Jefferson finds his way out of double trouble

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: March 25, 2008 - 1:35 AM

Late in the second quarter of Saturday's blowout of New York at Target Center, Al Jefferson got the ball in the high post and immediately attracted a tight double-team.

Nothing new there -- Jefferson has been getting extra attention since he started scoring in bunches early this season. But what happened next was a twist.

Jefferson pivoted, then sent a pretty pass to Craig Smith in the low post for an easy layup.

Call it further proof that Jefferson's game is growing. Talk to him about it and Jefferson will tell you he's just trying to help himself.

"When you see a double-team every night, you have to figure out a way to get out of it, a way to deal with it," he said. "You have to figure out a way to make teams stop doubling you."

The light bulb went on not long ago, as Jefferson was watching a tape of Boston playing San Antonio (the Wolves play the Spurs on Friday). He noticed the Celtics were not double-teaming Spurs star Tim Duncan all that often.

"When we played Boston, [Celtics coach] Doc Rivers, he had them double-team me every time I touched the ball," Jefferson said. "Then I watch their game against San Antonio and they didn't trap Duncan like that. Why?

"Because he's too good a passer," Jefferson said. "So I figured then, I had to get better at that. I had to see the open guys, I had to get guys easy layups. That way, eventually, they'll stop doubling me so much."

Take a look at Jefferson's past two games. For a guy averaging 20 and 10 this season, you'd think he had a couple off nights. Fouls limited him to 29 minutes and 11 points in Indianapolis. Saturday he had just eight points before being sat down for the fourth quarter of the easy victory over the Knicks.

But Saturday he had a career-high six assists to go with three blocks. The night before, Wolves coach Randy Wittman said Jefferson was one of the few players on the team who came out with defensive fire to start the game. He took a charge and blocked four shots.

"He is growing in those areas," Wittman said. "He's recognizing double teams, recognizing where guys are now."

Jefferson said he's confident he's making the right kinds of adjustments.

"I'm a scorer, I was born a scorer," he said. "But what really excites me now is blocking a shot, taking charges, getting assists."

And if teams eventually start giving him the solo treatment again?

"They get crazy enough to guard me one-on-one, that will be even better," Jefferson joked.

Notes

• Point guard Sebastian Telfair (sprained ankle) made it clear, in the wake of a story in the New York media suggesting otherwise, that he hopes to return to the Wolves next season. Telfair, who will be a restricted free agent, said: "[The Wolves] gave me an opportunity of a lifetime. This is where I want to be."

• Guard Marko Jaric was limited in practice by a stiff neck.