Z finished last season playing with ruptured disc

[rabman_gold]

We have no idea on how much he wants to win as a player. I'm pretty sure it won't match the desire that legends have. No chance in matching LeBron's thirst. Hell, it can't even come close to Mo...

I know I'm asking for a medical claim on the guy by pushing for him to keep going, but it's only because he CAN do it. It's just so damn unlikely...

But there's another side to the story. We don't know how long Z's body can go for. Obviously, there shouldn't be issues with his body that he can't use it properly after his career, but at the same time we don't know if his body only has a threshold for another year or two.

People must remember that he was able to surgically alter his feet in 2002, he looked like himself and produced to an extent that no one thought possible (17 and 7 in an All-Star year, seriously?!). One, his body has already been changed for the worse, so that part of his life can't come back ever again (we just don't want to add more to it). And two, we can't be the judges of how long we feel that Z will go, just because of a freakin' disc acting up.

I know that it will always be Z's decision for how his career will end, but if there's a likelihood that Z can play within his limits longer, then I'm all for giving more years to Z.

The thing about these centers is that they don't grow on trees (or simply fall into our laps in the draft via Lithuania or even via a lucky trade from Philly for Roy Hibbert via 1986...). We may never have the opportunity to have this type of scoring threat EVER again. We need to appreciate it while we have it and hope we can have it for as long as possible without breaking it in the process.

I don't feel you're wrong at all PIP in what you're saying (since everyone else should feel that way too), but at the same time, you need to think that we need to use it as long as we can as well. As said before, you won't appreciate the 7 foot + centers until they're gone... The team will look so different just from his retirement... And that's not necessarily always a good thing.

 

[Maximus]

The thing about these centers is that they don't grow on trees (or simply fall into our laps in the draft via Lithuania or even via a lucky trade from Philly for Roy Hibbert via 1986...).

Ahhh yes, the great Roy Hibbert trade of 1986. :chuckles:

 

[Kypus]

I heard it once explained that if you can deal with the pain the long-term prognosis was just about the same whether you had a disc operated on or just left it alone. Often a ruptured disc causes a pinched nerve and intense pain wherever the nerve goes (often the leg), but not necessarily in the back.

When did you hear this Jon? Like during the postseason, or regular season or what?

We have this long thread and this is the only post that has anything to do w/ what we all should be asking- "how is Z going to look this season"?

 

[Jon]

When did you hear this Jon? Like during the postseason, or regular season or what?

We have this long thread and this is the only post that has anything to do w/ what we all should be asking- "how is Z going to look this season"?

That wasn't Z specific, just what the Doctors will tell you about operating on a herniated disc.

Z could be just fine with rest and therapy - or - it could flare up and constantly bother him.

 

[Lee]

I would love to see Z get his replacement, then become a backup for a few seasons. Maybe move into the Lorenzen Wright rule. I think Z should have a place on our bench for as long as he wants. Dekembe has proven even old 7'2" people have a place in the nba if they are willing to take a reduced role.

 

[Radar]

a decent article involving Z

http://news-herald.com/articles/2008/10/01/sports/doc48e302167ea06533103955.prt

 

[NarlCavs]

That Finnan story shows Z might be willing to play past his current contract and take a reduced role. It would be a good thing if he stayed around longer. Having a C with Z's skills and game would be a huge bonus even if he comes off the bench.

Cavs do need to get a developmental C who could replace Z. It needs to be a priority. The Cavs offer to Nenad Krstic this summer shows they know they need a young C. Adding Krstic would have been huge. His game would fit well here and it has some similarities to Z's.

 

[Cavatt]

I mean, logically, he should already be done. There are really only a few dudes who are his size. Yao Ming and Shaq(who is heavier) are really injury plagued, but somehow Z has bounced back and has really not missed significant games in several years. That in itself is amazing. I don't think any of us is capable of Judging when his time is up. Since last year was one of his best, it is hard to tell when he will no longer be effective. He makes up for his physical post game with his jumper, and he still gets the tip in, He gets so many jump balls its not funny. If we start to see the steep decline Wallace has seen, then we will talk.

 

[Karma]

Ilgauskas just keeps silencing critics. Each summer on this forum the knockers generally come out (quieter this summer though) and talk about how limited he is, we cannot win with Z at center, need to trade Z, blah blah blah, hate hate hate, etc. Fast forward to the season proper and those guys have found a hole to crawl into so they can enjoy their crow.

It is hard to say what Ilgauskas will do in the next 12-36 months. He can finish up this season, retire after next season, or hopefully extend his stay for another season or two. Either way, we know he has given us everything at a very high level for many years.

 

[DeeThree]

God I really hope we win a ring before Z retires, he deserves one.

With all the crap hes been through, the feet, back, Ricky... :chuckles:

He needs a ring.

 

[crazedcav333]

The lack of respect he gets from some Cavaliers fans is just unacceptable. This guy would run through a wall for Cleveland and there are people that can't stand that he plays for us.

This is why I love this guy as our center. He will try to play no matter what, injured, battle through it, tragedy, battle through it.

That guy is what you should always want in a basketball player, somebody who really loves the game and will play hard consistently to try to win.

This is another reason why we should all be proud to have his jersey hanging in the Q in a couple of years.

Mac with the post of the off-season right there...

There's a reason LBJ jumped into Z's arms - (In his best James Earl Jones voice,) The one constant throughout the years has been Z. The Cavs have moved on like an army of (crappy) steamrollers. Z history has been written, erased, and written again. (End JEJ) Z's a Cavalier for life (who else do you think of when I say 2001 Cavaliers?). Well said, sir.

Maybe that's why the appreciation has dulled these past few years though. Z's just one of the guys who gets it done - no extra media attention, none of that, even with his family matters. He's slow, awkward, and can barely speak English - and Cleveland wouldn't have him any other way.

Z will be around for a long time for the same reason Oden has taken first - you just don't find guys with "true center" skill sets all that often anymore.

 

[Randolphkeys]

My man Z grew up standing in breadlines in a Soviet satellite nation. If standing in line for hours just to get a meal of moldy bread and boiled cabbage doesn't prepare you for being a Cleveland Cavalier, nothing will.

 

[PIP]

My man Z grew up standing in breadlines in a Soviet satellite nation. If standing in line for hours just to get a meal of moldy bread and boiled cabbage doesn't prepare you for being a Cleveland Cavalier, nothing will.

What ?

 

[Cavatt]

My man Z grew up standing in breadlines in a Soviet satellite nation. If standing in line for hours just to get a meal of moldy bread and boiled cabbage doesn't prepare you for being a Cleveland Cavalier, nothing will.

Yeah, it's so easy when things start to go good, you forget how bad you had it. He played his heart out when he had no chance to win it all, and he is a rock still now that we are contenders. I felt really bad in game 7 and then Z came down the floor like 4 times and hit every jumper. He got them back in the game. Unfortunately he missed that jump ball and Pierce got it.

 

[Douglar]

I wonder if he hung out with Drew?

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=240537

Gooden spent about four weeks this summer in Vancouver working with personal trainer Alex McKechnie in hopes of solving the problem.