Al Jefferson: Beats Dallas Old School

Al Jefferson was the key to the Charlotte Hornets’ 108-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks last night. The skilled low post player did what he had to do and as a result this second Hornets victory looked a bit different than the first one.

The Hornets’ victory over the Bulls was the story of the supporting cast. Jefferson got a quiet fourteen points while the men around him piled up bigger numbers. It was the tale of everything the Hornets wanted to improve upon from the previous season. It was a game of cascading three pointers and the key figures weren’t even on the roster a year ago.

By contrast the Hornets’ victory over the Mavericks was a study in how Coach Steve Clifford always imagined the team working since the acquisition of Jefferson three years ago. Throw the ball to the big guy and let him work it in with an array of post moves. Let that open up options on the outside, and go from there.

The Mavericks frontcourt of Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia was particularly susceptible to this because of their lack of post defense. It is not a coincidence that Mark Cuban was so hot to get DeAndre Jordan last year.

The victory was a reaffirmation of Jefferson’s place in the middle of the offense. The three point line was rather cool last night, and it didn’t matter. Jefferson’s thirty-one points dictated the game. Marvin Williams and Jeremy Lamb both got to double figures by playing off of Al and shooting the few threes that Charlotte did hit. Charlotte went 6-27 from the arc on the night, and so if they had hit at around 33% the game would have been more lopsided.

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The Charlotte defense also deserves credit. No Dallas player took over the game in the way that Jimmy Butler tried to for the Bulls last night. Dallas was quieter from the perimeter than Charlotte. The Hornets were able to bring two double figure scorers off the bench in Lamb and Cody Zeller, while the Mavericks only major bench contribution was from Dwight Powell.

Next: Hornets Pitch Perfect Against Bulls

If you were to ask which victory will be more representative of the Hornets’ season, it is probably the Mavericks one. That followed the model more closely. Hornets fans won’t complain if the Hornets were to put a few more Bulls type victories up though.

Charlotte sits at (2-3) on the season. Their chance to get to .500 comes tomorrow night against the San Antonio Spurs. Then we will see what the team is really made of.

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