I know many of you are the sentimental type that will refrain from saying anything bad about Z simply because he's the longest tenured Cavalier and has been through a list of surgeries as thick as a New York phone book. But I'm not one of them.
Seriously, I don't know how many times I've yelled at the TV during this series because of Z. The dude is doing far more harm at this point than he is good. He can't post up, he can't get buckets inside, and what he DOES provide on offense (shooting) can be provided by a shooting guard or small forward. There are plenty of shooters on this team, so you'd think that having a 7'3" center would help balance the roster. Except you would be wrong. For a guy who is 7'3" and 260-some pounds, he is the softest guy on the floor. How many times has this guy been at point-blank range from the basket and decided to LAY IT UP instead of DUNK THE DAMN BALL? And he's 7'3"? He's even been packed by D-Howard a few times when he's tried to lay it up instead of dunk it. He should be slamming it in Dwight's face at his size.
Delonte West is a foot shorter than him but 1,000X harder and more physical. I'd take a guy like West to whoop Z in a street fight any day, and given Z's size, that's sad.
And on defense...Charles Barkley was right after Game 1 when he said that Z shouldn't even play this series. How the hell can you defend pick and rolls with D-Howard when the guy that's supposed to be covering Dwight can't even move his damn feet? The Cavs' defense at least looks like its ATTEMPTING to be productive whenever Z's on the bench. But when he's not, it has become a recipe for disaster.
He's entering the last year of his contract next year at about $10 million. He's the unique combination of an expiring contract and a guy who could really help a team short-term, whether its off the bench or a team looking to make a move that puts them over the top. But one thing is for sure: Z's not going to help this team win a championship at this stage of his career. The time has come to close the curtains on the Cavalier career for one of the franchise's most beloved players.
But let's keep it real: If Z is back next year, I am going to scream. This team better not be about keeping guys not named LeBron happy at the sake of winning a championship. Get this guy out of here and get a guy who can actually bang inside, grab rebounds, and for the love of God, DUNK THE FREAKING BASKETBALL when he's an inch away from the basket instead of trying to lay it up.
Seriously, I don't know how many times I've yelled at the TV during this series because of Z. The dude is doing far more harm at this point than he is good. He can't post up, he can't get buckets inside, and what he DOES provide on offense (shooting) can be provided by a shooting guard or small forward. There are plenty of shooters on this team, so you'd think that having a 7'3" center would help balance the roster. Except you would be wrong. For a guy who is 7'3" and 260-some pounds, he is the softest guy on the floor. How many times has this guy been at point-blank range from the basket and decided to LAY IT UP instead of DUNK THE DAMN BALL? And he's 7'3"? He's even been packed by D-Howard a few times when he's tried to lay it up instead of dunk it. He should be slamming it in Dwight's face at his size.
Delonte West is a foot shorter than him but 1,000X harder and more physical. I'd take a guy like West to whoop Z in a street fight any day, and given Z's size, that's sad.
And on defense...Charles Barkley was right after Game 1 when he said that Z shouldn't even play this series. How the hell can you defend pick and rolls with D-Howard when the guy that's supposed to be covering Dwight can't even move his damn feet? The Cavs' defense at least looks like its ATTEMPTING to be productive whenever Z's on the bench. But when he's not, it has become a recipe for disaster.
He's entering the last year of his contract next year at about $10 million. He's the unique combination of an expiring contract and a guy who could really help a team short-term, whether its off the bench or a team looking to make a move that puts them over the top. But one thing is for sure: Z's not going to help this team win a championship at this stage of his career. The time has come to close the curtains on the Cavalier career for one of the franchise's most beloved players.
But let's keep it real: If Z is back next year, I am going to scream. This team better not be about keeping guys not named LeBron happy at the sake of winning a championship. Get this guy out of here and get a guy who can actually bang inside, grab rebounds, and for the love of God, DUNK THE FREAKING BASKETBALL when he's an inch away from the basket instead of trying to lay it up.