Farewell, Timofey Mozgov

[Kypus]

Maybe we can have Tristan write his checks...

 

[kookoo]

He's worth more than Tristan in my mind. True 7 foot center who has a bit of range, sets incredible picks, rolls well and can protect the paint. If we have to get rid of him next year because of how much we're going to pay Tristan, this team needs to get it's priorities straight (LeBron needs to get his priorities straight).

 

[cavsfever]

How close do you think Moz is to elite center status, and what will he need to do to get there?

Cheers.

I think he needs to develop a 15-18 footer -- a guy who shoots so well from the foul line should be able to hit that shot -- and also needs to stop fumbling the ball on passes. On the defensive end I think he's just too big to ever be super mobile, able to get out and contest at the 3 point line effectively. So he just needs to do what he can with the team defense while continuing to be a great rim protector -- he's the kind of guy that you design the team defensive scheme around when he is in, rather than him being able to be flexible to various different defensive roles.

The problem is that he is 29. 30 marks the point at which you are getting old in the NBA -- don't be fooled just because that isn't true in civilian life. But hopefully the fact that he has limited mileage will help. Also, if he can develop that 15-18 footer it will help him a lot in terms of career longevity.

 

[shoes22]

Mozzy is 29 but he doesn’t have too many miles on him. He entered the NBA late and he only became a starter this year.

 

[Chris Parker]

I think he needs to develop a 15-18 footer ..... if he can develop that 15-18 footer it will help him a lot in terms of career longevity.

Mozgov has shot 41% for his career from 10-16' and 37% from 16+
his FG % from 16' or greater last year was 43% - he hit 43% from 10-16 with Cleve (he was terrible in Den, which wasn't using him well

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mozgoti01.html#shooting::none

For comparison, Tim Duncan is a career 40% from 10-16' and 41% from 16+
Aldridge is 41% and 42%.

It would seem you would want him to become as good as Duncan or Aldridge which is probably a little beyond his reach - only he was that good from range, already last year.

Any expectation of great improvement shooting from range is probably misplaced.

 

[The Process God]

Fuck it. Make him a stretch 5. Ultimate floor spacing with Kyrie, JR, LeBron, Kevin, and the new three point machine that is Timofey Mozgov. I wanna see Moz shoot threes so I can relive Z's overtime three three-pointer game. I was losing it that game.

 

[cavsfever]

Mozgov has shot 41% for his career from 10-16' and 37% from 16+
his FG % from 16' or greater last year was 43% - he hit 43% from 10-16 with Cleve (he was terrible in Den, which wasn't using him well

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mozgoti01.html#shooting::none

For comparison, Tim Duncan is a career 40% from 10-16' and 41% from 16+
Aldridge is 41% and 42%.

It would seem you would want him to become as good as Duncan or Aldridge which is probably a little beyond his reach - only he was that good from range, already last year.

Any expectation of great improvement shooting from range is probably misplaced.

No, it's not misplaced. In fact the stats you cite show how he could develop that potential. He hit a solid percentage of those shots last year but he took very few of them. Mozgov only took 16% of his shots from outside of 10 feet and less than 10% from outside of 16 feet. That shows a lack of confidence. If he could keep his percentage in the mid-40% range and hit that shot *consistently* he would space the floor in a different way, and be able to do a little pick and pop.

Z had that ability. Compare also Pau Gasol, who takes about 40% of his shots outside of 10 feet and hits in the mid-40% range. He can make you pay if you leave him open.

 

[Chris Parker]

No, it's not misplaced. In fact the stats you cite show how he could develop that potential. He hit a solid percentage of those shots last year but he took very few of them. Mozgov only took 16% of his shots from outside of 10 feet and less than 10% from outside of 16 feet. That shows a lack of confidence. If he could keep his percentage in the mid-40% range and hit that shot *consistently* he would space the floor in a different way, and be able to do a little pick and pop.

Z had that ability. Compare also Pau Gasol, who takes about 40% of his shots outside of 10 feet and hits in the mid-40% range. He can make you pay if you leave him open.

Okay, I hear what you're saying.
It's an argument of does he not take them because he's not confident, or is it a usage issue, similar to the one many feel Kevin Love suffers in the offense....

 

[Lee]

Okay, I hear what you're saying.
It's an argument of does he not take them because he's not confident, or is it a usage issue, similar to the one many feel Kevin Love suffers in the offense....

Agreed, i was going to make the same argument. Moz needs to take 1 or 2 jumpers a game to keep the opposing center honest, but how many plays do we run for a 43% shooting 7'1 center from 10 feet when we have a pf who shoots about the same from 3.

Just makes no sense to have Moz shoot too many. Should he work on the shot? Sure, but i rather see most of his shots come inside where he can get fouled and go to the line and help get over the limit and the opposition in foul trouble.

 

[Lee]

If Moz is going to work on anything it should be his fitness so he can stay out their more when needed. He was a 11/7 guy for us last year playing 25 mins. Like to see him at 28 mins a game and at 11/9 and a bit more in blocks too (was at 1.2, like to see him go up to 1.6 or so)

This means even more effort on the boards and help defense. Those areas of improvement improve the team, not him shooting better than he already does on 10 footers.

 

[Kypus]

Agreed, i was going to make the same argument. Moz needs to take 1 or 2 jumpers a game to keep the opposing center honest, but how many plays do we run for a 43% shooting 7'1 center from 10 feet when we have a pf who shoots about the same from 3.

This means even more effort on the boards and help defense. Those areas of improvement improve the team, not him shooting better than he already does on 10 footers.

Agreed. If you look at his DEN career- he already has that shot in his arsenal. As somebody already pointed out- it's just a "usage" issue- our offensive sets just didn't call for it. No need to burn a lot on what is like his 5th option.

 

[Evgeni]

Mozgov shoots at 60%. I don't see why he would need to shoot more 40% jump shots. If he can't get to the rim, maybe he should just dish out to the 3pt line, where we have 40% shooters.

 

[DeeThree]

Zydrunas Ilgauskaskasasasskskskskskskas 2.0 ?

 

[mds]

I'm all for Moz improving, but really we just need everyone to be more comfortable in the system. I have zero problem with Moz as is he now, he, along with everyone else, just needs to be on the same page on both ends of the court.

 

[LeShaq]

Is he all set now after having his knee scoped like a few weeks ago? They didn't find anything bad, did they?