more quality article on Sprus that the local newspaper.

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

Props to RJ for saying it.

“I was in one situation for seven of eight years, and I’m the one who has to do most of the adjusting here,” Jefferson said. “Tony [Parker], Tim, Manu [Ginobili] are in their system. Keith Bogans(notes) comes here and he’s the defensive player that hits threes. [Antonio McDyess(notes)] picks and pops. I’m in a whole new system trying to find my way.

I think part of the problem with RJ is there. He comes here as a good guy trying to fit in Spurs scheme while he has the level to be more than a role player who fit in a case. Right now, he is over-thinking the situation. IMO, he should do the same things he has done successfully for years in the NBA and the rest of the team will adjust.

[Flux451]

Pop needs to try RJ coming off the bench. He needs to be surrounded by role players and Manu. His game isn't built to play with Tony and Duncan. And if it is built, they aren't conforming to it. MAnu is a quasi-Kidd play with his passing game and perfect for RJ. Instead of fitting him in with rotations when Manu comes off bench, why not have them both come off the bench together.
Bogans can play the Bowen role and sit in the corner on offense and just remain tough on defense when starting, that's all we need with the starting line up, a la old system. Our second unit is a brand new system and I think RJ could fit in with a bigger role.

[elbamba]

Stopped here.

Jefferson would not play a minute in any relevant game of any major Euroleague team.

Period.

No Messina, Scariolo, Ivanovic, Obradovic, or Ghershon would give him other than garbage time minutes.

He played 33' last night.

Give me a break. Jefferson would average 25 a game in Euroleague.

[elbamba]

I look at Dice and Boggans as bigger failures personally. RJ has been asked to be something that he is not. He has had bad games and looks lost but that could be corrected if Pop says from here on out you are the three and nothing else. Then he could start taking the ball to the hoop and doing what he does well.

Pop is the one who opts to bring Bonner of the bench first, who has cut blairs playing time in half, who puts KB and Finley in the closing minutes of the game when neither can play defense or hit a jump shot.

Pop should have pushed the youth movement two months ago with Ian and Harriston, at least we would have people that could physically run with their opponents. Maybe they foul out or get burned but at that is better than watching layup drills by bench players.

[temujin]

Give me a break. Jefferson would average 25 a game in Euroleague.

You are kidding.

You actually play defense in Euroleague and every game is crucial from now on.
25-30' is for Kleiza and Childress and other serious basketball palyers.

Haislip is playing 11' putting up the same numbers as in SA and his team might soon be eliminated.

[Spursmania]

Jefferson officially sucks now. And, we're stuck with him.

The guy can't hit the side of a barn. He needs some motivational speaker to motivate his ass on a daily and nightly basis. He's killing us with his contract and ty play.

[ElNono]

JThe guy can't hit the side of a barn. He needs some motivational speaker to motivate his ass on a daily and nightly basis. He's killing us with his contract and ty play.

We should trade for Luke Walton?

[hater]

bench his ass. enough is enough.

So Pop + Bufford ed up. Let Holt take it out of their paychecks. But it's time to move on without RJ.

[Big P]

So who played PF last night against Odom? Manu, RMJ or that other kicks ass defensive specialist Bogans?

So did playing pf last night for bit cause jefferson to miss 9 of his 11 shots?