Z's return to the post

[Cavatt]

I have been thinking about this because our offensive sets are not much like what we started with this season. Z was really milking that outside shot and he is still hitting it. However, pretty recently mostly since he returned to form after the injury, he has returned to the post, where his size is still a big advantage despite his speed. Our rebounding and interior scoring seems to be a lot better. Anyway, my point is that I think a lot of the worries that we had about interior presence as exposed by LA and others are not as glaring a problem as they were.

 

[WestFo3]

It will help when we have Ben's tips back.

 

[The Oi]

Everytime Z posts up, my heart skips a beat. His post game make me very uncomfortable. I'd have to see some numbers on him in the post, but that hook seems very ineffective to me.

The fadeaway "jumper" seems much more effective and the regular jumper is most effective.

 

[Cavatt]

Yes it can be trying sometimes, but the turnaround jumper seems to be pretty good lately. The biggest help imo has probably been rebounds.

 

[Sir Charles Barkley]

If he realized how open people get when he posts up, then he would have like 5 assists a game. He gets down there, and he just refuses to pass.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Z doesn't pass enough in the post, but he doesn't go there much anyway. If we post him up 5 times a game, and he scores 2-3 of the times, it's effective enough to show we have an established inside presence that they have to respect.

 

[Kypus]

I'm glad he went back down on the block, even if it is just a feint to keep the other team off-balance. Even if he's not as reliable down there as he used to be, it's still a good weapon to have in the playoff aresenal. Anything he hits down there is gravy anymore.

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

Z also usually gets at least a foul or two down low per game. Being a pretty good FT shooter, this presents an advantageous situation, as well. He won't get as many trips to the line from the perimeter. And let's not forget he is one of the best tip guys in the NBA. That doesn't happen when he is camped out on the perimeter, either. Yes, many of his tips come off his own misses, but he usually gets at least one or two of those patented tip backs off someone else's rim roller, too.

With his outside game progressing the way it has over the years, I'm excited to see the Cavs continue exploiting the advantages of being able to put their C anywhere on the floor as a legitimate threat to provide offense. He can pick and pop with the best of them and Mo and LeBron can find him with their eyes closed. Z is most definitely a huge component of our offense at full strength. If he can keep mixing and matching it up the way he has it will be hell on oppossing D's.

 

[Wulfgar1224]

Well, age and injuries have robbed Z of any toughness that he was had inside. He is now a midrange player that avoids contact like the plague. I can't really blame him since he is in his mid 30s now and has had several foot surgeries. But, it would be nice to have a physical presence in the post.

 

[NarlCavs]

You have to run some offense through the post or have players post up at least occasionally. You cannot solely rely on perimeter jump shots.
You aren't going to continually pound the ball into Z in the post anymore. It's still a weapon that can be effective when used at times.
Z can be a good passer. A big part of the problem with him not passing out of the post which has been brought up before, is how the other 4 Cavs players stand still and watch whoever has the ball in the post rather than move or cut or try to provide good options to receive a pass from the post up player.

 

[TheBigLeBronski]

I think i see some logic here, but i may be imagining things. Its good that Z didnt spend the whole regular season in the post, because he woulda gotten beat up. In the playoffs if he spends more time posting up, he can get the other teams bigs in foul trouble, which will be huge because the teams we will most like face deep in the finals have Dwight, KG, Gasol, Duncan, Bynum, etc. So gettin big Z to post up I think can be huge for us, It dosent matter if he makes shots or not, if he can get 3 quick fouls on one of those centers, the whole dynamic of the game changes, as those teams are built around thier bigmen.