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Farewell, Timofey Mozgov

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I've said this in the game thread but I think it is appropriate to mention this here as well.

I think one of the important factors that make T-Mo so much better with us than Denver is that he already played under coach Blatt in the Russian national team.
From Blatt's perspective, he knows him well, knows his strong and weak spots, knows his personality and how to utilize him well on both sides of the court. And we can clearly see that basically Moz has been very effective for us from almost day 1.
From Mozgov's perspective, after quite a weak stint with Denver he gets to a coach that already knows him, and he knows he doesn't have to prove himself again and all that. He knows and trusts Blatt so getting into this familiar setting, knowing the coach has your back and just wants you to play your natural game has a great psychological effect, especially on a foreign player. And this also can be seen in T-Mo's game. He's not forcing plays, he's not doing things he knows are out of his element, he plays calmly and his natural game, knowing that Blatt trusts him.
I believe small things like that have a huge impact and one of the reasons T-Mo had a hard time in Denver but fits our team like a glove (beyond the obvious tactical reasons).
 
When we first got Mozzy, I told my brother that Blatt knew him from the Russian national team- he thought about it and said something to the effect of "he knew him for a few weeks, big whoop".

On the postgame WTAM radio report (Mike Snyder), Blatt said that he had known Timo 4 yrs- how much of that was active player/coach relationship? Is that just how long he's been on the Russian team? I'm not sure- after all, most Olypmic teams train way longer than the 2 or whatever weeks Team USA trains together.

But it sure sheds light on some of the success he's having. Blatt also went out of the way to point out Moz is having success because he's a good player, not just because of the familiarity.
 
Moz_Pot_G.jpg
 
For a second, I thought he killed someone on one of the picks he set last night. His ability to set a good pick makes him a pretty comfortable fit on the offensive end, and really helps LeBron and Kyrie.
 
Can someone explain to me why this guy didn't play more in Denver? Did they totally misuse him? Not utilize him correctly? I mean, his numbers weren't that bad in Denver or anything.

I don't get it though, the guy doesn't seem to have a fault. I don't know if he's GREAT at one particular thing, but he does everything very well. He's way more mobile and explosive than I thought.

He shoots the ball well, plays physical, and just literally is the perfect fit for this team.

The chemistry and trust he's already earned with LeBron is pretty special too.

Dion Waiters got us 3 players better than him, I'll never know how that happen.
 
Uh the Nuggets had actual options like Nurkic and Javelolol McGee. So when Mozgov would gobble up a few quick fouls they had a sub option. And he can be foul prone, as any paint protecting big man.
 
I thought part of it might be he had conditioning issues, some big 7 footers like him do, but haven't notice that at all.

The guy should be a 10 and 10 player, easily though. Heck, I think we are just utilizing him better, and he's playing with better talent.

I didn't scoff when we have up 2 firsts, I knew we had to, but I kinda grimaced a little, thinking man, that is a lot for just an average center. Which is what I thought he was, but this guy is definitely not an average center. He's way better than I thought he was.
 
Eh folks gotta be careful about pedestalling this guy. Fans have a habit of talking themselves into thinking players are better then they are- taking solid performance and elevating it, or ignoring or reducing faults. Mozgov is simply gobbling up the same opportunities that Andy was and utilizing the same benefits of playing on the floor with guys who soak up defenders. He has fit well, he has done his job so far, but let's wait to see what happens when this team starts facing something other than the leagues lower half. I bet one of those firsts could have been used to find that backup too Mozgov that is also needed too.
 
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Dion Waiters got us 3 players better than him, I'll never know how that happen.

Yet, there are plenty of posters who feel the Cavs got the losing end of the stick in the trade..... and that somehow it was Dion who was being used poorly.
 
Blatt was on the Russian national team for 6 years.
He won the Eurobasket at 2007, Bronze at 2011 and Bronze at the 2012 Olympics.
In Europe you can coach both a club and a national team at the same time. Though that rarely happens, Blatt did it.
T-Mo played for Blatt in the national team at the 2009 and 2011 Eurobasket championships and the 2012 Olympics. With the Eurobasket qualifiers that's somewhere around 4 years in total.
They know each other VERY well.
 
Mozgov changed this team he plays with passion and plays hard every time believe it or not you can see how much bron rubs off on his play and respect him hes the major reason why this team has turned the corner kudos to mozzy and lets kill the shitty thunders tommoro or might say lets shut waiters off!!!!
 
Mozgov played well in Denver as well. He was very good last year in particular. He's not a superstar though and he got stuck in a logjam

Denver was stuck between rebuilding and contending mode and they had two other good C's. They have a lot of money invested in JaVale already and then they drafted a guy in Nurkic who looks like he can be a star C. Throw in Mozgov contract ending next year and you have a guy who is likely not part of the future (Nurkic is there and it's unlikely they could unload JaVale).
 
Eh folks gotta be careful about pedestalling this guy. Fans have a habit of talking themselves into thinking players are better then they are- taking solid performance and elevating it, or ignoring or reducing faults. Mozgov is simply gobbling up the same opportunities that Andy was and utilizing the same benefits of playing on the floor with guys who soak up defenders. He has fit well, he has done his job so far, but let's wait to see what happens when this team starts facing something other than the leagues lower half. I bet one of those firsts could have been used to find that backup too Mozgov that is also needed too.

Like Chicago and LAC?
 

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