Tampa Zack
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I know it's been said before. But my favorite part of his game is that is a gigantic human being. So nice to see a real center out there. Makes Love look like he's 6'6"
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Farewell, Timofey Mozgov
- Thread starter Maximus
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BimboColesHair
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jvpertz
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I can't believe we have gone from losing Varajeo and the whole season to having a center that is actually better than Varajeo.
Mozgov is bringing things to the table that Andy could never replicate namely shot blocking and strength down low. Mozgov is the key hole adjustment the roster badly needed.
Watching the team before Moz was nothing but a layup drill all game long for the opposition. It put SO MUCH pressure on the defense. Now with Mozgov everything seems to have settled back down defensively. Perimeter defenders can guard the perimeter and let dribble penetrators try their luck on Moz. Moz isn't Muttumbo but he is big and long enough to be extremely bothersome. I couldn't believe my eyes in the Chicago game. All Rose wanted to do was dribble drive us to death and it simply wasn't happening for him. A few times Butler and Rose got home on Moz but the key was that it their success rate wasn't very good. And that is all this team needs....
Mozgov is bringing things to the table that Andy could never replicate namely shot blocking and strength down low. Mozgov is the key hole adjustment the roster badly needed.
Watching the team before Moz was nothing but a layup drill all game long for the opposition. It put SO MUCH pressure on the defense. Now with Mozgov everything seems to have settled back down defensively. Perimeter defenders can guard the perimeter and let dribble penetrators try their luck on Moz. Moz isn't Muttumbo but he is big and long enough to be extremely bothersome. I couldn't believe my eyes in the Chicago game. All Rose wanted to do was dribble drive us to death and it simply wasn't happening for him. A few times Butler and Rose got home on Moz but the key was that it their success rate wasn't very good. And that is all this team needs....
Brandname
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That play at 0:28 was the single most satisfying play of the night for me. It represented exactly the kind of effect that Mozgov can have on our interior defense, and it didn't record a thing for Mozgov in the box score.
This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the team. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes, goes out there and works hard, and really makes good decisions with and without the ball. Plus he doesn't complain about his role. Finding that kind of a guy who also happens to stand 7'1" is very rare.
At this point it should be clear that two low first rounders was in no way an overpay here. We'd have to knock one of those picks out of the park to get a center of this caliber.
Kypus
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NBA Saturday: Mozgov Adjusting Just Fine With Cavaliers
Jesse Blancarte
January 17, 2015 (a few days old, not sure if posted)
Entering this season, most NBA analysts agreed that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest weakness would be their interior defense. Anderson Varejao is a good all-around player, but has only averaged more than one block per game once in his career and has never been much of a rim protector. The same is true for Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.
The Cavaliers have been inconsistent this season for reasons that go well beyond interior defense and the lack of an effective rim protector. However, the issue became an even bigger concern when Varejao tore his Achilles tendon on December 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. To shore up the frontcourt, on January 8 Cavaliers general manager David Griffin traded away two protected first-round picks to the Denver Nuggets for center Timofey Mozgov.
Mozgov is 7’1, has four years of NBA experience, and is a clear upgrade at center for the Cavaliers. The price for Mozgov was steep, but the Cavaliers made an aggressive move to address one of their biggest weaknesses.
Mozgov had played in four games with Cleveland entering Friday night’s matchup against the Clippers. Basketball Insiders caught up with Mozgov to get his thoughts on the trade from Denver and how things are going so far in his short time with the Cavaliers.
“Doing good,” Mozgov told Basketball Insiders. “Guys, when I come they help me so much… whenever I ask, they help me, so it’s great.”
Through five games, Mozgov is averaging 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game. (The fact that those line up with his DEN stats below bodes well that this hasn't been a fluke) The Cavaliers have gone 2-3 in those five games, but have been missing key players like LeBron James and Kevin Love because of injuries.
When asked if he was happy to be traded from a struggling Denver team to a more competitive Cleveland team, Mozgov appeared to have mixed feelings.
“It’s hard to say right now,” said Mozgov. “I don’t want to [lie], but I was kind of happy in Denver, I got a lot of time playing. This is all I need. Now it’s a new story, a new page, a new part of my life. It’s another team. I’m happy to be here playing [with] guys like Kyrie, LeBron, and Kevin Love. I’m just happy and most importantly, I [get to] keep playing.”
Before being traded to the Cavaliers, Mozgov was averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 25.6 minutes of playing time with the Nuggets. Those averages are very similar to the numbers that Mozgov has put up in his five games with the Cavaliers. When asked whether joining the Cavaliers offered him a new opportunity to take on a bigger role, Mozgov focused his attention to the defensive side of the court.
“It’s hard to say. I’m [not here to score] 40 points,” Mozgov said. “It’s just four games so far, so it’s hard to say right now.
“On my own, I want to be a better defensive player every day. Just a better defensive player, rebounder, of course, help the guys to do the best they can, help them.”
There had been rumors linking Mozgov to the Cavaliers for some time prior to the trade, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when the deal became official. Still, for many players being included in trade rumors doesn’t remove the jarring effect that can arise once a deal becomes official. However, for Mozgov, this wasn’t too big of an issue.
“I was transferred from New York to Denver too, so it’s not a new experience for me,” Mozgov said. “I was prepared. (Good poise) I know they can do it any day, any time just like that. So that’s why I was not really surprised. Even before the season I try to prepare for anything to happen during the season. You can play a lot, you can sit on the bench a lot. You just have to be ready for everything.”
Anytime LeBron James is your teammate, you have to get used to a lot of media attention and scrutiny, which can be a difficult adjustment for some players. For Mozgov, he doesn’t seem to mind being under the collective NBA’s microscope.
“Even if you win, you’re going to feel pressure,” Mozgov said. “I’ve been on teams under the press before so it’s nothing new. You just to do your job. Every time you’re on the court, do your job. Simple.”
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-saturday-mozgov-adjusting-just-fine-with-cavaliers/
Jesse Blancarte
January 17, 2015 (a few days old, not sure if posted)
Entering this season, most NBA analysts agreed that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest weakness would be their interior defense. Anderson Varejao is a good all-around player, but has only averaged more than one block per game once in his career and has never been much of a rim protector. The same is true for Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.
The Cavaliers have been inconsistent this season for reasons that go well beyond interior defense and the lack of an effective rim protector. However, the issue became an even bigger concern when Varejao tore his Achilles tendon on December 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. To shore up the frontcourt, on January 8 Cavaliers general manager David Griffin traded away two protected first-round picks to the Denver Nuggets for center Timofey Mozgov.
Mozgov is 7’1, has four years of NBA experience, and is a clear upgrade at center for the Cavaliers. The price for Mozgov was steep, but the Cavaliers made an aggressive move to address one of their biggest weaknesses.
Mozgov had played in four games with Cleveland entering Friday night’s matchup against the Clippers. Basketball Insiders caught up with Mozgov to get his thoughts on the trade from Denver and how things are going so far in his short time with the Cavaliers.
“Doing good,” Mozgov told Basketball Insiders. “Guys, when I come they help me so much… whenever I ask, they help me, so it’s great.”
Through five games, Mozgov is averaging 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game. (The fact that those line up with his DEN stats below bodes well that this hasn't been a fluke) The Cavaliers have gone 2-3 in those five games, but have been missing key players like LeBron James and Kevin Love because of injuries.
When asked if he was happy to be traded from a struggling Denver team to a more competitive Cleveland team, Mozgov appeared to have mixed feelings.
“It’s hard to say right now,” said Mozgov. “I don’t want to [lie], but I was kind of happy in Denver, I got a lot of time playing. This is all I need. Now it’s a new story, a new page, a new part of my life. It’s another team. I’m happy to be here playing [with] guys like Kyrie, LeBron, and Kevin Love. I’m just happy and most importantly, I [get to] keep playing.”
Before being traded to the Cavaliers, Mozgov was averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 25.6 minutes of playing time with the Nuggets. Those averages are very similar to the numbers that Mozgov has put up in his five games with the Cavaliers. When asked whether joining the Cavaliers offered him a new opportunity to take on a bigger role, Mozgov focused his attention to the defensive side of the court.
“It’s hard to say. I’m [not here to score] 40 points,” Mozgov said. “It’s just four games so far, so it’s hard to say right now.
“On my own, I want to be a better defensive player every day. Just a better defensive player, rebounder, of course, help the guys to do the best they can, help them.”
There had been rumors linking Mozgov to the Cavaliers for some time prior to the trade, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when the deal became official. Still, for many players being included in trade rumors doesn’t remove the jarring effect that can arise once a deal becomes official. However, for Mozgov, this wasn’t too big of an issue.
“I was transferred from New York to Denver too, so it’s not a new experience for me,” Mozgov said. “I was prepared. (Good poise) I know they can do it any day, any time just like that. So that’s why I was not really surprised. Even before the season I try to prepare for anything to happen during the season. You can play a lot, you can sit on the bench a lot. You just have to be ready for everything.”
Anytime LeBron James is your teammate, you have to get used to a lot of media attention and scrutiny, which can be a difficult adjustment for some players. For Mozgov, he doesn’t seem to mind being under the collective NBA’s microscope.
“Even if you win, you’re going to feel pressure,” Mozgov said. “I’ve been on teams under the press before so it’s nothing new. You just to do your job. Every time you’re on the court, do your job. Simple.”
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-saturday-mozgov-adjusting-just-fine-with-cavaliers/
Kypus
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I agree in that now our Achilles' heel in a playoff series would be some team sending in a goon to take our new behemoth Mozzy out. I don't know about Jermaine O'Neal being much of an upgrade over Haywood though.
Anyone think Blatt would even entertain the idea of putting in Haywood 8 mins a game, or does he just bog us down?
texascavsfan
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According to sources, Popeye likes the green drink because "Ah ga ga ga ga, it makes me Olive look sexy!"
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AuxiliaryPie
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Chardon must be taking some post-grad art classes.
oracio
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Captain S
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kookoo
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What was the play at 1:17? It looks like he grabs Tristan's arm and they go for a double clothesline but instead Mozzy pops and Tristan rolls.
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Mozgov really hustles for a big, and that can be contagious among other players on the floor. If the big man is beating you end to end, you know you're not putting out enough effort.
It's a really good step towards building on court intensity, and that should only improve when Shumpert starts playing.
It's a really good step towards building on court intensity, and that should only improve when Shumpert starts playing.
KilgoreTrout
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googled "Soviet Popeye"
What is that green puke coming out of Popeye's mouth?