Z's future with this team

[Dirk Gently]

Will you scream with me when LeBron leaves in 2010 all because people like you were more worried about whether or not Z retires a Cav?

Don't know about you, but I'm more about LeBron retiring a Cav instead of Z. But that's just me.

This sounds like a decision LeBron would be consulted on. He's the star player, and he gets what he wants. Danny is going to do everything he can to make sure LeBron is comfortable with the future direction of the team. He realizes that his future with the franchise is tied with keeping LeBron. If LeBron feels that Z can't contribute to the team, the Cavs will look to move him. It already happened to Larry and Drew. But I haven't seen any signs that LeBron is unhappy with Z. In fact, strictly Xs and Os speaking, Z is probably his favorite Cav, because he opens up so many more easy driving lanes. Pulling a big out of the paint is huge for LeBron's game.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Ideally, Z would just opt-out and sign a short(2 years?), cheaper deal.

But I'm not going to ask him to walk away from 11 million, and I don't expect the team to either.

 

[KI4MVP]

Z was +2 last night with 12/9, Joe was -7 in 4 minutes, Ben was -14 in 16 minutes

In game 1, Z was +12, Joe was -8, Ben was -14
In game 2, Z was +8, Andy was -12, Ben was -3

Z isn't why we've been losing, he's one of the reasons we're staying close.

 

[Adam]

No, LeBron and Z are boys. I get that. But remember that the East isn't getting any easier. Orlando gets Jameer Nelson back next season. Given the way this series has gone, they would have swept us by now if Jameer was healthy given how well they were playing before his injury.

this is something i was considering..if jameer nelson was playing instead of alston i believe the cavs would find it easier to play the magic. Fistly jameer would take shots and the ball away from hedo and lewis who are dominating the series, secondly he is a below average defender. Alston has helped their defense tremendously and is shooting a high percentage.

next year they will have to spplit minutes, that should be an interesting soap opera to watch

 

[Maximus]

It's a brutal matchup for Z, no doubt. That said, we are winning when Z is on the floor....the fact that we are +13 tells me that he is not the reason we are down 3-1. I don't give a shit how ugly it is or how it gets done, if the team plays well with you on the floor that's all that matters for me. He's averaging a double-double and giving us as much as he can. Give me better alternative and I'm all for diminishing his role...but we don't have one.

+13 Z
+2 Delonte
-1 AV
-1 Joe Smith
-1 Sasha
-6 Lebron
-14 Mo
-15 Wally
-34 Ben

 

[Otsego Mar]

Guys who can replace Z with what we need are a dime a dozen. Heck, look at Joel Przybilla for the Blazers. He's been a backup most of the time, but imagine having HIM instead of Z. He makes half as much money, but he's the kind of badass who would bang in the low post with Howard and actually flush with two hands when given the opportunity. He'd be a perfect fit for the Cavs in this series. Heck, he'd be the perfect fit, period, no matter who we play.

Or how about a guy like Nick Collison in OKC, who is on his way to becoming the next Przybilla-type player? Hell, even Kenyon Martin, who has had two microfracture surgeries? Given how KMart has played in this postseason, I'm sure Denver regrets giving him all that money far less than the Cavs do about having Z around for $10 million right now.

Or hell, even Tyson Chandler, who was nearly traded (in fact, he WAS traded) for dimes on the dollar at the trading deadline. Imagine having him on Dwight right now instead of Z. And I'll tell you one thing, Chandler sure as hell won't try to lay shit up if and when he's two inches from the basket. Dwight's ass is getting on a poster if he tries to block that shit.

That's just four guys that I could think of off the top of my head...I'm sure there are more.

Is there any way we can borrow Gortat for the last 3 games?

 

[Cavatt]

He is the only guy who has any affect on Howard. His height is not easy to play over. Av got backed down on 3 straight possessions in overtime. Z gets beat on the move as expected, but he is not abused so much. Howard hasn't even been killing us. We knew since day one that their shooters were going to kill us. Well we still haven't figured out a way to defend them.

 

[Splitz]

He is the only guy who has any affect on Howard. His height is not easy to play over. Av got backed down on 3 straight possessions in overtime. Z gets beat on the move as expected, but he is not abused so much. Howard hasn't even been killing us. We knew since day one that their shooters were going to kill us. Well we still haven't figured out a way to defend them.

That's the key and had it not gone into overtime, I don't think Howard would have been able to just get clean dunk attempts at the basket. Andy was reluctant to pick up his 6th foul defending him in overtime and that really came back to bite us in the ass. We seem to be able to reel in the big fish as far as Lewis and Turkoglu but the guy driving the stake through our collective hearts is Pietrus who we seemingly have no answer for and is getting whatever open look he wants. Alston was just a one game fluke where he couldn't feel his face. We have bigger problems then how Z matches up at the moment.

 

[sam_slam911]

Just because hes being bullied by Dwight, doesnt mean hes gotta go. We wouldnt get fair value for him anyway. Next to a guy that can dominate the paint, Z would look great.

 

[Cleveland56]

How about the coaches put Z in a better position to win. I think that is why they get paid. Bringing Z to show 25 feet from the fukin hoop is doing no good. What exactly are the Cavs worried about there? What is Z going to do exactly 25 feet from the hoop. Oh yeah chase after Dwight Howard running to the paint and watch him dunk the basketball.

I don't really understand what the problem was the first half of the first game (when they were up 15 points). Single cover Dwight, let him get his points. Who the fuk cares? Him scoring 30-35 points isn't going to beat the Cavs.

 

[Otsego Mar]

How about the coaches put Z in a better position to win. I think that is why they get paid. Bringing Z to show 25 feet from the fukin hoop is doing no good. What exactly are the Cavs worried about there? What is Z going to do exactly 25 feet from the hoop. Oh yeah chase after Dwight Howard running to the paint and watch him dunk the basketball.

I don't really understand what the problem was the first half of the first game (when they were up 15 points). Single cover Dwight, let him get his points. Who the fuk cares? Him scoring 30-35 points isn't going to beat the Cavs.

I agree. There is no way Z should be showing like that. And it's all on coaching for that shit.

 

[Cleveland56]

and to go a little off topic:

They have Delonte 6'2" guarding Hedo and LeBron guarding Rafer Alston. Having LeBron run around after the only guy who moves on the Magic offense doesn't make any sense to me either, especially since he carries everything on offense at the end...

Put LeBron on Hedo or Rashard and have Delonte run around after Rafer. Hedo and Rashard aren't physical and they don't really move....I love watching Hedo run by Delonte (giving up 8 inches) - Cavs needing to help and everybody is wide open. Hedo is doubling his assist total from the year - I wonder why. Everybody is shooting better from three (just look at the NBA player profiles and compare each series)..

Let Dwight get his 30-35 points and not double cover him. Who cares - use every foul you got....The Magic made 17 threes and only won by 2. Let Dwight get his!

 

[Otsego Mar]

So you go back to having AV on Rashard, or maybe Wally. I agree.....I'm not too sure why LBJ has been guarding Alston...and why we CONTINUE to go UNDER picks on 3pt shooters.

 

[Pioneer10]

I don't have a problem for Z's play for the most part: he's doing his best against a guy who is simply more physically dominant then him. He actually did a decent job on Howard last night (remember Howard went off in OT with AV on him)

My issue is the coaching staff have to recognize that Z is getting exposed on the pick and roll and so use other guys like Joe Smith who have better footspped.

I like the moves by Mike Brown yesterday overall including playing more Wally/boobie but the lack of Smith bothered me

 

[Otsego Mar]

I don't have a problem for Z's play for the most part: he's doing his best against a guy who is simply more physically dominant then him. He actually did a decent job on Howard last night (remember Howard went off in OT with AV on him)

My issue is the coaching staff have to recognize that Z is getting exposed on the pick and roll and so use other guys like Joe Smith who have better footspped.

I like the moves by Mike Brown yesterday overall including playing more Wally/boobie but the lack of Smith bothered me

The lack of fouls on DH and the excessive dunks from Howard bother me the most. We need to hack that guy whenever he gets 5 ft from the rim...instead of having Andy out there why not go with Joe Smith or D-block for a couple blatant hacks? We need to get in this guys head!