Al Jefferson Thinks the San Antonio Spurs Will Win the 2012 NBA Title


After three consecutive, demoralizing losses to the San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz big man has reached an understandable conclusion: the Spurs aren’t beatable this year. (Hmm, wonder what Jerry Stackhouse thinks of this?) From the Express-News: “Before Sunday’s practice, Jefferson essentially declared the Spurs to be NBA champions-in-waiting. ‘I just think we’re playing against a team that is at its peak,’ Jefferson said. ‘I don’t see nobody beating them.’ Jefferson’s comments were striking, considering Utah’s series with the Spurs is still in progress. Game 4 is tonight in Utah. Apprised of Jefferson’s prediction after their own practice session at EnergySolutions Arena, the Spurs seemed flattered, but deemed it premature. ‘The best team out there won’t be decided for a while yet,’ coach Gregg Popovich said. ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do if we want to be that team, and we’re trying.’ It is a one-game-at-a-time approach echoed by Popovich’s captain, Tim Duncan, even with the Spurs on the verge of sweeping a playoff series for the first time since the 2007 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even with the Spurs going 41-7 since Jan. 30. ‘We’re still growing a little bit,’ Duncan said. ‘It’s early in the playoffs. We have some ways to go before we can define what kind of team we’re going to be.’ Jefferson thinks he knows the Spurs’ ceiling. Whether he’s correct will be determined over the next six weeks or so. ‘Right now, they just playing well, man,’ Jefferson said. ‘I ain’t never seen nothing like this.’”