GT: Bobcats @ Sixers Jan 15th 7:00pm EST

[MPM]

At what point of HS and in college would Cody Zeller be used to getting minimal burn and warming the bench?

None. He played starter minutes his entire life and saw a lot of success. He's now being plugged in here and there in an unfamiliar role for only 13 or so odd minutes over the last 10 games. Some players aren't as suited to coming off the bench - definitely can lead to "over-thinking" or "overdoing." Definitely not saying this is the case with Zeller, but worth a shot - he does seem to warm a bit with minutes. Adrien is a perfect example of a guy who can sit for an entire game (or for 6 games straight) and come in and provide a presence - sometimes BenGo can - sometimes.

[Snidely FC]

I have no pity for Zeller struggling as a stretch 4. That's what he tried to sell himself as in the combine & pre-draft workouts as a last ditch effort to save his draft stock from freefalling due to his reputation of being soft in the paint in the NCAAs, and kudos to him, because it worked, earning him a extra couple of million dollars per the rookie scale

Honestly, Mr. Knowitall I know you come to the board for banter and we appreciate you, but I can't for the life of me figure why you pay the least bit of attention to the Bobcats when PHI is infinitely more interesting. MCW, Thad Young, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Tony Wroten, Nerlens Noel, Sam Hinkie, top 3 pick coming - PHI's just more rewarding at almost every talking point. #franklyjealous

[catch20two]

Ehhh, you can make the player play better as a starter vs bench player argument for almost every player in the league. Zeller just isn't that good. He make Hansborough look good. However I'd rather see Zeller in over McBob who look completely burnt out and in over his head. Zeller is a OK defender and rebounder that'll only get better at both.

[Hugo The Hornet]

Again we lose in the last minutes.

[ball teacher]

I have no pity for Zeller struggling as a stretch 4. That's what he tried to sell himself as in the combine & pre-draft workouts as a last ditch effort to save his draft stock from freefalling due to his reputation of being soft in the paint in the NCAAs, and kudos to him, because it worked, earning him a extra couple of million dollars per the rookie scale

Every player who speaks at th combine about playing a role in the next level will say they are confident they can do the job. If you go to a job interview and they offer you a high paying job doing something you've never done, you'd say your confident you can do the job also....I know I would. My thing is, why draft a guy who clearly isnt a stretch 4, and try to convert him to one. That's my beef with tweeners or guys who play one position in college but you want them to try another one on the pro level.

[MPM]

Ehhh, you can make the player play better as a starter vs bench player argument for almost every player in the league. Zeller just isn't that good. He make Hansborough look good. However I'd rather see Zeller in over McBob who look completely burnt out and in over his head. Zeller is a OK defender and rebounder that'll only get better at both.

I have to disagree - I think that while most players will player better in a starting role (more minutes, more groove), there are players who play far worse off the bench, and players who excel off the bench. Depends on mentality, fit with second unit, etc.

[catch20two]

Ehhh, you can make the player play better as a starter vs bench player argument for almost every player in the league. Zeller just isn't that good. He make Hansborough look good. However I'd rather see Zeller in over McBob who look completely burnt out and in over his head. Zeller is a OK defender and rebounder that'll only get better at both.

I have to disagree - I think that while most players will player better in a starting role (more minutes, more groove), there are players who play far worse off the bench, and players who excel off the bench. Depends on mentality, fit with second unit, etc.

I think there are players who are better suited for off the bench if they tend to jack a lot of shots or are just pure energy guys but I don't think there's players that play better with the mindframe of coming off the bench. Everybody in the NBA starred as a starter before getting there. Of course Zeller will show more flashes of goodness with 30 minutes compared to 15 minutes but that's everybody.

[mrknowitall215]

I have no pity for Zeller struggling as a stretch 4. That's what he tried to sell himself as in the combine & pre-draft workouts as a last ditch effort to save his draft stock from freefalling due to his reputation of being soft in the paint in the NCAAs, and kudos to him, because it worked, earning him a extra couple of million dollars per the rookie scale

Honestly, Mr. Knowitall I know you come to the board for banter and we appreciate you, but I can't for the life of me figure why you pay the least bit of attention to the Bobcats when PHI is infinitely more interesting. MCW, Thad Young, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Tony Wroten, Nerlens Noel, Sam Hinkie, top 3 pick coming - PHI's just more rewarding at almost every talking point. #franklyjealous

My team is one of the most boring teams to watch in the league. There is no excitement, but I am excited about our outlook of next year & beyond. You name all of those names, but we're still worst than the Bobcats. I would trade MCW for Kemba straight up. I would trade Evan Turner for MKG straight up. Tony Wroten is young & talented, but he's every bit of the selfish detriment that Sessions is for the Bobcats when he come off the bench. Thaddeus Young & Spencer Hawes are nothing more than trade bait these days. Outside of what the Sixers may do in the upcoming draft & Nerlens Noel, there's nothing special about them so I wouldn't understand why you're #franklyjealous. We haven't had a competent 'team', emphasis on team, in the modern day withstanding that Allen Iverson led squad that went to the finals built around A.I., defense, & role players. Billy King ruined our Iverson years. Ed Stefanski tried to build our team around inept Andre Iguodala. Tony DiLeo tried to get us back on the right track by trading Iguodala before cutting ties. Now, hopefully Sam Hinkie will bring us back to the glory days of excitement (i.e. Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks) within the next few years. I already feel like Hinkie is the best GM in the league just because he took my advice of or read my mind by trading the overrated Jrue Holiday for future assets, including the best player in the draft, Noel. I hope that answers you're lingering wonder of why pay attention to the Bobcats

P.S. Also, I'm a UConn fan going on 18 years now, and most know that I became a Bobcats follower/secondary fan when Kemba Walker was drafted by Charlotte, but I'm a basketball fan no matter the product first & foremost, so I touch on other subjects outside of Kemba while observing the game(s)

[mrknowitall215]

MVP: Despite the fact that his team ultimately lost an incredibly close game, Bobcats guard Kemba Walker still comes out as a winner. With 26 points and eight assists on 9-for-21 shooting, Walker kept the Cats' offense from being too stagnant through his ability to create his own shot off the dribble.

Turning point: With Charlotte having a clear advantage on Philly as they entered the second quarter, the 76ers' transition game really started to get into gear. With the combination of Michael Carter-Williams and Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia was able to be a quicker team.

That was ... ugly: Philadelphia's overall victory will most likely hide the fact that they finished the night with 24 turnovers. They ultimately ended the night by shooting 50.6 percent from the field but coach Brett Brown still has to be extremely disappointed by the sloppy play.

-- Dakota Schmidt, TrueHoop Network

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page ... it-revival

[Elden Payton]

At what point of HS and in college would Cody Zeller be used to getting minimal burn and warming the bench?

None. He played starter minutes his entire life and saw a lot of success. He's now being plugged in here and there in an unfamiliar role for only 13 or so odd minutes over the last 10 games. Some players aren't as suited to coming off the bench - definitely can lead to "over-thinking" or "overdoing." Definitely not saying this is the case with Zeller, but worth a shot - he does seem to warm a bit with minutes. Adrien is a perfect example of a guy who can sit for an entire game (or for 6 games straight) and come in and provide a presence - sometimes BenGo can - sometimes.

I agree with you!

It was a rhetorical question.

Very well said.