Al Jefferson's dedication results into a final playoff spot for Utah Jazz - NBA Update
Utah Jazz centre Al Jefferson was nominated as the player of the week. He has been acting as a benign force for his team. His dedication to the franchise is epic but to play the role of the pivot he had to go through a lot.
It was the same forward who had to struggle on court with nagging injuries back in 2010(at the time of trade) and to overcome the hurdles he survived the fitness evaluation program. That is the last place where any athlete wants
to end up.
Marcus Elliot runs a specialty P3 camp in Santa Barbara. He recalled what the 27 year old forward had to suffer.
"He really got his butt handed to him," said Marcus Elliott. "I don't think he enjoyed any minute he was with us. Of all the athletes, he was the one who battled it the most."
His sufferings paid off and as a result Jazz nation are singing his songs. Most recently he became the reason for Utah’s final playoffs spot. He netted 18 points and had 16 boards to help his team rout a much better Phoenix Suns,
100-88 on Wednesday night.
The act that went down into annuls of history as true mark of dedication was his return to the game after sustaining a serious injury. He suffered a gash over his eye in the 3rd frame and got two stitches. But he returned
into the game when his team needed him the most. Jefferson poured in 8 points late in the 4th to seal the deal for his team. He falsified all those who use to claim that Jazz are too young and naïve to make it into the playoffs.
"It's good to make people eat their words," Jefferson said of doubters. "That's what we did. Now it's time to go and shock the world."
He had to continue the rehabilitation program on his own so that he can achieve the given results. In the last offseason he shifted to Calif. He had set a very high goal, to make it into the playoffs for that he knew he will have
to devise impervious defense, play harder and above all stay healthy.
Only he can tell what it feels like to be when one surpasses such high goal. The journey to the post season for Jazz and Jefferson was difficult as they were handicapped without Deron Williams and former coach Jerry Sloan.
But he took the challenge and averaged 19.4 points and 9.7 boards in 60 games. Heading towards the post season Utah has found their greatest weapon, the deadly front court which encompasses Jefferson, Paul Millsap (he collected
26 points, 15 boards against Suns) and Derrick Favors. With Jefferson acting as the nucleus Jazz chances for the survival in playoffs is greater than ever.
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