How Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson got his groove back

Sunday afternoon represented many things to the Charlotte Hornets: Nic Batum’s best game with this franchise … A chance to get back to a .500 record…

And most importantly, the platform for center Al Jefferson to get his groove back.

The Hornets pay Jefferson over $13 million a season to score in the low post. That has effects, not only for Jefferson’s bottom line but also for the way it opens jump shots along the perimeter.

Jefferson had frankly been a non-factor the previous three games: A total of 19 points on a remarkably inefficient 8-of-28 shooting from the field.

Friday, after the Hornets lost to the Bulls in Chicago, coach Steve Clifford was asked what was hindering Jefferson, who just two seasons ago was the NBA’s third-team all-league center. Clifford said the problem was more about Jefferson’s teammates than anything Jefferson was failing to provide.

Specifically, Clifford said, Jefferson wasn’t getting the ball close enough to the rim to be effective. Often his catches were 17 feet or more from the basket.

That all changed Sunday. He made 13 of 17 shots for 29 points in the Hornets’ 106-94 home victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sunday’s results were all about Saturday’s practice. The video session was heavily devoted to when the Hornets were and weren’t finding Jefferson in his sweet spots – the areas along the left block where he could do what he has done so well for over a decade in the NBA.

“We talked about it, we saw film. And Al came through big-time,” said point guard Jeremy Lin. “He’s hard to guard one-on-one. We know that. So coach made it a priority about where and when to get him the ball.”

This is about more than just tossing Jefferson a lob pass and clearing out of his way. Teams have seen that throughout Jefferson’s previous two seasons in Charlotte. The typical strategy is to body-up on him with a bruiser to root him out of his preferred spots on the floor.

So over the summer the coaches worked with Jefferson and teammates new and old to involve the center in more pick-and-rolls. That makes it tougher just to maul Jefferson, since the ballhandler goes free to drive or shoot.

The Hornets’ offense is built around getting Jefferson enough touches that the defense must react. That helps create space along the perimeter for jump-shooters to have open looks. Sunday, the success entailed in scoring 71 first-half points was both Jefferson’s 20 points and springing open 3-point attempts. The Hornets were 8-of-16 from outside the arc before halftime.

The priority, Lin said, is not becoming so predictable a defense can just load up on Jefferson.

“If a defense sees a heavy dose of the same thing, they figure it out and adjust,” Lin said. “So we have pick-and-roll, we have random (pick-and-rolls), a bunch of different ways of getting him the ball.”

Jefferson seemed relieved that his recent struggles came to an end. But he emphasized that he wasn’t moping; the Hornets went 2-1 during his malaise, which was major consolation.

“I try never to get down on myself about scoring. Particularly in the last three with us going 2-1,” Jefferson said. “If I have a bad game and we still win I’m just as good as if I had a good game.”

Of course, when both things happen it’s best of all.

“Teams prepare. They double-team, they do whatever it takes to keep me from doing what I do,” Jefferson said. “Now when they double-team I can get the ball out to others to make plays. But it is a lot easier when I get to my sweet spots.

“It’s been a battle to do what I do. But those pick-and-rolls make it more difficult for them to set up their defense.”

This story was originally published November 15, 2015 at 9:22 PM with the headline "How Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson got his groove back."