Lee Jenkins: Al Jefferson, a low-post whiz, brings sunshine to Charlotte
Kemba Walker inside the nba nba NBA Al Jefferson Charlotte Bobcats lee jenkins
Lee Jenkins Chris Keane Rogelio Solis Chuck Burton Layne Murdoch NBAE via Getty Images
Wallace acknowledges that he discovered something during that scavenger hunt more valuable than a hundred Highlanders: a phenom with an instinct to search
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Sports Illustrated
Wallace acknowledges that he discovered something during that scavenger hunt more valuable than a hundred Highlanders: a phenom with an instinct to search rather than complain. "Oh, I wasn't angry," Jefferson says. "I just wanted to help the man find his car."

But the market softened for Jefferson amid concerns about his defense, and on July 1 he met with new Cats coach Steve Clifford over chicken Parm at BlackFinn. Clifford shared observations with Jefferson about why he scores so much and wins so little. Jefferson often dominates through three quarters, but smart opponents double-team him in the fourth. Clifford, a longtime assistant in his first NBA head-coaching job, outlined the duck-ins and quick-hitters he ran for Dwight Howard in Orlando and for Yao Ming in Houston to beat doubles before they arrive.

Jefferson faces up and immediately sticks the ball behind his back, like a pitcher debating what to throw. Probably he'll go with his fastball (the right hook), but maybe he'll choose something off-speed (the spin move, the drop step, the up-and-under), and if he's really feeling it, a blend of the above. He'll definitely toss in at least one of his pump fakes, like the slow-motion variation he swiped from Pierce, and when he finally gets around to shooting, he'll vary his release. "I can announce to the world he's going right," says Larry Stamps, who coached Jefferson's AAU team. "Now who is going to stop it?"