#1 Fantasy Pick?

Stop for a moment. Do not be deceived by the headings you see on the table below. This article is about to compare the once-frustrated 2004 MVP with the Timberwolves’ biggest offseason acquisition.

Kevin Garnett and Al Jefferson. It’s hard to put them on the same sentence together. We just did. The gap between these two stars have narrowed. Call me loco. Let all the hate mail flow in.

While Boston (20-3) is trying to surge into a 70-win season and Minnesota (3-21) trying to hold on to whatever decency is left of them, these power forwards are going to be the subject of nitpicking as we see who has been truly living the hype. Remember, in fantasy leagues, we throw all wins and losses out the window. All other statistics remain.

Al Jefferson: 20.4ppg 12.0rpg 1.4apg

vs.

Kevin Garnett: 19.1ppg 10.4rpg 3.6apg

Al > Kevin

Al < Kevin

Al Jefferson is the man. And by default, because all his Wolves teammates have been playing around like boys in the big league. Yes, the high school phenom has cemented himself as the new force opponents have to reckon with. And statistically, he has shown more than KG himself. While the difference has not been that significant, it must be stressed that Big Al is the first option. KG, well, he’s option #1. Or #2. Or #3. Having Kevin Garnett on your fantasy team does not guarantee a dominant win in head-to-head match-ups anymore. Kevin Garnett has always been labeled as a secondary option forced to be the go-to guy, and with good reason: there was really no one else. It makes one want to look back at the critical 1996 Draft, when the possibility of a youthful Ray Allen (instead of Stephon Marbury) and Garnett could have burned through the Western competition. Now heading a Boston squad where every starter is a threat (even with Rondo, Perkins, Posey and Big Baby getting into the act), his statistics will only suffer even more. In fact, it has already been evident. Even with the increased support he has received in Boston, KG has seen his assists dip from 4.1 down to 3.6. Rondo is now the focal point of the playmaking, not Garnett, when teams would triple team him and be forced it kick it out to a Troy Hudson, Wally Szczerbiak or Ricky Davis. Jefferson, on the other hand, is carrying the Wolves who were expected to share the scoring load. His shooting attempts has increased (17, up from 12 last year) and the makes have followed suit (9 from 7 last year). Confidence is evident, and that’s not the best part yet. Obviously, being on a losing team hurts him. Fantasy owners have the mentality that when a team is playing great, the players on individual level are spectacular as well. Which is why you will see Jefferson being a middle to late second round pick, when he should be up there with the Boozers and Gasols right now, if not even higher. The Wolves have needed Jefferson and he has been doing his part. KG, the tides have turned. The PGA trio has pulled your fantasy stats.

KG has always been praised and lauded for being the epitome of consistency, and that will work to his favor as the season progresses. Jefferson may have already hit his ceiling and is peaking too early after 24 games, which can only mean that the law of averages will come back to get him. Jefferson’s stats can be deceptive: he is currently shooting 70% from the stripe, which looks pretty decent, until you factor in the fact that he is a 65% career free throw shooter. Garnett has never failed to meet expectations, always flirting or reaching the 80% mark except for his rookie stint where he had yet to enter into a comfortable groove. It is also quite surprising to note that Jefferson has already thrown 9 misses from 3PT land, while Garnett has three. Neither player has converted as of yet, and with Jefferson being more trigger-happy, he can hurt fantasy owners who are neck-for-neck with their opponents in terms of 3PT%. Now we can say that bricks can hurt both figuratively and literally. Now we move away from Jefferson’s flaws and focus on Garnett’s assets. Garnett has actually reinvented his game, now making sure that he never takes a shot farther out than the FT line. This equates to higher percentages, and his improved shot selection will catch up as the team will show more trust in him more. (As if they don’t right now.) The illusion why Garnett’s production may have hit a snag is because of the minutes given to him. He has logged in an average of 39 mpg throughout his ‘Sota career, and dipping that down to 35mpg is directly proportional to the production he has been making. His amount of intensity has not shown any signs of diminishing, only his production is tied with the rate at which his mileage increases or decreases. Head to head, Garnett owns Jefferson. The effects simply aren’t as glaring when there are 11 other people running up and down the court (referees included). Garnett has yet to truly show why he is Number One, and a quarter of the season will not be the determining factor of how both will perform down the road. Jefferson who? KG is still The Man, as a Celtic or as your team’s pick.