Jefferson hopes game will fit name

NEW YORK -- Doc Rivers had a joke ready when asked about Al Jefferson's performance against the New Jersey Nets Saturday night.

Rivers said the team gave Jefferson back his nickname "Big Al" after he posted career highs of 29 points and 14 rebounds in Boston's 92-90 victory. Prior to the biggest performance of his career, Jefferson was just called Al by his teammates. But Rivers was recycling his stand-up material. After a couple of big performances by Jefferson late last season, the coach used the same one-liner.

So, will the big nickname and the big game stick this time, or will Jefferson be unpredictable, one night a big man with All-Star potential, another night a frustrating study in what happens when expectations are great for a high school draft pick?

If the words of "Big Al" are any indication, Jefferson believes the Celtics can expect more of what they saw Saturday night.

"I think I'm better than I was last year for the simple fact that I know the game a lot more now," said Jefferson, who was sidetracked by ankle injuries last season and an appendectomy earlier this season. "Last spring, I just had offense and was still kind of struggling on defense." "

Jefferson's defense sparked his high-scoring performance against the Nets. Although it was Jefferson's rebounding and aggressive play that pleased Rivers, it was the center's ability to hit jumpers that hurt New Jersey, especially in the fourth quarter. Jefferson credited Ryan Gomes for pushing him to take 10-footers, 12-footers, and 17-footers during the game.

"I always had the jump shot in my game," said Jefferson. "I just never go to it. Ryan said before the game, 'Man, why don't you shoot it a couple times in the game?' When I scored a couple times in the post, they started playing the post, backing up off me, so I just took it. It was going in and I felt comfortable with it."

When Jefferson's intensity and his aggressiveness lagged in the first quarter, Rivers took Jefferson out of the game.

"I got upset at him early and took him out after the first six minutes because he had those same posts [he ended up with later in the game] and he wasn't aggressive," said Rivers. "He wasn't physical. When we brought him back in, he was mad at me and probably everybody else and he played unbelievable. "

Trade talk concerning Allen Iverson continued yesterday since the 76ers want to do a deal as soon as possible with Iverson inactive until further notice. A league source said Boston is on the short list of possible Iverson destinations along with Minnesota, Golden State, Indiana, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers. Another league source said one Celtics trade scenario was Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Delonte West, and Jefferson for Iverson.

Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com.