On Monday, the Hornets enjoyed a 108-103 win over the visiting Timberwolves. Kemba Walker continued his blistering pace this season (he might be the most overlooked point guard in the NBA right now, taking over that title from Mike Conley), but Al Jefferson also chipped in 20 points off the bench on an efficient 9-of-14 from the field. Part of that efficiency stemmed from just how deep he got position in the post against the T-Wolves, specifically — in the video above — against center, Gorgui Dieng.
Just how “deep” Jefferson got is a matter of debate, but on the play in the video he’s in the paint on the low block where he’s almost impossible to guard with all his little wiggles, half-step pivots, and shot fakes. And that’s before we get into that alarmingly effective shot-put touch he’s got around the rim (we love Big Al, if that’s not clear).
Hornets announcers Eric Collins and Dell Curry decided to go deep on the word “deep,” as they described the score. Here’s a transcript if you’re too lazy to click the little play button the video.
Collins: That’s deep enough right there. Coach Clifford talking about deep.
Curry: You got two feet in the paint. [pause] That’s pretty deep.
[longer pause]
Collins: I love it when you go deep.
Some of our millennial writers and readers are probably chuckling at the more lascivious double entendres available, but we like to think Collins is discussing Dell as an erudite philosopher. The elder Curry did produce, then mentor, the force of nature known as Steph, and both he and Dell can really produce from deep. Dammit, now we’re doing it.
(H/T the fine reddit community at r/NBA)
