2007-08 TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: Centers

[Maximus]

2007-08 TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW: Centers


The Cavaliers are less than a week away from tipping off Training Camp and have a tough act to follow after last year's exhilarating postseason run to the Finals. Today, cavs.com will focus on the Wine and Gold's centers of attention ...


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Zydrunas Ilgauskas – When LeBron James jumped into the arms of Zydrunas Ilguaskas following the Wine and Gold’s win over Detroit to clinch the Eastern Conference crown, it was the celebration of two eras of Cavaliers basketball. Before James arrived, the franchise had taken its lumps, and nobody has taken more than Big Z.

"I ran to (Ilgauskas) because when I was first drafted, Z was the first guy I’d seen,” James said afterward. “Z has been through a lot, been through losing seasons, year after year after year, and I promised him when I got drafted I was going to try to change it.”

Ilgauskas’ numerous surgeries have been well-documented, and they nearly ended his career. But since 2002-03, he hasn’t played in fewer than 78 games in any season. Last year, the Large Lithuanian led the Cavaliers in shooting percentage (.485), rebounding (7.7), and blocked shots (1.26).

The Large Lithuanian netted double-figures in 16 of the Cavaliers’ final 20 games and, unlike the previous campaign, went into the playoffs perfectly healthy. He ranked second in FG percentage (.600) after the First Round – trailing only his teammate, Drew Gooden – and averaged 12.6 points and 9.7 boards for the postseason.

This season, Ilgauskas will have his work cut out for him as the Eastern Conference gets bigger and better. Of course, he’ll have to deal with the Diesel in Miami and Ben Wallace in Chicago. But this year, Kevin Garnett and Zach Randolph come East, Andrew Bogut is rested and ready and the Nets added Jamaal Magliore. Z may not go one-on-one with each of these guys, but he’ll have to patrol the paint they operate in.

Ilgauskas comes to Camp with a new look – his streamlined new shaved head, not to mention an actual tan. But he also comes to Camp without a legitimate backup and will probably require a slight reduction in minutes. Dwayne Jones is inexperienced and Anderson Varejao, while a nice complementary player in the post, is not a true center. But of all the hurdles Z’s had to overcome in his nine years in the league, this is small potatoes.



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Dwayne Jones – The man they call “Big DJ” has spent infinitely more time in a suit than he has on the hardwood, but as the Cavaliers sort out their situation in the post, is as much a second-string center as the Wine and Gold have on the current roster.

Acquired last October in a deal with the Celtics that sent Luke Jackson to Beantown, the soft-spoken Jones averaged just 0.8 points and 1.5 boards in 4.5 minutes per contest. He scored a season-high three points – all on free throws – against Golden State on January 30. He was sent to Albuquerque on March 23 and did very well – averaging 11.5 points, 11.5 boards and six blocks in two games.

The Cavaliers like the former St. Joe’s center’s potential, but he’s not quite ready to step in behind Ilgauskas on a full-time basis. He comes into Camp looking to win a roster spot and eventually grow into the role of the Cavaliers’ backup center and into Mike Brown’s rotation.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/features/camp_centers_070926.html

 

[Karma]

Once again the cupboard is empty behind Ilgauskas. Dwayne does have some defensive abilities and may turn into a player who could fill the Scot Pollard role. However if any injury occur I dont think anyone will be too confident that he could handle extended minutes. Varejao certaily performs better at the 4 then at center.

Just have to cross our fingers and hope Z can stay healthy for another campaign.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

the one thing I can say about Dwayne Jones is Big DJ is a better nickname then big BJ.

 

[Kypus]

Ilgauskas comes to Camp with a new look – his streamlined new shaved head, not to mention an actual tan.

Whoa...must be the Sasha effect... :chuckles:

 

[Pioneer10]

I wonder what Z's production will look like next year. He was a bit off last year in terms of PER compared to his previous 4 very good PER seasons. An aberration or beginning of a decline?

 

[Douglar]

I wonder what Z's production will look like next year. He was a bit off last year in terms of PER compared to his previous 4 very good PER seasons. An aberration or beginning of a decline?

Dunno. I think a lot of the decline came because Z was used differently for the first 1/4 of last season and then spend the rest of the year slowly returning to his usual numbers as he got used to spending more time farther away from the basket on offense.

Z's rebounding was up. His assists were up. The reason his PER dropped was because he didn't get as many points in the paint, which means more outside shots and fewer fouls drawn. Z's jump shot and close shot each went in at the same percentage as last year, but he took more jumpers and fewer dunks & hooks. Z also got about 2 fewer free throws per game last season too. If Z had two extra free throws a game, there would have been no drop in his per.

Perhaps he's gotten even slower and can't draw fouls like he used to. The drop in sucessfully tipped shots going in could be related. Perhaps that's why his blocks declined too. But if Z's jumper stays steady and he's still able to rebound and play his role in the defense, his per should hold up for another year.

 

[CleveRocks]

You know, for all of the talk about age, I did not see Z slower last year. He has always been somewhat slow because of his feet, and he is not the athlete Shaq is. However he is a competitor and he is pretty skilled, has a good stroke, and he is 7'3".

Also last year I think for the entire first half we used Z poorly. I remember at some point Z' met with Mike Brown and within a few games was getting regular touches especially early in the game. He was more in the groove with the offense after the all star game, IMO.

Still we need a back up at Center. Z is prone to injury and or foul trouble particularly if we look weak there. Last year if you fouled out Z you got Anderson in your face. I think a lot of teams would rather deal with Z, or at least realized there was no advantage to doing it. If Dwayne Jones mans up and becomes useful, that is pure luck in my book. I would feel better if there was another true center on the team. That is why I have suggested that if Andy takes the QO and cops attitude, we trade his butt to Seattle for Robert Swift or Johan Petro, both of which are passable young true centers, and maybe unload some contracts and pick up Nick Collison to add a little slam in the middle.

 

[PIP]

Retire already, damnit..

 

[Pioneer10]

Dunno. I think a lot of the decline came because Z was used differently for the first 1/4 of last season and then spend the rest of the year slowly returning to his usual numbers as he got used to spending more time farther away from the basket on offense.

Z's rebounding was up. His assists were up. The reason his PER dropped was because he didn't get as many points in the paint, which means more outside shots and fewer fouls drawn. Z's jump shot and close shot each went in at the same percentage as last year, but he took more jumpers and fewer dunks & hooks. Z also got about 2 fewer free throws per game last season too. If Z had two extra free throws a game, there would have been no drop in his per.

Perhaps he's gotten even slower and can't draw fouls like he used to. The drop in sucessfully tipped shots going in could be related. Perhaps that's why his blocks declined too. But if Z's jumper stays steady and he's still able to rebound and play his role in the defense, his per should hold up for another year.

I have a difficult time blaming the FTA/game drop on just the way Z was used (he shot 2.1 FTA/game last year compared to around 4.5/game the previous 4 years). This was his lowest average - i.e. lower then even during his injury plagued years when he played fewer minutes. My personnel feeling is his speed has dropped off. He'll still be effective as long as he can hit the jumper and rebound using positioning and tips.

(Going against a drop in speed for Z is his rebound rate went up last year. Rebound rate IMO is a surprisingly effective way of measuring athletic ability through the years as high rebound rate seems to correlate with peaks in rebound rates for a player)

 

[Douglar]

My personnel feeling is his speed has dropped off.

I'm thinkinking I should have said quickness instead of speed. He hasn't speed since the feet broke. Z used to have some quick over under moves that drew fouls like clock work though.

So why fewer fouls?

1- Played more outside the paint on offense
2- Loss of some quickness
3- Changes in the way officials make calls in the paint.

Any and all of those things sound reasonable.

 

[Maximus]

We started last season with a completely new offense that moved Z to the foul line as a designated picker for most of the plays. The idea was to get more people involved(Lebron's average dropped 4 points last year...it wasn't from age). Z wasn't getting nearly as many plays called for him. He wasn't sure where his shots were going to come from or how many he'd get. It effected his confidence and he shot a little over 40% on only 8 shots per game in the first 13 games.

After the Indy game on Nov 24th(he had only 2 FGA's), Brown told him they would get him more looks he was used to and he wouldn't be a picker up top the whole time. The rest of the season he averaged 50% on about 11FGA's per game.
His decline in offense was more a result of the system than age. If the offense had continued to have him down low he would have been getting looks inside he was comfortable with and gone to the line more. When he gets the ball after setting picks and late in the shot clock there isn't as much time for him to go to work and draw fouls. Another negative result of the new system last year was that it basically sucked.

 

[Lee]

Another negative result of the new system last year was that it basically sucked

so max, i am not clear here? you do not like the new system, dont hold back, tell us how you really fell about the new system. (not that anyone here i have seen has ever defended it)

:chuckles:

 

[_amon _ones]

I'm thinking I should have said quickness instead of speed. He hasn't speed since the feet broke. Z used to have some quick over under moves that drew fouls like clock work though.

So why fewer fouls?

1- Played more outside the paint on offense
2- Loss of some quickness
3- Changes in the way officials make calls in the paint.

Any and all of those things sound reasonable.

Expanding on the lack of FTA, I think #1 on Douglar's list is the greatest reason...remember, Z was asked to open up the lane for LeBron to be able to drive to the basket. This takes him outside the paint, lowering his chances for offensive rebounds, second chance points, and getting fouled. When LBJ dishes him the ball when the D collapses on his drive, Z is now taking a jump shot...and no one is going to attempt to foul a 7'3" center shooting a jumper.

I expect to see a very good season from Z, probably his best. He's had to completely change his style of play to fit this system, and I think he is finally to the point that he is comfortable with his role. He has the confidence and intelligence to be much more of a factor now. I believe his PER will return to form because of this.

I have no worries about Z, just his backup, if we don't get Andy signed soon.