Z in Florida

[Jon]

IMO, Z should probably keep shooting 3's, it'll help keep his eFG% up. However, with the Cavs, he didn't seem to really spread the floor with his "jumper" because due to his length and lack of deadly accuracy on an open shot, opponents generally preferred to pack the paint and concede his shot.

But I've never been that fond of the efficiency of Z's "jumper" and if anything the '08/'09 season was the anomaly.

His eFG% on his "jumper" was 37.7% last season which is right in line with what he's done throughout his career, except for the 44.2% he put up the previous season.

He can still finish around the basket, he can still tip shots, he can still cause problems for other teams on the boards, he can still contest shots with his length, and he's still a smart player who knows what to do on the court. If he developed some consistency on his 3pter, maybe he could draw a big out of the paint, and that'd be huge.

The Cavs were a better team when Z was on the court last season, and that's the bottom line. It doesn't matter how he does it, but if he can help his team win, he should be seeing the court.

 

[Cavatt]

I kept wondering if Z realized what was going on when he re-signed for only one year. When Lebron said something scathing about Loyalty in regard to Dan Gilbert I really wondered if he was talking about Z. I can really see how the team lost sight of its vision of culture and really just went for broke last year to win. With the desire to win, all our good character stuff and chemistry got all messed up. Did Z get over it? I have no idea. It is cruddy what happened to him last year, but then we talk about what Lebron did. Maybe they are not unrelated.

 

[Jon]

There usually is a backlash when a go for broke approach doesn't work, and some finger pointing is the least of it.

For instance, if the Heat didn't come back from 0-2 to beat the Mavs in the finals a few years ago, Pat Riley's moves that season would be seen in a completely different light. Still it got them their rings, but didn't really set them up for the future.

You can justify or get over just about anything if it seemed to work for the best ...

 

[futuristxen]

It's kind of a strange idea that you're going to make Z your 7-4 3 point shooting slow center off the bench. Miami seem to be mixing up his looks more with pick and pops, some low post stuff, positioning him close to the basket on shots for rebounds. Seems a better use of his skills.

I think having him stand over in the corner like Bruce Bowen is a silly idea because he's really not that kind of player.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

It's kind of a strange idea that you're going to make Z your 7-4 3 point shooting slow center off the bench. Miami seem to be mixing up his looks more with pick and pops, some low post stuff, positioning him close to the basket on shots for rebounds. Seems a better use of his skills.

I think having him stand over in the corner like Bruce Bowen is a silly idea because he's really not that kind of player.

He has no low post game anymore.

If I had to play Ilgauskus, I'd try to keep him to a baseline pick and pop as basically the only play I trust him with. It seems like that baseline (not anywhere else on the court)17 footer is the only shot he still made semi-consistently(I'd need to get on synergy to do exact research).

 

[Jon]

It's kind of a strange idea that you're going to make Z your 7-4 3 point shooting slow center off the bench. Miami seem to be mixing up his looks more with pick and pops, some low post stuff, positioning him close to the basket on shots for rebounds. Seems a better use of his skills.

I think having him stand over in the corner like Bruce Bowen is a silly idea because he's really not that kind of player.

We needed him to step away from the basket because we had guys who couldn't shoot at PF. Miami will have more options since Bosh and Haslem can knock down jumpers, and even if Z can't get to the rebounds he'll attract defenders to block him out opening up lanes for Wade & James to crash the boards. Still, they have the fundamental problem that defenses are going to pack the paint like we've never seen and there will be a ton of open jumpers if the bigs get out of the paint and find the seams in the D.

Anyway, I think it'll be pretty clear when the D has decided to just ignore Z, and then if Miami wishes they can set him up at the 3pt line or wherever they want and see if he can get hot. If he burns them, then the D will have to adapt and you move on. It's just a tool that can help keep the D a little more honest.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Not going to lie, it still stings to read things like this.

The death of loyalty: The LeBron James Era.
How Professional sports changed forever.

Sounds like a book title we'll see in a few months.

 

[futuristxen]

When has sports ever been about loyalty? Players always go to the situation that is most to their benefit, and teams always make the move that is most to their advantage. The only loyalty in sports is probably the relationship between season ticket holders and teams.

 

[JSS2306]

When has sports ever been about loyalty? Players always go to the situation that is most to their benefit, and teams always make the move that is most to their advantage. The only loyalty in sports is probably the relationship between season ticket holders and teams.

Loyalty to your teammates, loyalty to your manager, loyalty in listening to your coach, loyalty to your fans, loyalty in respecting rich history of ones team, loyalty in working hard, loyalty in playing harder.

Did you ever play sports as a child or in college? The most important thing you could ever learn in team based sports is loyalty. That doesn't mean change doesn't happen, but loyalty can come into question depending on how those changes take place and who's lives you impact besides yourself.

 

[Spencer Hawes]

When has sports ever been about loyalty? Players always go to the situation that is most to their benefit, and teams always make the move that is most to their advantage. The only loyalty in sports is probably the relationship between season ticket holders and teams.

I wouldn't feel betrayed if Lebra didn't spew all the loyalty nonsence that came out of his mouth. He may have meant loyalty in a different context and if he did, he damn well mislead the franchise, the fans and an entire region. So for that, he go to hell and suffer a career ending injury.

 

[SanduskyCav]

In 17 mins of play last night Z scored 0 points has 2 rebs and fouled out...

 

[Maximus]

In 17 mins of play last night Z scored 0 points has 2 rebs and fouled out...

The night before he scored 8 points in 14mins and tweaked his hamstring. He shouldn't have been playing plast night.

 

[PIP]

In 17 mins of play last night Z scored 0 points has 2 rebs and fouled out...

Z is clearly taking these preseason games as if they were highly contested playoff games...

The level of commitment is impressive

 

[The Voice]

The night before he scored 8 points in 14mins and tweaked his hamstring. He shouldn't have been playing plast night.

Karma... he could have went anywhere else to avoid it.

 

[Bress Tess Iz]

fuck z

cleveland isnt his home

if it was, he would have gone to another team to go ring chasing and ride lil' delonte's dick in miami