Spurs' Jefferson back in the gym
As Project Spurs was the first to report last month, the only news on San Antonio Spurs' Richard Jefferson during the lockout was about him playing in volleyball tournament's with a few Arizona graduates and other NBA players.
Well, it seems Jefferson has gotten back on the court during this NBA offseason/lockout according to Houston Rockets' Chase Budinger, also an Arizona grad.
“I’ve been working out every day, getting in the weight room, lifting, working on my skills basketball-wise and playing pickup with the guys last week. There’s Mo Williams, Deron Williams , Richard Jefferson , so we got a nice crew we can play pickup with to stay in shape and keep playing basketball.”
Jefferson has a lot of Spurs fans and critics breathing down his neck, but as our own Trevor Zickgraf mentioned in our most recent Spurscast, Jefferson deserved some time off in the summer to take it easy and enjoy his volleyball or any other activity he likes. Zickgraf reminded us Jefferson spent all of last summer working with head coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs' staff to try and make a difference this past season.
In the first few months it looked like Jefferson was finally becoming the player the Spurs thought they traded for but by the time the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Jefferson would be watching from the bench.
Budinger mentions that the players still play volleyball, so since there isn't an official date when the season will begin, Jefferson can continue to improve his volleyball skills while working on his basketball skills at the same time.
RJ best fit with a pass-first type of PG. He and TP cannot co-exist well. He did show some flesh during the time TP was injured.
All work and no play makes Rich a dull boy? Mr. R. Jefferson owes to the spurs, his teammates and the spurs fan to contribute to the cause of the team. He is paid to win games not riding the bench.He gets more in terms of pay than most of his teammates. He is entering his 3rd year with the spurs. The coaching staff gave special attention to him last year. If he thinks he can't adjust his game according to the spur's system, he should be man enough to admit it. With his huge contract the spurs can't trade him due to the absence of takers and wary of what he can contribute. While the league is on lockout, he should spend sometime to ponder on his future as a player. It's not too late but, almost and time is ticking away. Shape up, Sir or ship out voluntarily.
@rtesoro440 Sorry to tell you but in this system he's not the focal point of the team. He's not the going to take Tony's, Manu's, and Tim's points and become the go to guy to score your points like everybody thinks he's supposed to. He's in the wrong system! He flourished in New Jersey the best with Kidd feeding him the ball in that run and gun system they had which almost worked but you know the rest of the story. Defense, Defense, Defense is what won all our Championships and Timmy being the focal point of our scoring. Timmy isnt that anymore and now they are trying to create a system that involves RJ to make up for that. Not going to happen . He should be on a team that better suits him. It's not his fault is it Pop?
@Titletown99030507 RJ was recruited to take the place of B.Bowens to play defense and take beyond the arc shots. He failed miserably in both counts. Yeah, I guess you are right the coaching staff bungled in taking him.
