Z-Rex: The Cody Zeller Thread

[Eoghan]

I find it hard to believe anyone is impressed with Cody and the way he has been playing, let alone saying he has been better at anything than McRoberts. I'll say it again...Cody is nothing more than a poor mans Tyrus Thomas at this point. Which is scary bad

Thankfully he has a better attitude though. I'm not sure what Zeller's realistic upside is. People were saying LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh after the draft, but I don't see it. He doesn't seem to have the offensive awareness or scoring instincts they have. Zeller just seems like a player whose game was tailormade for college, but not the pros.

I'll give you a comparison that will freak out fatlever - Brad Lohaus

and I'm being half-serious here.

Athletic Christian Laettner.

[Liver_Pooty]

Thankfully he has a better attitude though. I'm not sure what Zeller's realistic upside is. People were saying LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh after the draft, but I don't see it. He doesn't seem to have the offensive awareness or scoring instincts they have. Zeller just seems like a player whose game was tailormade for college, but not the pros.

I'll give you a comparison that will freak out fatlever - Brad Lohaus

and I'm being half-serious here.

Athletic Christian Laettner.

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

[Eoghan]

I'll give you a comparison that will freak out fatlever - Brad Lohaus

and I'm being half-serious here.

Athletic Christian Laettner.

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

Well, he could shoot a little.

[Liver_Pooty]

Athletic Christian Laettner.

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

Well, he could shoot a little.

I love Laettner. I was a 9 year old boy watching Duke vs Kentucky in 92 when he hit that shot. I didn't give a crap about basketball then, but watching my fathers reaction out of shear jubilation (yes, we are Duke fans) made me a fan. I love Laettner to death. If Zeller ever comes close to doing anything in his basketball career as this than I will be thrilled.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3_IT622Sbc[/youtube]

[Red Larrivee]

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

Laettner was pretty good in his first five seasons. He was a 16-18ppg, 7-8reb, 2-4ast player. He may not have been the most athletic player, but he was more skilled than Zeller and had a better feel for the game on both sides of the ball.

Zeller can still be a pretty solid player, but the team needs to work with him on his jump shot. He needs to have a quicker release and actually be able to hit the 3. With Jefferson, Biyombo and Adrien on the team, there's no room for him to play in the post. Plus, he's been getting beat up down low.

His fit here going forward is really questionable, but if he could turn into what Spencer Hawes is right now, then I think they did alright.

[Liver_Pooty]

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

Laettner was pretty good in his first five seasons. He was a 16-18ppg, 7-8reb, 2-4ast player. He may not have been the most athletic player, but he was more skilled than Zeller and had a better feel for the game on both sides of the ball.

Zeller can still be a pretty solid player, but the team needs to work with him on his jump shot. He needs to have a quicker release and actually be able to hit the 3. With Jefferson, Biyombo and Adrien on the team, there's no room for him to play in the post. Plus, he's been getting beat up down low.

His fit here going forward is really questionable, but if he could turn into what Spencer Hawes is right now, then I think they did alright.

Lol. He will be better than Spencer Hawes. A Power Forward doesn't have to make a three in todays NBA contrary to popular belief. How many PFs today can make a three on a consistent basis anyway? If he can get that 18 footer to go down on a regular basis and get some muscle on them bones he will be just fine.

[LamarMatic7]

I'm standing by my Dan Issel comparison and I hope that one day Cody will be able to finish around the basket like Issel could. Dan wasn't the most athletic guy (or you can say - Dan was white) so he came up with creative ways to finish his layups. Zeller seemingly has no problem making that 18-foot jumper at which Dan was so good. Obviously, Cody would be a poor man's version of him.

[fatlever]

Cody Zeller ‏@CodyZeller 55m

"Ugggghhhh finals week!!!!!" - Said by no NBA player ever

[HornetJail]

Not a terrible comparison, but Laettner did make an all-star team. More than anyone on this current team has done.

Laettner was pretty good in his first five seasons. He was a 16-18ppg, 7-8reb, 2-4ast player. He may not have been the most athletic player, but he was more skilled than Zeller and had a better feel for the game on both sides of the ball.

Zeller can still be a pretty solid player, but the team needs to work with him on his jump shot. He needs to have a quicker release and actually be able to hit the 3. With Jefferson, Biyombo and Adrien on the team, there's no room for him to play in the post. Plus, he's been getting beat up down low.

His fit here going forward is really questionable, but if he could turn into what Spencer Hawes is right now, then I think they did alright.

Lol. He will be better than Spencer Hawes. A Power Forward doesn't have to make a three in todays NBA contrary to popular belief. How many PFs today can make a three on a consistent basis anyway? If he can get that 18 footer to go down on a regular basis and get some muscle on them bones he will be just fine.

I like Zeller, but I wouldn't be too sure about that statement- Hawes is looking legit this year 15/9/3 and 1.7 blocks shooting 50/45/75.

I'm still holding out hope that Zeller can be David Lee 2.0, but if Cody can replicate what Hawes is doing, that's great too.

[mrknowitall215]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_-8SAkmP0[/youtube]

[MasterIchiro]

3 dunks tonight for Cody. He ran away from a driver in the lane on one play and in another yanked back his hands from a rebound like he was avoiding a burn on a hot stove. But he is waking up imo and learning how to be more aggressive around the rim.

25 minutes for McBob.
23 for Zeller.

I say Zeller is earning trust.

[mrknowitall215]

3 dunks tonight for Cody. He ran away from a driver in the lane on one play and in another yanked back his hands from a rebound like he was avoiding a burn on a hot stove. But he is waking up imo and learning how to be more aggressive around the rim.

25 minutes for McBob.
23 for Zeller.

I say Zeller is earning trust.

Unlike McRoberts, Zeller can actually grab a rebound without flailing his arms around. If Zeller can get that little midrange jumper to some kind of consistency, at least 35%, he will be well worth the 4th overall pick

[Diop]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_-8SAkmP0[/youtube]

I was so hoping McBob was going to go all Charlie Day then.

[JDR720]

3 dunks tonight for Cody. He ran away from a driver in the lane on one play and in another yanked back his hands from a rebound like he was avoiding a burn on a hot stove. But he is waking up imo and learning how to be more aggressive around the rim.

25 minutes for McBob.
23 for Zeller.

I say Zeller is earning trust.

Gonna end up taking his starting job by the end of the season

[Liver_Pooty]

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being the best overall pick in the draft in the next couple years. McLemore just won Western Conference rookie of the month and he has been TERRIBLE. Thats how bad this rookie class is.

[LamarMatic7]

3 dunks tonight for Cody. He ran away from a driver in the lane on one play and in another yanked back his hands from a rebound like he was avoiding a burn on a hot stove. But he is waking up imo and learning how to be more aggressive around the rim.

25 minutes for McBob.
23 for Zeller.

I say Zeller is earning trust.

The reason mostly was McBob earning a quick 2nd foul early in the 2nd quarter and Clifford reacting to it. Zeller wouldn't have normally played 10:45 in the second quarter.

[mrknowitall215]

The latest edition of Cody Zeller hitting the floor

*BrotherDave approved*

I have to give Zeller credit for attempting to block the dunk and getting up off the ground fast after such a hard fall. I no longer want to believe that he's soft or a pansy like some others accuse him of being. He's just not one to land on his feet 'like a cat'. For the simple fact that Zeller doesn't have cat righting reflex, I have hope that he'll be very much 'buzzworthy' as a Hornets player next season

[freakon0mics]

Well McLemore was posterized a few days ago by LeBron. It was a matter of time till Zeller would be too.

[JDR720]

if Zody would've pulled off that block it would've been block of the year

[Eoghan]

The latest edition of Cody Zeller hitting the floor

*BrotherDave approved*

I have to give Zeller credit for attempting to block the dunk and getting up off the ground fast after such a hard fall. I no longer want to believe that he's soft or a pansy like some others accuse him of being. He's just not one to land on his feet 'like a cat'. For the simple fact that Zeller doesn't have cat righting reflex, I have hope that he'll be very much 'buzzworthy' as a Hornets player next season

Good god, I'm glad he's okay. Good for him going for the block, I hate players that shy away in fear of getting postered. If he hit the weights as often as he hits the floor he'll be bigger than Pekovic next year.