Al Jefferson's Knee-The Timberwolve's Most Concerning Issue

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

We have gone on long and hard about all of the trades that David Khan has made. We have criticized him for picking 2 point guards in the same draft. We have applauded him for opening up so much room in our salary cap, and getting some good players for this team going forward. We have rambled about the prospect of Ricky Rubio coming to Minnesota and playing for us this year, and we have talked about our new head coach, Kurt Rambis. But there is still one thing that we all seem to be silent about and it is probably the single most important issue this whole season.

Al Jefferson's injured knee.

Last time we saw Big Al, he was scoring buckets in the paint like nobody's business, and our Timberwolves were streaking. Then in one unfortunate game against the New Orlean Hornets, our big man injured his ACL and was declared ineligible to play for the rest of the season, and as he left losses found their way into the Target Centre.

Now this year, he is said to have full recovery, but the question remains, will he be the same player we have come to know and love?

What is for the first game he comes out and is rusty, after having missed so much time? Or what if is more cautious with his body, after having it injured last season? What if the Injury leaves a permanent toll on him, and he never truly recovers to the from he once was?

It has been reported that he has lost 30 pounds this summer, but what if after losing all of that weight, he cant bully people in the paint the way he used to?

Now the second option, is that he comes out stronger than ever to prove all of the doubters wrong?

Right now he has so many things working for him, he has possibly two point guards that can distribute the ball very well. He also has some very good three point shooters on this team that can open things up for him down low. This team has developed a new run-and-gun philosophy which makes him the perfect trailer. A player that is usually the last person down the floor, and if the fast break gets stopped, there is all gong down low and getting a couple points for us.

I am hoping that the later is more true than the former, but in the beautiful game of basketball, people do get hurt and some times recovery  is hard for them. I just hope that Al Jefferson, our new star, can outshine his injury and return to form.

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