The Sad State of Big Al

[HawkItus]

6. The Sad State of Big Al

Jefferson has always been a bad defender, but he put everything he had last season into fitting into Steve Clifford’s conservative scheme in Charlotte. He hasn’t been the same this season, even when healthy, and Jefferson’s drop-off is the single biggest reason for Charlotte’s decline on defense.

Jefferson was trudging through injuries before Charlotte pulled him last week, and it had become sad to watch him drop farther back into the paint and wave meekly at ball handlers flying by:

 

 

The poor guy could barely move. Jefferson faces an interesting choice this summer; he holds a $13.5 million player option for next season, and if he declines it to enter free agency, the Hornets will have to decide whether to commit big bucks to a slow-footed 30-year-old with bad wheels.

[DrReality]

Plays more like he's 40

[Guest]

Glad we didn't sign him.

[ATLHawks3]

Still one of the best post scorers in the NBA today. It's sad that injuries have taken a toll on him.