Like most basketball-loving kids in the '80's and '90's, Richard Jefferson watched and studied Michael Jordan. But unlike most of those basketball-loving kids, Jefferson watched Jordan's footwork, reads and defensive anticipation over the soaring glides and jaw-dropping jams.
"Of course, he has great athleticism and quickness, but he's a lot of footwork, a lot of reads. That's what I try to look at," said Jefferson, the Nets' defense-oriented rookie who'll likely get to cover Jordan some Saturday against Washington, where New Jersey seeks a third straight preseason victory.

"If you can get to where he's reading things and get some of his footwork down, you're going to be all right. A lot of people who struggle are people who try to emulate what he does offensively, athletically. You can never do that."