Let's say it honestly: is Jefferson a good player or a fake ?

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Jefferson didn't play "terrible" in the 2003 finals. He had a couple good games, a decent game and 2 bad games.

[NZ Spurs]

RJ is simply not being aggressive, that and he is being covered well by the opposition. You people seem to want RJ to pick up the slack when the scoring dries up, however, the scoring tends to dry up when teams pack the lane to stop Parker penetrating. This has the effect of also slowing RJ, as that is how he likes to score.

One other option would be to post RJ up, but then you are making a conscious decision to post RJ instead of Tim which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

At the moment, RJ is great in the open court, he is a good athletic defender as well as being a threat that draws attention. once the Spurs, read Pop, find out how to use him effectively things will start to roll and this new crop of immature trolls, who are filling up my ignore list at an alarming rate, will change their tune.

[Pauleta14]

Do we really know what Manu can bring? Seriously, I'm a fan of Manu but I highly doubt we are going to get 2007 pre injury Manu again.

As long as his heart isn't injured I don't have ANY doubt he'll come bck at his real level...
People forget that he doen't only bring offense, he set the tone defensively, he is the most reliable at FT in money time and he scares opposite teams/coaches, so he opens spaces...

even if he doesn't dunk any more, I don't care! I hust want him bck in "normal" shape, then we have a shot for the le...

Bck to Jeffersson, except for the "occasional" intensity he puts on D or his efficiency when niether of our stars are on the floor,
I couldn't say on what areas RJ is reliable...

[TIMMYD!]

Maybe we should bring him off the bench if he needs the ball in his hands to create. The best thing I've seen him do is dunk it against the Mavs and Blazers.

[Agloco]

Jefferson is a good player,he just lack a little smart,but Pop is a fake.it's pretty clear.

[EricB]

Afraid to tell u folks not only is having trouble finding rooom to score but uh, the unbeatable fantastic perfect Bruce Bowen used to get lit up like that against carmello too. When a player of his caliber gets going your not gonna stop him. That simple.

[#2!]

I understand what you mean completely. But I thought it was pretty obvious that unless we made some changes in our offense, he wouldn't fit in. I mean, I fully expected plays to be run for an atheltic ~20 PPG scorer that averages almost 50% FG career wise. I was actually expecting some of the plays we used to run for Manu would be run for RJ. But there has been none of that. It's actually been terrible to watch. I think it's pretty much the same thing with Dice.

I know I'm risking becoming SA210-like by pushing this one thing so much, but I can't help feeling that Pop taking over the play calling might solve some of these problems.


Since this was Pop's decision its not like I'm on his nuts or anything, in fact, I can't understand how he thought all of these new guys would mesh if he wasn't making sure they were getting the ball where they needed it. Seriously, how can a shoot first PG, and two guys that were ordered not to play basketball for 3+ months, be expected to set up a bunch of players they aren't familiar with.

This is the only coaching decision of the season I can not stand by whatsoever. I worry sometimes that, not at all entirely, but in some small way, Pop has lost the fire needed to coach a team through every play necessary in order to win. Hopefully it'll come back if he has indeed lost it.

[galvatron3000]

RJ would most likely thrive under a pg like Chris Paul than Tony Parker

[temujin]

RJ would most likely thrive under a pg like Chris Paul than Tony Parker

I agree, NO becoming the trash they are, Jefferson would thrive.
He would score his 20 ppg and his team would loose 70% of games.
perfect fit.

[BillMc]

RJ would most likely thrive under a pg like Chris Paul than Tony Parker

Or perhaps a young Jason Kidd? The point is a Chris Paul clone is not coming through the door. We have what we have, now we just need to make it work with RJ.

[jdev82]

Jefferson sucks.

And I think he's gay.

howd you get unpinked?

[spurtech09]

rj had a pretty good game

[5in10]

Let's trade him for tayshaun or Caron someone that we at least Know is a solid defender...

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

Let's trade him for tayshaun or Caron someone that we at least Know is a solid defender...

lol

[Chieflion]

Let's trade him for tayshaun or Caron someone that we at least Know is a solid defender...

I got a lol out of this because both of them are practically having the worst season of their career.

[murpjf88]

Let's trade him for tayshaun or Caron someone that we at least Know is a solid defender...

RJ was never a solid defender. He's not here to defend. He's here to score and take pressure off the big three. If the spurs were looking for a lock down defender, they went looking in all the wrong places.

[HarlemHeat37]

Jefferson was a great defender until his last year in New Jersey..

This sentiment was also repeated by some people in the organization, and that was the thought process that was involved..they hoped he would get back to defending now that he would have less offensive responsibilities..

His defense has been improving, but obviously it hasn't been as good as the Spurs had hoped..

[duhoh]

Jefferson is a good player,he just lack a little smart,but Pop is a fake.it's pretty clear.

are you sure your name isn't Sum Ting Wong?

[senorglory]

Jefferson is overrated. He is just an average player in this league. He is no where near a star, nor will he ever. ppl's are just going to have to come to grips with that.

Recent December issue, the SportingNews reported their NBA top 50 list: RJ at 46.

[murpjf88]

Recent December issue, the SportingNews reported their NBA top 50 list: RJ at 46.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The...r_lebron_james

This list is full of . Their is no way RJ is better than andrew bynum.

[VivaPopovich]

A good player.

This is the first time Pop is coaching an athletic SF, give it time.

[murpjf88]

A good player.

This is the first time Pop is coaching an athletic SF, give it time.

Sean elliott wasn't athletic?

[NZ Spurs]

A good player.

This is the first time Pop is coaching an athletic SF, give it time.

*cough*sean elliott*cough*

[galvatron3000]

I agree, NO becoming the trash they are, Jefferson would thrive.
He would score his 20 ppg and his team would loose 70% of games.
perfect fit.

Or perhaps a young Jason Kidd? The point is a Chris Paul clone is not coming through the door. We have what we have, now we just need to make it work with RJ.

My point is in order to get the most effectiveness you use a guys strengths. His strengths seem more suited and enhanced alongside a pg that distributes the ball. I think in bringing someone like Jefferson to the team, which was because he didn't necessarily have to have the ball, they/we forgot our pg is a scoring pg. Vince Carter would have been a better fit because he can create with the ball. If Rj doesn't start posting up and becoming a defender then I'd say they do better with Stephen Jackson than him. We missed out on Carter.

Now if we had a pg that was setting everyone else up then RJ could move around and be more effective. Tony's strength is scoring, taking people off the dribble and fast break alone that doesn't benefit Jefferson it actually takes away from Jefferson's game and leaves him null in most cases.

[Bukefal]

He is definitely not a fake. Jefferson is a good player. But he's new to the team, he need to adjust and the team needs to adjust to him. That's completely normal. It didn't work out yet, but be confident. It will.