Farewell, Timofey Mozgov

[Baseline Runner]

I think the Ilgauskas comparisons are a bit of a disservice to Z. Z was the starting center for teams that regularly finished in the top 10 in defense. Z had great size and was very, very smart when it came to positioning, and moving, albeit slowly, on the court.
I've enjoyed watching Mozgov, but let's not forget that he's been here for 7 games and 5 of them have been absolute messes defensively.

He has looked outstanding to me defensively. His help defense is elite.

 

[Baseline Runner]

I really don't get these Z comparisons. Is it because he's actually a competent center for once? Because Z was never really a "rim protector" the way Mozgov is, and Moz is also considerably faster. Z couldn't run, and I never saw him defend guards the way I saw Mozgov do.

Z was a very good rim protector during the Lebron years. His size (obviously) and positioning were very good and he was a big reason why those young Lebron teams were always quite good defensively. I did a study on this at realgm back then. He would have been even better if he hadn't had those feet injuries but he was still very good post-injury.

I do agree that Z didn't have ability to flash out on the perimeter like Mozgov can but that is something separate from interior defense.

 

[Kypus]

I wouldn't worry about comparisons being a disservice to Z. I mean, if anything, this might help us let go of Jonas V

 

[KB]

Interview with Allie after the Jazz game ( i can never get anything to embed for some reason)

http://youtu.be/g9tho7iLn2o

 

[Lee]

According to our records @The Oi , @Damage , @Deezus and @CosmoKramer all voted "F" for this poll.

?

He is not a Poll, he is Russian. Learn some geography Max.

 

[PITCavsFan]

How has no one commented on how awesome that t-shirt is???

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Had seen a picture of his bride before. Knew she was hot. RUSSIAN MODEL hot.

You fellas don't think much of Timo's girl? Sheesh. Tough crowd, tough crowd.

I, for one, will go on record as saying that I wouldn't kick Timo's girl out of bed for eating borscht.

 

[macbdog]

How has no one commented on how awesome that t-shirt is???

I would say that is due to the distinct lack of bros on this board.

I generally don't see a huge comparison between Z and Mozgov, even pre-injury Z. Pre-fatal foot injury Z looked like a young Hakeem to me. Mozgov is more muscular and athletic-looking and not quite as coordnated. He is a zuperior defender to Z, though, and much more physical. He has a good post game but not to Z's level, esp in keeping the bal alive. Then again, not many centers are. I think he fits this team very well and maybe even better than Z would, since Z's best counterpart was a defense-first PF like Ben. Still not giddy about the price, esp. since Mozgov's foul issues make him a 25-28 minute guy, but he has done well and meshed. The Cavs needed a guy who was willing to listen to the JEwish coach.

 

[King of Swords]

I think the Ilgauskas comparisons are a bit of a disservice to Z. Z was the starting center for teams that regularly finished in the top 10 in defense. Z had great size and was very, very smart when it came to positioning, and moving, albeit slowly, on the court.
I've enjoyed watching Mozgov, but let's not forget that he's been here for 7 games and 5 of them have been absolute messes defensively.

To be fair though, Z played in some of the best defensive systems under Brown and Fratello.

Z is often glorified because 1) he was a key contributor to our team for a LONG time, 2) he was a great guy/part of the community, and 3) there's always a sense of "what might have been" due to his injuries. I agree wholeheartedly that injuries prevented him from reaching his potential, but honestly it's irrelevant when evaluating his career, because most of it came after the injuries anyway.

Z was basically a 15+/10/2 blocks guy during his most productive stretches, and this appears to be exactly what Mozgov CAN provide. Additionally, Mozgov has a nice jumper and scores well off of tip ins, just like Z. So I think the comparisons are pretty apt. Right now, the bonus with Mozgov is that he can really run the floor in a way that Z couldn't after his first few years in the league.

 

[I'mWithDan]

How has no one commented on how awesome that t-shirt is???

I'm guessing because most don't want to think about Mozgov's telephone pole when his smoking hot wife is standing next to him.

Could be wrong though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[PITCavsFan]

I'm guessing because most don't want to think about Mozgov's telephone pole when his smoking hot wife is standing next to him.

Could be wrong though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I has nothing to do w/ his pole and everything to do with his personality. I love the fact that he'd go out in public with something like that on - he seems like a good dude.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I'm guessing because most don't want to think about Mozgov's telephone pole when his smoking hot wife is standing next to him.

Could be wrong though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I think this is it. I've got ENOUGH self-esteem issues, without thinking about how much longer my dong might be, if I was a foot-and-a-half taller...

 

[Zen]

I think this is it. I've got ENOUGH self-esteem issues, without thinking about how much longer my dong might be, if I was a foot-and-a-half taller...

Or, imagine if you were rocking an average 6 incher at 7 ft tall. That thing would look so out of proportion.

 

[Peachtree]

I wonder if Simmons has watched any Cavs games since we traded for Mozgov?

Timofey Mozgov, Rajon Rondo: Yes, we live in a world in which (a) Mozgov just fetched a better trade haul than Rondo, and (b) it wasn’t totally crazy. (In a related story, if Timofey Mozgov is the answer, then I don’t want to know the question.) A willing suitor like Sacramento couldn’t risk paying full price for Rondo just to watch him flee to New York or L.A. in four months. (That’s why the Celtics were stuck with Dallas’s pupu platter offer of three role players, a giant cap exception and a protected first-rounder for an under-30 impact guy who went toe-to-toe with LeBron and Wade in the 2012 East finals.) And Cleveland COULD risk overpaying for the eminently forgettable Mozgov because GM LeBron wanted to mortgage the future for a rim protector, no matter how mediocre that rim protector actually was. I mean, what could go wrong there? Is it too late to work GM LeBron into the Randy Orton RKO montage?

http://grantland.com/features/2015-nba-trade-value-part-1/

 

[Kbiz]

Interview with Allie after the Jazz game ( i can never get anything to embed for some reason)

http://youtu.be/g9tho7iLn2o

Favorite quotes:

"You know the team is really team."

"We just play basketball"

Incredible insight from an even more incredible man. He must use Cardale Jones' PR coach...."we ain't come here to play school, we just play basketball!"