Barbeque Chicken: The Cody Zeller Thread - Pt 2

Mystical Apples · Post #1961 » by **Mystical Apples** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 3:32 pm

fatlever wrote:I'm sure that post was well received by the hoards of raptor fans.

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A couple childish responses but no biggie.

Post #1962 » by **fatlever** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 4:58 pm

Cody is clearly one of the most underappreciated players in the league. It's hard to convince people of his worth due to the fact that he doesn't stand out from a traditional statistics standpoint.

Post #1963 » by **yosemiteben** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 5:24 pm

We also maximize Cody's value because he pretty much could not be a better fit with Kemba and Nic.

Post #1964 » by **BigSlam** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 9:29 pm

fatlever wrote:Cody is clearly one of the most underappreciated players in the league. It's hard to convince people of his worth due to the fact that he doesn't stand out from a traditional statistics standpoint.

Let's be honest though: Until this season the vast majority of out board under appreciated him as well.

Liver Potty was about the only one who's been behind him the entire time.

"BBMF'ers"

Post #1965 » by **yosemiteben** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 11:43 pm

I love Cliff, but I also think Cody fell into this role by accident more than it being Cliff's plan. Cliff went with Al last season as starter and I think Hawes was initially brought in to be our second unit C. Last offseason (summer of 2015) Cliff was still talking about how Cody needed to build his midrange game and made it seem like he hadn't abandoned the goal of making him a stretch PF. I think we really weren't sure what direction we were going when we drafted Frank and still planned to start Marv and Al and bring Hawes off the bench as our backup C. I honestly think the plan was to just slot Cody in opportunistically until Frank figured it out, then either trade him or let him walk without making his QO this summer depending on how Marvin and Frank looked last season.

Injuries to Al and Hawes forced Cliff's hand a bit when it came to our big rotation, and I think everyone (coaching staff and FO included) underestimated how the combination of our floor spacers with Batum in the rotation would open up Cody's game offensively and how well he would hold his own defensively at the C spot. Props to Cliff for recognizing the value Cody brought and sticking with it though.

catch20two · Post #1966 » by **catch20two** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 12:17 am

In a NBA world where PnR is the primary offense Cody becomes very valuable with his agility at 7ft.

euphorbus · Post #1967 » by **euphorbus** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:56 pm

What gets me when I think of Zeller's value to the team is that it took the coaching staff 2 1/2 seasons to realize that he is not a power forward--certainly not a stretch four by any stretch of the imagination--but a center. Why so long? I believe it is because Coach Clifford uses a system and tends to plug players into the slots in that system, rather than designing the system itself around the players. Thus, we saw P. J. Hairston inserted into the wing defender slot allotted to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist last season. When the latter was injured again, the front office went out and got Courtney Lee to fit into the slot.

The problem is that Zeller does not really fit into any of the normal categories of centers or power forwards. Neither did Tyler Hansbrough, whose toughness and intensity are sorely missed on this team, and whose prowess on the offensive boards was not valued by the coach. Finally, the coaching staff has found a way to use Zeller to the greatest extent. It sure took them long enough. His value is now apparent to everyone.

Chapelchilla · Post #1968 » by **Chapelchilla** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 5:54 pm

Cody is quite under valued here. Without his mobility and hustle at the center spot, were not very good in the middle on offense or D.
I think that it would have been tough to move Cody to Center earlier then we did. Dude was a skinny kid when we got him. He is still growing into his "man strength". Not everyone grows at the same rate and he was late filling out.

Braggins · Post #1969 » by **Braggins** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 5:56 pm

Chapelchilla wrote:Cody is quite under valued here. Without his mobility and hustle at the center spot, were not very good in the middle on offense or D.
I think that it would have been tough to move Cody to Center earlier then we did. Dude was a skinny kid when we got him. He is still growing into his "man strength". Not everyone grows at the same rate and he was late filling out.

Hopefully Kaminsky gets some man strength soon.

Chapelchilla · Post #1970 » by **Chapelchilla** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 7:55 pm

Kaminsky will beef up some more but I doubt he gets a lot bigger, he is just about cody's age. Maybe the pro training room will add another 10lbs.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #1971 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 11:37 pm

Frank and Cody have different skillsets. I really like what Cody brings to the team.

As for euphorbus' comments ... I agree to a point. I do think that both Cho and Cliff felt like Cody was going to be a 4. I also think that Cliff kind of lucked into using Cody as a center due to Al's injuries and that he's a systems coach. But I'll give Cliff credit for sticking with Cody last year even when Al came back. At this point does it really matter that much? Cody has proven that he's by far the best fit with the starting unit. Frank isn't a center yet, and may never be. Tyler is gone and frankly that was as much about size and skill as anything. Psycho-T might eventually fit in a small-ball NBA, but it's just not his time now.

euphorbus · Post #1972 » by **euphorbus** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 11:58 pm

I have a question about Cody's shoulder. Is this the same one that was operated on in April 2015? Is there a chance the two injuries are related?

Post #1973 » by **fatlever** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:38 am

euphorbus wrote:I have a question about Cody's shoulder. Is this the same one that was operated on in April 2015? Is there a chance the two injuries are related?

Yes and possibly.

LamarMatic7 · Post #1974 » by **LamarMatic7** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:23 pm

Bobcat on Bobcat crime

Watch on YouTube

Post #1975 » by **Diop** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:28 pm

Love MKG's reaction

GlenRiceARoni · Post #1976 » by **GlenRiceARoni** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:47 pm

Cody is an awesome center and presents a ton of match up problems. His o-rating is off the charts this year.

The key is keeping his minutes down to protect him over the grind of the regular season. He is absolutely essential to our defense in the playoffs.

In the playoffs teams play a much different style defensively that's too tiring to play over an 82 game schedule.

You see the cavs switch everything vs the Warriors which left Thompson guarding penetration. Steven Adams did a great job as well in their series. Cody will play this role for us and he has elite athleticism and defensive mobility .

The reason golden state is so much better this year is that teams could leave Barnes wide open or scramble and close out on him because he can't put the ball on the floor. You saw Miami do this to Marvin. A stretch 4 isn't enough anymore. You need a "playmaking" 4 in the playoffs.

Gsw has Durant now. If you scramble to close out he will make you pay everytime putting it on the floor and becoming a passer or free throw shooter.

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amcoolio · Post #1977 » by **amcoolio** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 12:03 am

Cody is definitely a top 10 center in my eyes. He may not have the stats the other guys do, but I'd rather have him over Whiteside, Dwight, and Brook

Post #1978 » by **fatlever** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 12:30 am

Pretty sure this is a pic from when Biz blocked Cody and got called for the foul.

Post #1979 » by **yosemiteben** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 1:23 am

Yeah that Biz foul call was ridiculous.

GlenRiceARoni · Post #1980 » by **GlenRiceARoni** » Sun Dec 11, 2016 1:45 am

fatlever wrote:

Pretty sure this is a pic from when Biz blocked Cody and got called for the foul.

I wasnt able to independently confirm your theory by conventional methods. I have however postured you may be correct by thinking about it and realizing it makes sense.

It does, in fact, appear to be Biz blocking Cody. However, I can't hear the whistle because this is just a picture of said event with no audio features.

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