Z-Rex: The Cody Zeller Thread

[fatlever]

Chris Fiegler (Latham,NY)


What NBA Rookies do you think will be Outstanding in the 2013-2014 Season?
Chad Ford
(1:21 PM)


We'll have to wait until free agency plays out to know for sure -- Rookie of the Year races are almost always about playing time. Bennett, Oladipo, Porter & Len could all start the season coming off the bench unless their teams make trades. Zeller is learning a new position. Noel is out for most of the year. McLemore is so raw. I think Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum and maybe Michael Carter-Williams have the best shot of putting up numbers and winning this thing.

[freakon0mics]

Zeller learning a new position? I thought the 4 spot is his natural and comfortable position?

[Liver_Pooty]

Zeller learning a new position? I thought the 4 spot is his natural and comfortable position?

He came out of HS playing the 4, but played primarily center at Indiana. Ford just doesn't know what the hell hes talking about.

[Badd_Intentions]

So a guy with almost no offensive skill whatsoever outside of dunking and can't hit a FT to save his life is a potential star?

[Liver_Pooty]

So a guy with almost no offensive skill whatsoever outside of dunking and can't hit a FT to save his life is a potential star?

Exactly what Im saying.

[JMAC3]

To me I would rather have the far superior offensive player to the defensive player. It is easier to teach a guy how to play good positional defense than it is to be able to score in the post and shoot 15 footers. Plus its not like Zeller does not have the athleticism to be a great defender. I think he played timid sometimes at Indiana, because in college its sooooo easy to get into foul trouble and we didn't have a capable backup center.

Give me the better offensive player, there are no shutouts in basketball. You have to be able to score.

[Badd_Intentions]

Esp considering we have Biz starting...I mean if we had of drafted Noel the 2 would have to combine to block about 15 shots a game if we had any shot of winning night in and out.

How many points would a front court of Biz,Noel, and MKG score a night?

Not saying Noel is going to be crap, b/c I think he'll be a valuable asset, but don't think he was the right fit for us. I am looking at him to eventually be a Tyson Chandler type player, maybe not as good as him, maybe even better, but that is a ways down the road.

[TheKingofSting]

Ford lost all credibility when he said Kyrie Irving wouldn't be a star, I usually go with the opposite of whatever that idiot says.

[Eoghan]

I honestly believe that Zeller was better than Noel in both his college seasons, his stats are very impressive and his mpg really skewed perceptions a bit, the role he played and embraced did not showcase all his skills.

Hmm, I respectfully disagree there. I felt like Indiana more or less showcased Zeller his freshman year but that was a while back and I didn't watch but a couple of his games that year.

Noel was very impressive before he got injured and proved that he projects as a DPOY caliber defender but his team struggled even before he went down.

His team wasn't very good. Goodwin was terrible, they had no point guard, Poythress was underwhelming and their best bench player was sadly Kyle Wiltjier.

Zeller revived the Indiana program and despite the way his college career ended he really was probably the most important player to his team in the entire country.

Agree with the first part but disagree with the last. I don't even think Zeller was the best player on his team this year, that would be the guy drafted ahead of him obviously.

Athletically Cody Zeller is as good as any big that has come out probably ever, obviously I'm not saying he's a GOAT athlete but his numbers are ridiculously mind blowing and unbelievable, as good an athlete as Noel is he probably wouldn't have beat that.

Combine athlete. I refuse to believe that Zeller is a better athlete than Blake Griffin, Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green, Dwyane Wade, Rudy Gay, and a million others. The only place Zeller looks like an elite athlete is during track and field events probably.

Also Zeller doesn't play like a light weight, this notion he is soft is unfounded.

It's an opinion shared by more than enough. I wouldn't say he's soft as much as plays small. He doesn't shy away from contact, he just bounces off of it a lot more than you'd like for a 7 footer that weighs 240 lbs.

To me I would rather have the far superior offensive player to the defensive player. It is easier to teach a guy how to play good positional defense than it is to be able to score in the post and shoot 15 footers. Plus its not like Zeller does not have the athleticism to be a great defender. I think he played timid sometimes at Indiana, because in college its sooooo easy to get into foul trouble and we didn't have a capable backup center.

Give me the better offensive player, there are no shutouts in basketball. You have to be able to score.

I extremely disagree with you there. Tell that to the numerous David Lees and Byron Mullens of the world. Defense is always so coveted by teams that if you can play some and do nothing else you can still get a job in the NBA with ease (Avery Bradley, Tony Allen,Kendrick Perkins, etc). Very few players display a natural ability to be good defenders and with the grassroots in shambles today, even fewer players get to the NBA with a good foundation of defensive fundamentals. Kids love to score, scorers will always outnumber kids that love to play defense b/c defense is not sexy. You can teach anybody how to shoot 15 footers and a post move or two, that is easy street.

Indiana had decent back ups. That tattooed white guy was decent and they have two heralded 7 footers from Africa on the bench, one of them looked decent in the minutes he played.

[JMAC3]

To me I would rather have the far superior offensive player to the defensive player. It is easier to teach a guy how to play good positional defense than it is to be able to score in the post and shoot 15 footers. Plus its not like Zeller does not have the athleticism to be a great defender. I think he played timid sometimes at Indiana, because in college its sooooo easy to get into foul trouble and we didn't have a capable backup center.

Give me the better offensive player, there are no shutouts in basketball. You have to be able to score.

I extremely disagree with you there. Tell that to the numerous David Lees and Byron Mullens of the world. Defense is always so coveted by teams that if you can play some and do nothing else you can still get a job in the NBA with ease (Avery Bradley, Tony Allen,Kendrick Perkins, etc). Very few players display a natural ability to be good defenders and with the grassroots in shambles today, even fewer players get to the NBA with a good foundation of defensive fundamentals. Kids love to score, scorers will always outnumber kids that love to play defense b/c defense is not sexy. You can teach anybody how to shoot 15 footers and a post move or two, that is easy street.

Indiana had decent back ups. That tattooed white guy was decent and they have two heralded 7 footers from Africa on the bench, one of them looked decent in the minutes he played.

First off, I do not understand what you trying to accomplish? Bashing Zeller like you can go back in time and redo the pick. Then a year from now when Noel can't stay healthy and Zeller is averaging a near double double, you will jump on the Zeller bandwagon and act like you built it.

Second off, You wouldn't take David Lee on this team?

Third, I agree defensive players have a place in the NBA, but I would take the offensive guy over the defensive guy. It would appear that is how GM's look at as well, hint notice Tony Allen is only making 5 million a year and Kyle Korver is making 6 million. Allen is making the least out of nearly wing player in free agency, but according to you he should be making the most.....

And please do not try and tell me about Indiana basketball... Zeller was way to important to be trying to block every shot and picking up fouls. None of the bigs on our bench could handle over 10 minutes a game and even thats pushing it. How about we listen to the guy that watched 80% of the games and not the guy who watched 2.5 games.

Whearas Noel had WCS backing him up, so he could jump all around and its not like the team would miss his offense when he was on the bench. I think WCS is a better NBA prospect than Noel honestly, and he was expected to go around 10. Noel just had ESPN driving the bandwagon showing him blocking shots... Zeller would destroy him in a game.

[RichBoy923]

I extremely disagree with you there. Tell that to the numerous David Lees and Byron Mullens of the world. Defense is always so coveted by teams that if you can play some and do nothing else you can still get a job in the NBA with ease (Avery Bradley, Tony Allen,Kendrick Perkins, etc). Very few players display a natural ability to be good defenders and with the grassroots in shambles today, even fewer players get to the NBA with a good foundation of defensive fundamentals. Kids love to score, scorers will always outnumber kids that love to play defense b/c defense is not sexy. You can teach anybody how to shoot 15 footers and a post move or two, that is easy street.

Indiana had decent back ups. That tattooed white guy was decent and they have two heralded 7 footers from Africa on the bench, one of them looked decent in the minutes he played.

I don't necessarily prefer offensive players over defensive players (or vice versa) but I would debate it's easier to teach defense than it is offense. It's much simpler.

I do think natural ability and physical attributes are all good but more than anything, defense is about heart and effort. If you have a coaching staff that can instill that defensive drive and you know the principles of on-ball and help-defense, there's not much more to it. Now, certain players are naturally going to be lazy and rather expend their energy on offense but I think it's much harder to teach someone how to shoot/score. There are more moving parts when it comes to teaching a defensive player to become more offensive. Shooting alone you have to worried about smart shot selection, angles, consistent form, your legs, knowing your defender, etc.

[Eoghan]

First off, I do not understand what you trying to accomplish? Bashing Zeller like you can go back in time and redo the pick. Then a year from now when Noel can't stay healthy and Zeller is averaging a near double double, you will jump on the Zeller bandwagon and act like you built it.

Lol, that's what I'm doing alright. Bashing guys and jumping on bandwagons, that's my M.O. I was having an intelligent discourse with sik infant. If you think I'm "bashing" Zeller than you could be suffering from a condition known as "rustled jimmies."

Second off, You wouldn't take David Lee on this team?

Over a potential DPOY candidate? God no, especially not with as much as Lee is getting (over)paid.

Third, I agree defensive players have a place in the NBA, but I would take the offensive guy over the defensive guy. It would appear that is how GM's look at as well, hint notice Tony Allen is only making 5 million a year and Kyle Korver is making 6 million. Allen is making the least out of nearly wing player in free agency, but according to you he should be making the most.....

What offensive dynamo are we talking about again? Zeller? Okay... I guess you'd take Monta Ellis over Tony Allen then.

And please do not try and tell me about Indiana basketball... Zeller was way to important to be trying to block every shot and picking up fouls. None of the bigs on our bench could handle over 10 minutes a game and even thats pushing it. How about we listen to the guy that watched 80% of the games and not the guy who watched 2.5 games.

Crap, you got me. You must work for the NSA or something. How did you know that I only watched 2.5 Indiana games this year? Seriously man, I can't believe you pulled that card.

[JMAC3]

@ BrotherDave just make everything a joke, because you actually have nothing of importance to say.

[Eoghan]

I extremely disagree with you there. Tell that to the numerous David Lees and Byron Mullens of the world. Defense is always so coveted by teams that if you can play some and do nothing else you can still get a job in the NBA with ease (Avery Bradley, Tony Allen,Kendrick Perkins, etc). Very few players display a natural ability to be good defenders and with the grassroots in shambles today, even fewer players get to the NBA with a good foundation of defensive fundamentals. Kids love to score, scorers will always outnumber kids that love to play defense b/c defense is not sexy. You can teach anybody how to shoot 15 footers and a post move or two, that is easy street.

Indiana had decent back ups. That tattooed white guy was decent and they have two heralded 7 footers from Africa on the bench, one of them looked decent in the minutes he played.

I don't necessarily prefer offensive players over defensive players (or vice versa) but I would debate it's easier to teach defense than it is offense. It's much simpler.

I do think natural ability and physical attributes are all good but more than anything, defense is about heart and effort. If you have a coaching staff that can instill that defensive drive and you know the principles of on-ball and help-defense, there's not much more to it. Now, certain players are naturally going to be lazy and rather expend their energy on offense but I think it's much harder to teach someone how to shoot/score. There are more moving parts when it comes to teaching a defensive player to become more offensive. Shooting alone you have to worried about smart shot selection, angles, consistent form, your legs, knowing your defender, etc.

This discussion really merits its own thread truthfully but I'll respond b/c it's a well thought-out post. I'd say that you're not wrong per se but there is a lot more to defense than just heart and effort which are two qualities in themselves that are rare commodities. Spacing, angles, forcing players into lower % shots, knowing tendencies, knowing which player is getting hot/cold, denying ball, playing passing lanes, stealing without fouling, taking a proper charge, remembering scouting reports, the list goes on and on. If defense was just effort than every good athlete that stayed active would be a good defender. Defense comes easier to some players and scoring/shooting comes really easy to some players is really the oversimplified version. In the US thanks to AAU basketball, defense isn't taught nearly as much (if at all) compared to scoring which makes good defenders more and more rare and why teams like the Spurs are looking overseas more for their players b/c they're taught a complete game.

[Diop]

@ BrotherDave just make everything a joke, because you actually have nothing of importance to say.

Attack the post not the poster.

This is the 2nd time a moderator has had to remind posters of this, please keep it civil in her guys.

[TheKingofSting]

I am ready to see this guy out on the court, where we will have something else to talk about.

[Liver_Pooty]

This will definitely be one of the more interesting Summer leagues that's for sure.

[Logander]

Only 1 more week. God the anticipation is killing me.

[SWedd523]

People spend too much time being mad about **** that has no impact on their lives.

[Liver_Pooty]

People spend too much time being mad about **** that has no impact on their lives.

I wouldn't really call it that. Id call it being passionate about a sports team.