Do you guys actially think Jefferson would put up the same numbers like he does on the Nets? Come on man, I don't think Steve and Cuttino would let him touch the ball muchless run any plays for him. The only reason why he is good because the Nets have Jason Kidd and a team oriented offense that knows how to run the fast break. If Griffin were on the Nets with Kidd, I am guarantee you that EG would be close to an all star by now. Likewise, if Jefferson played on the Rockets, you guys would be calling him the next bust.
I just wan to ask one thing!! Why is it everything well most of the things that I read on Eddie he is a 3 and not a 4!! Did the Rockets make him switch positions since hes so big or something!?
People are inpatient and Eddie is not understanding this! I hate the thought of it but if he plays poor again this year then he's gone!! easy as that! Rockets wont wait that long!! What team does!!?
Garthomps I'm trying to understand what you are saying. Are you trying to say that Jefferson is actually better than Griff?
Please... someone please enlighten this guy. How many threads are out there in the past two weeks (let alone past two months... or now past two years) that deal with this topic? There's always someone who points out that the Rockets drafted Jefferson only because the Nets told them to do so... Whoever that is, please point this out and kill this thread!
Richard Jefferson – F Known For: Great leaping ability and athleticism, defensive prowess, moves to the hoop, unbridled enthusiasm, confidence bordering on cockiness. The Real Deal: Jefferson had an always-improving rookie season last year, showing that he was ready to take it to the next level with his all-around play. Had much more of an offensive game than anyone expected, coming out of college with more of a defensive stopper reputation. But Jefferson can score by a multitude of ways, from the unbelievable sky-high slam, to the artful dodge and weave through traffic to the hoop, to an improving outside shot. Needs to work on his range, though. Jefferson, along with Kenyon Martin, are the two Nets most likely to elevate – not just off Kidd passes for monster jams, but elevate their games to All-Star levels in the years to come. Joe's Take: Wow, has Jefferson got some serious potential. Confident, maybe arrogant even, Jefferson shows some of the same traits that make all NBA legends great – the desire to be the best, to improve every aspect of his game, and perhaps most impressively, leave everyone amazed with his athletic ability. Who knew that this was the player the Nets were getting when they traded Eddie Griffin for him? If Jefferson adds range to his outside shot, he could eventually become virtually unstoppable. He'll go as far as his desire will take him – and he appears to have plenty of that. Perhaps the key to the Nets season, if Jefferson shows the improvement everyone thinks he will in his first year as a starter, the Nets could be even more successful than they were last season. The pride of the Nets' rookie class of 2001. There's nobody out there left pining for Eddie Griffin. After all, this guy took Keith Van Horn's job and sent him packing to Philly. Jefferson is the antidote to the tenative Nets teams of the past, the guys who gave Calipari a conniption, guys who wouldn't drive inside. Jefferson has a baseline drive that has to be witnessed to be believed. Huge bodies on the rug underneath the rim do not dissuade him. He needed playoff testing, and got all you could possibly get last year. What I'm asking of him: could he practice those free-throws? He shot under the Nets' pretty bad average of .735 last season (24th in the league).
From NBAextra.com, they couldn't have been more wrong Houston Rockets (B+) The Rockets drafted Richard Jefferson #13, Jason Collins #18, and Brandon Armstrong #23 and then swiftly traded all 3 of them to the Nets for the talented Eddie Griffin. Eddie was a highly coveted product, but so was Richard Jefferson. The only question here is did Houston give up to much to get him? Time will tell, but I kinda like this move by Houston. I've been watching Eddie for 3 years and the kid's got game. Houston also scored Terence Morris with the #34 pick that they acquired from Atlanta on Draft night. Terence is from Maryland and could be a gem at #34. I like what Houston did here, but can the exciting Griffin co-exist with Steve Francis? If the two can find a way to get along then Houston is on track to win some games. NJ Nets (F) The Nets started out good by taking talented Seton Hall forward Eddie Griffin with the #7 pick, but everything went crazy when they shipped Eddie to Houston for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong. I simply don't understand this, especially considering that Collins has a very scary injury plagued history. Jefferson is very athletic and may contribute for the Nets, but Collins & Armstrong are question marks. I think the Nets will be kicking themselves in their collective asses for years when they start to see Griffin turn into an All-Star. A huge thumbs down for the Nets.
Jefferson, le Net plus ultra En mars 2001, ces espoirs de la NBA se livraient une lutte sans merci lors du Final Four NCAA, avant de plonger plus tard dans le grand bain. Membre du cinq des New Jersey Nets pour sa deuxième saison en NBA, Richard Jefferson (Arizona) frappe à la porte des grands. par Charles-Hervé Petit Vandystadt/AllSport Van Horn aux oubliettes Il ne faut pas se fier à l’image de gentil garçon inoffensif que véhicule Richard Jefferson. Car cet ailier athlétique est un assoiffé de jeu, inexorablement attiré par le cercle. Après une première saison détonnante au sein des Nets, Jefferson (9,4 points) s’est vu promu au rang de titulaire à New Jersey après le départ du placide Keith Van Horn aux Sixers. Une inspiration de génie de Byron Scott, le coach des vainqueurs de la conférence Est l’an dernier. Avec l’ancien d’Arizona, auteur d’une carrière honnête sans plus chez les Wildcats (11,2 points), le Meadowlands a trouvé le parfait complément à Jason Kidd. L’an passé, tout était parfait pour lui. Ce rookie, qui n’était pas particulièrement attendu après un échange avec les Rockets (transféré avec Eddie Griffin), sortait du banc faire admirer ses qualités de finisseur, en profitant du travail de Kidd et de Martin. Cette année, son rôle a nettement évolué avec la pression en prime. Plus qu’un joueur du banc, l’ailier des Nets est devenu un élément déterminant du succès de New Jersey.
Jefferson-Kidd : duo électrique Avec les Nets, Jefferson a en plus trouvé chaussure à son pied, dans une équipe pratiquant un jeu alerte, idéal pour lui. Pour ne rien gâcher, le garçon sait ce qu’il veut et dénote une énorme confiance en son potentiel. «Je sais ce dont je suis capable». En plus de cela, ce fils de missionnaires n’oublie pas de remercier ses coéquipiers : «Jouer avec Kidd, c’est comme jouer avec Joe Montana. C’est le meilleur meneur de jeu de la Ligue, a expliqué cet inconditionnel de Magic Johnson. c’est comme jouer aux côtés d’une version réduite de Magic». De l’ancienne star des Lakers, Jefferson a hérité le sens du spectacle. Face à Minnesota et son ancien compère à Arizona, le longiligne Loren Woods, Jefferson s’est fendu d’un dunk atomique sur le malheureux Nesterovic. «Je l’ai déjà vu faire cela des tonnes de fois, lançait Woods. Tout en ajoutant C’est un superbe athlète qui peut tout faire. C’est le joueur parfait pour New Jersey». Enfin, le fait que le n°24 à l’envie de réussite galopante commence à se faire des ennemis dans la Ligue, comme Kevin Garnett, signifie beaucoup. Richard Jefferson poursuit sa marche en avant et personne ne semble pouvoir l’en empêcher.
Everyone is making the assumption that the Rockets would have drafted Richard Jefferson with the #13 pick if they didn't make the trade for Griffin. The Nets told the Rockets who to draft with the pick. They wanted Jefferson and the Rockets drafted him. If the Rockets had the pick, they could have selected someone else, not Jefferson. So we shouldn't get all worked-up over the Griffin trade, the Rockets probably would have blown it even if they had kept the pick.
Even though I side with the people who say that trade was a mistake, in fairness to the Rockets, I was jumping for joy when they made that trade on draft day. At the time Richard Jefferson was labeled by most scouts as a player with a lot of potential that had not yet reached it. Griffin on the other hand was labeled by many a scout as the best player coming out of college that year. That was the year when two high schoolers were picked #1 and #2 in the draft (Kwame Brown to Washington and Tyson Chandler to the Clips before being traded to Chicago). Griffin too had big upside as he was coming out following his freshman year of college at Seton Hall. I was excited because it looked as if the Rockets were turning three mid-first round picks into a sure thing for that missing small or power forward we coveted then and still covet. Despite Jefferson's upside, at the time it seemed we had something cooking with Mobley and Francis. Fast forward two seasons later and I clearly see that me and the Rockets were dead wrong. Bottom line, for all the tremendous physical abilities both players possess, Richard Jefferson has played and condicted himself like a winner and Eddie Griffin has not. I'll leave the rest to the BBS to debate (whether Griffin's short comings are due to him or the Rockets coaching staff).
So, are there any of you out there willing to wait 5 more years before things turn around? Is there anyone here that can truthfully say that they can take 5 more years of RudyBall?
Eddie Griffin spends more time on Richmond Ave, than in the weight room workin out. If he could put the ball in the hole as many times as he dunks a fiver in the tip jar, the Rocks would be in the playoffs. If he could spin in the paint as fast as he puts out a blunt in the ashtray when the cops are chasin him, he would be well worth the 3 first rounders we gave up to get this kid. He needs to spend more quality time with Mr. Mean. Someone needs to slap him upside the head with some attitude.
