Makes Love to Pressure

46-27 is the Golden State Warriors’ record when Stephen Jackson was able to get into the game. A 63% winning percentage, if extrapolated over the full 82 games would have landed the team in the 7th spot in the Western Conference playoffs, which shows how tough the conference was in the 2007-2008 Season.

Stephen Jackson had a new career year as he ended the season averaging 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. His season-high in points was 41 against the Washington Wizards on February 11, 2008. His season high in rebounds was 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 17, 2007 and his season high in assists was 9 against the New Orleans Hornets on January 4, 2008.

Not seen in the stats, Jackson brought leadership and defense to the Golden State Warriors. Before becoming hampered by injuries, Jackson was routinely asked to guard the best scorer on the other team whether it be a quick guard or a bruising post player. He did it with such aplomb, you would think any player can guard any other player no matter the size. The Warriors as a team held the opponent to 3 point less when Jackson played in the game.

On and off the court, Jackson contributed immensely. On the court, Jackson worked with the bigs to keep them in the game in Nellie’s guard-centric offense. Every game, he would work the pick-and-roll with Biedrins to perfection and would almost routinely hit him with a lob from the corner or sideline. When the offense was stagnant, Jackson worked to get to get easier buckets inside even when the calls weren’t going in his favor. And when the pressure was on late in the game, more often than not, Jackson was put in the position to make the shot. His step-in 3’s were money during those times. He seemed to have an uncanny ability to miss 10 straight shots earlier in the game and then hit the next 10 when the game is on the line.

Off the court, Jackson stepped up his contribution to the community. When he wasn’t speaking to kids, he was breaking ground on new basketball courts, visiting families as Santa, and working to set up the Jack 1 Foundation. The community service did not end when the season ended; Jackson made plans during the season to visit Africa in the offseason as part of John Legend’s Show Me Campaign. Stack Jack is going global!

The one blemish to Stephen Jackson’s 2007-2008 season was becoming hampered with injuries late in the season. Although he never made injuries as an excuse, it was clear he was being slowed by a series of sprained ankles in the last three weeks of the season. Compounded by a career high in minutes (39.1 per game), Jackson could not move laterally as well as earlier in the season to stay in front of his defender. Nor could he make the dribble drives; instead, settling for jump shots. Maybe next season the bench can actually step up to give the starters rest in each game.

In the end, Stephen Jackson improved on his game in what is now his 9th year in the league which is unheard of in the league. Hopefully, Jackson will finally receive the national recognition for his play on the court and his work off the court instead of being forever linked to the Detroit brawl.

Posted under On the Court |