Tyler Zeller: CHOCOLATE SNOW !!!

[howler1313]

How did he do vs howard in the matchup? Also how was he on offense cause stats dont tell the whole truth

He actually didn't do as badly as I thought he would (since he gets moved ridiculously easy by most C's). He held his ground pretty well and was smart about fouling once he got put in a bad position. I wish he'd start hitting some of those long 2's though...

[Dshuks]

So what was with Zeller tonight? He seemed like he was afraid to shoot a jump-shot, and made a lot of bad passes.

[GQinCtown]

So what was with Zeller tonight? He seemed like he was afraid to shoot a jump-shot, and made a lot of bad passes.

The combination of length and speed (esp. speed) bothered him. I remember watching him guard PFs in the Summer League, and he got burned. The Bucks big men all have great length, and they're no slouches. Quick PF/C types are probably his biggest weakness. Offensively and defensively.

Actual centers give him more space for that jump shot, while the quicker, more agile PF/C combos close out quickly. (Ei. Larry Sanders, Henson)

Also, he doesn't have the lateral quickness to defend their face up games. Don't ever expect him to guard power forwards, that's for sure.

A mixture of quick close-outs on his jump shots and shutting out the passing lanes made Zeller look horrible tonight.

[ice cream man]

This guy's really not good enough to be out there right now. I know he has some skill, but he can't defend. He's slower than I thought, and he's not long enough to alter shots. Even as a backup C he is going to kill our defense when he comes into the game. Go ahead and rip me, but I hope he finds his way off of our team some way some how when we are ready to make the playoffs because he does not play winning basketball in the NBA, where every possession is so important, and teams take advantage of every weakness. He cannot rebound to save his life. He has no nose for the ball. Yes, I've made my conclusion, just as many have done with TT, that TZ is not and will not be anywhere near a good NBA player. Not saying he won't get better, but his lackluster rebounding itself hurts the team enough.

[Numbers Guy]

This guy's really not good enough to be out there right now. I know he has some skill, but he can't defend. He's slower than I thought, and he's not long enough to alter shots. Even as a backup C he is going to kill our defense when he comes into the game. Go ahead and rip me, but I hope he finds his way off of our team some way some how when we are ready to make the playoffs because he does not play winning basketball in the NBA, where every possession is so important, and teams take advantage of every weakness. He cannot rebound to save his life. He has no nose for the ball. Yes, I've made my conclusion, just as many have done with TT, that TZ is not and will not be anywhere near a good NBA player. Not saying he won't get better, but his lackluster rebounding itself hurts the team enough.

Wow, the guys strung together a few poor games.. but he's also had some big performances against the Clips, Knicks, Pistons, Portland.. the list goes on. I may even go as far as to say he has had more solid games than poor games.

7 Pts, 5 rebounds, 2 offensive in 20 minutes? Thats solid production from a back up big who only figures to get better.

He's really a great back up center. He can rebound, space the floor, makes the right pass.. he just fits in, he knows his limitations. I'd like to see some more nastiness.. but the guys only played 20 games and I can't say he's looked bad at all.

A fundamentally sound 7 footer who doesn't disrupt team concept has a place on any team in the NBA.

[Tornicade]

Wow, the guys strung together a few poor games.. but he's also had some big performances against the Clips, Knicks, Pistons, Portland.. the list goes on. I may even go as far as to say he has had more solid games than poor games.

7 Pts, 5 rebounds, 2 offensive in 20 minutes? Thats solid production from a back up big who only figures to get better.

He's really a great back up center. He can rebound, space the floor, makes the right pass.. he just fits in, he knows his limitations. I'd like to see some more nastiness.. but the guys only played 20 games and I can't say he's looked bad at all.

A fundamentally sound 7 footer who doesn't disrupt team concept has a place on any team in the NBA.

some of you guys are grading him as a backup when Scott has made it clear he expect Zeller to be a starter. so his progression should be graded as such.

[LNance]

How many Franchise Centers have been picked around #17? He's our back-up Center now and will continue to be after we take Our Franchise Center in the next Draft.

[MYoung23]

For an older rookie who was touted as being able to step right in Zeller has been underwhelming.

[MRMsix6]

He can't physically compete with most NBA bigs right now. He constantly gets pushed around with that beanpole frame.

[Birdy89]

I think many of you are sadly right about him being a long term back-up center on a contending team.

He might be a rookie, but considering he is about to be 23 in a few weeks. By that age usually guys in the league have either been identified as being able to really play or not.

It is not like he is coming in as an 18 year old kid with a string bean frame who will bulk up over time. At 23 his frame at this point is largely what it will probably be going forward. He might get a little stronger, but he isn't going to pack on 30 pounds and be a load down low. That is the kind of thing we usually see from the time a guy is 19-22 (over that time).

I think he can give 20 solid minutes a night down the line, but he is looking more like a fringe starter solid back-up type than the guy who will step in and give a solid double double a night on future championship caliber teams.

I hope now is the time we get serious about the front court in the draft, because I think that realistically we have drafted a pair of guys who on championship level teams are back-ups in Zeller and TT.

Now we need to find the starters who project to be guys that are the 18-22 and 12 with a few blocks types. This team is going no where until we get one of those to go with a stand out SF.

[Lottery God]

I think many of you are sadly right about him being a long term back-up center on a contending team.

He might be a rookie, but considering he is about to be 23 in a few weeks. By that age usually guys in the league have either been identified as being able to really play or not.

It is not like he is coming in as an 18 year old kid with a string bean frame who will bulk up over time. At 23 his frame at this point is largely what it will probably be going forward. He might get a little stronger, but he isn't going to pack on 30 pounds and be a load down low. That is the kind of thing we usually see from the time a guy is 19-22 (over that time).

I think he can give 20 solid minutes a night down the line, but he is looking more like a fringe starter solid back-up type than the guy who will step in and give a solid double double a night on future championship caliber teams.

I hope now is the time we get serious about the front court in the draft, because I think that realistically we have drafted a pair of guys who on championship level teams are back-ups in Zeller and TT.

Now we need to find the starters who project to be guys that are the 18-22 and 12 with a few blocks types. This team is going no where until we get one of those to go with a stand out SF.

That's absolutely possible if Tyler is up for it. I've seen guys in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s put on 30 lbs or more of muscle. It's just a matter of wanting to although I doubt he wants to go up to 280+ even as a center. Unless you're Dwight Howard and have the strength and athleticism to be able to manage that weight, you're probably not going to be nimble enough to navigate quickly at that weight.

[NarlCavs]

Zeller pretty much seems like Chris Mihm when he came to the Cavs. He has some ability but I can't say at all that he will become more than an average role playing C in his career. Hopefully he'll develop into more.

[Numbers Guy]

some of you guys are grading him as a backup when Scott has made it clear he expect Zeller to be a starter. so his progression should be graded as such.

The organization is pushing him to be a starting center. It wouldn't make much sense for Scott to come out and say.. 'we got our back up center for the next 10 years,' now would it?

[KingDelonte13]

How many Franchise Centers have been picked around #17? He's our back-up Center now and will continue to be after we take Our Franchise Center in the next Draft.

Nobody is calling him a franchise C, nor has anybody projected him as one. But there have been plenty of all-star caliber C's picked well after 17.

[Jon]

There's a fine line between backup and starting C's in this league - it all depends who's ahead of you. JJ Hickson (drafted as a PF) has now been the starting C for two different teams?