Z in Florida

[jay_em]

1.) Even if Miami wins a championship and Z gets a ring, it will be the most meaningless, empty ring a player could possibly get. It's akin to Adam Morrison's title rings. His jump-shot, defensive ability, and most of his discernible skills have fallen off of a cliff. He's no longer capable of being a serious contributor for an NBA basketball team and it was evident last year.

Probably wise to see exactly what part Z plays in any championship before you go labeling it as "meaningless". I know many Cavs fans WANT it to be meaningless, but unfortunately only one person can describe its worth to Z and thats Z. i cant imagine with all the work he's put in throughout his career he'll see any chip as "meaningless".

 

[Lyst]

I definitely want to see Z get that ring. After all that he has been through, and all that he has sacrificed--if there's anyone who deserves to ring chase it's him.

Oh yea he sacrificed a lot.. Got to play basketball and get paid for it his whole life, live super upper-class, and have a fan base that was extremely supportive.

REALLY a deserves a ring from all that sacrificing, especially after he abandons us and leaves with the traitor.

Fuck Z.

 

[staycoolbruh]

It's not like the Cavs were going to bring him back even. And I thought the Cavs organization missed a few opportunities last year to show Z some respect and loyalty. Opportunities that Lebron noted in the media which I'm sure only endeered him to Z more.

Their relationship has always been an intersting on to me, because Z clearly isn't a star or anything. But it's clear Lebron cares a lot about him, and respects him a lot as a professional.

I definitely want to see Z get that ring. After all that he has been through, and all that he has sacrificed--if there's anyone who deserves to ring chase it's him.

I think his only real options were either the Lakers or Heat, and I'm sure Lebron made that decision easy because of their friendship. Plus he probably will play a smidge more with the Heat than the Lakers. He's perfect for the Heat's pick and pop offense. I doubt he'll start, but right now he does look like like a key player. Especially if you pair him with Lebron or Wade in the second unit. He looks in great shape.

I am pretty sure Windy mentioned that Cavs had a offer on the table for him.

I really hope he doesn't win a ring with the Heat, Period.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Probably wise to see exactly what part Z plays in any championship before you go labeling it as "meaningless". I know many Cavs fans WANT it to be meaningless, but unfortunately only one person can describe its worth to Z and thats Z. i cant imagine with all the work he's put in throughout his career he'll see any chip as "meaningless".

Unless Z magically regains the ability to make meaningful contributions on the basketball floor, there is nothing else in Miami that makes his ring any more meaningful than DJ Mbenga's rings or Adam Morrison's rings. It would be a different story in Cleveland, even if he didn't contribute at least there would be some underlying meaning, but all of that is gone now.

 

[PIP]

I tried to warn you guys for years that Z was a sleezeball... After seeing how LeBron did the city, the fans and the franchise on national TV, ZyDrunas Ilgauskas sides with him and decides to cheat his way to a ring.... That's almost worse than LBJ...

What a disgrace...Luckily I can sleep well at night knowing I never spent one second cheering for this lowlife scumbag...

His true colors are shining right through....

I'm disgusted and appalled...

 

[futuristxen]

Oh yea he sacrificed a lot.. Got to play basketball and get paid for it his whole life, live super upper-class, and have a fan base that was extremely supportive.

REALLY a deserves a ring from all that sacrificing, especially after he abandons us and leaves with the traitor.

Fuck Z.

The Cavs weren't going to resign him anyways. How is he abandoning anyone?

And the sacrifice he made is that he could have retired ten years ago and got all that you already listed. He could have said "that's it I'm done" after those horrible foot injuries. But he loves the game so much that he goes through agony pretty much every day just to play it.

Look at Z's daily routine to get ready just to sit on the bench for these games and tell me he's not sacrificing.

He gave more than enough to the Cavs franchise. And what did he get in return really? Fans that turned their back on him the minute he was in another jersey. An organization that couldn't even remember he had a minutes played record going, and had invited all of his family in to watch him not even make it into the game. To take a bench role despite playing the starting center role for a 66 win team, in the attempt to make the team better...

I know it's kosher to hate on Lebron. And that's fine. But hating on Z is low rent. He's been nothing but class since he left. And had nothing but good things to say. How Z is handling himself this offseason is how Lebron should have handled himself.

 

[Man Called X]

The Cavs weren't going to resign him anyways. How is he abandoning anyone?

And the sacrifice he made is that he could have retired ten years ago and got all that you already listed. He could have said "that's it I'm done" after those horrible foot injuries. But he loves the game so much that he goes through agony pretty much every day just to play it.

Look at Z's daily routine to get ready just to sit on the bench for these games and tell me he's not sacrificing.

He gave more than enough to the Cavs franchise. And what did he get in return really? Fans that turned their back on him the minute he was in another jersey. An organization that couldn't even remember he had a minutes played record going, and had invited all of his family in to watch him not even make it into the game. To take a bench role despite playing the starting center role for a 66 win team, in the attempt to make the team better...

I know it's kosher to hate on Lebron. And that's fine. But hating on Z is low rent. He's been nothing but class since he left. And had nothing but good things to say. How Z is handling himself this offseason is how Lebron should have handled himself.

I don't even want to agree with you, but it's true. The organization shit on Z on what should've been the biggest day of his career. I don't blame him for saying fuck it, I'm going with LBJ.

Doesn't mean I'm going to cheer for him in a cHeat uniform, but I still respect him. I still hope to have a beer with him and AC someday. (Max, that is up to you to make happen). Will I celebrate when he gets a ring? Not a chance. Will I be happy for him that he got one, you betcha.

 

[Zog]

The Z hating needs to stop. If he went to LA he might have an even better chance at a ring. He went to Miami because he probably had some level of comfort since LeBron is there and it still gives him a good chance at getting a ring.

I'm pretty sure everyone would be wishing Z luck if he went to LA to do the same thing and wouldn't be saying it would be meaningless because he got a ring as a rarely-used role player.

The 15th man on the roster does more than just sit there. They are valuable in practice and for team chemistry.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I'm not hating on Z here, but I do want to correct a few of your statements, futurist...

The Cavs weren't going to resign him anyways. How is he abandoning anyone?

The Cavs did indeed offer him a contract if he wanted to return. Now, that doesn't mean he's abandoning anyone, but let's keep the facts in line.

He gave more than enough to the Cavs franchise. And what did he get in return really? Fans that turned their back on him the minute he was in another jersey.

The fans that are "turning" on Z are in the minority and it's insulting for you to try and characterize a fanbase the way you just did.

An organization that couldn't even remember he had a minutes played record going, and had invited all of his family in to watch him not even make it into the game.

Again, factually incorrect. First of all, putting it on the Cavaliers as an organization is idiotic. Ferry and Gilbert and, well, everyone except for Mike Brown knew how important the day was. Mike Brown made the ill-advised decision to try and make a statement about his authority on that day(though the temper tantrum Z threw at half-time, while somewhat understandable, did not help matters, especially if he could have played in the 2nd half), but in no way can you blame that on anyone currently in the Cavaliers organization.

To take a bench role despite playing the starting center role for a 66 win team, in the attempt to make the team better...

Let's not ignore that the entire reason this happened was because Z got steamrolled to the tune of a full point per minute when guarding Dwight Howard, and being one of the main culprits for us losing in that Orlando series.

 

[futuristxen]

Unless Z magically regains the ability to make meaningful contributions on the basketball floor, there is nothing else in Miami that makes his ring any more meaningful than DJ Mbenga's rings or Adam Morrison's rings. It would be a different story in Cleveland, even if he didn't contribute at least there would be some underlying meaning, but all of that is gone now.

He's looking really good in preseason. 13 minutes per game. 6 points 3 boards. 55 percent shooting. And unlike Morrison he'll probably play a part in almost every game. I don't know why you're so down on his game right now. He's okay for where he's at in his career and the role he's being asked to fill.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

The 15th man on the roster does more than just sit there. They are valuable in practice and for team chemistry.

Puh-lease, that is the biggest crock of shit I've EVER heard.

LeBron ruined Z's only chance at a truly meaningful ring when he quit against Boston and it's a damn shame. The only difference with him being in L.A. and him being in Miami would be that I would be rooting for the Lakers to win a ring. It wouldn't make it more meaningful by any means, in-fact, for as little of an impact he's sure to have on the Heat, he would have even less in L.A.

 

[Lyst]

Of course you're gonna wait out injuries if you have the possibility to make millions of dollars for shooting a ball into a hoop.

I'm not gonna feel bad for some multimillionaire basketball player that has to actually do PHYSICAL LABOR to keep in good shape for his job.

I do agree now though that he didn't really abandon us, he just hopped on the lebron's coat-tail and is hoping he can grab a ring out of it. Cleveland doesn't need him after Lebron, he's the opposite of what we need now.

 

[futuristxen]

The 15th man on the roster does more than just sit there. They are valuable in practice and for team chemistry.

I think Z is going to be more like the 8th man on the Heat Bench. But the point is a good one, and why I don't really get why Morrison is doing what he's doing with his rings. I think it's because he came into the league and thought he should be a star. But I mean coming to practice and going hard every day can be a valuable part of a good team. Those end of the bench guys are more important than fans give them credit for. You can't hold practice with just 7 guys. If those guys don't have the right attitude it can really sink your team chemistry. Plus they are usually the guys who help you prepare for other teams in the playoffs.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

He's looking really good in preseason. 13 minutes per game. 6 points 3 boards. 55 percent shooting. And unlike Morrison he'll probably play a part in almost every game. I don't know why you're so down on his game right now. He's okay for where he's at in his career and the role he's being asked to fill.

Career low eFG% of 37% on his jump-shots last season. He is no longer a consistent mid-range threat and is now a full-on defensive liability and at his age, there is nowhere to go except for down. He's unable to play more than 15 meaningful minutes a game because of his feet. W&G even said last year that the coaches had noticed a significant erosion in Z's skill-set over the last year.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

By the way, funny how LeBron was too busy attending a Jay-Z concert during the season to join Parker and Varejao and the guys when they had dinner with Z after the buy-out when he was being courted by a bunch of teams, but found the time to have lunch this summer as soon as he left Cleveland.

Prick.