BEEZ

Why has it seemed that some of you have turned your backs on Zach so to speak? I still think hes a great young talent

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I have no clue!

mixum

because of our terrible gm. Also when your star player goes 5- 28 in 2 nights....its kind of scary to a blazer fan but i still think hes a solid player but cant pass worth worth a piss!

Blazer Freak

Actually Mixum if you actually watched a game and then *****ed you would see that ZBo did pass last night. And they were good passes. He was actually passing out of the double team, Barrett and Rice were pointing that out.

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BLAZER PROPHET

Zach's a wonderful post-up player who also rebounds hard. However, he's too demanding for the ball and cannot (literally) pass the ball to keep a 'flow' to the offense. With this team, a movement oriented offense works best and Zach does not seem to possess the ability to play within that type of scheme. Bottom line- when the ball gets to Zach, the offense is over as he's a friggin' ball hog.

Oldmangrouch

Zach is a weak passer....but some of the other Blazers compound the problem by not moving well without the ball. If we had a Richard Hamilton type, Zach's passing would suddenly look much better!


That isn't the *real* problem, of course. Too many frustrated fans have developed the idea that the team's best player must be either the 2nd coming, or the antichrist. There is no middle ground - no room for Zach to be merely a very good player.

Captain Chaos

It's one of the basics of the game...passing. If a team moves without the ball and passes well they usually end up doing fairly well. Portland would be far better off doing this more often due to the lack of pure outside shooters. I would like to see them run more as well. They have the athletes to run more with the ball.

Ed O

I watched the game and I didn't see the Nuggets double team ZR hardly at all. He was catching the ball away from the basket and since he was guarded by Nene they generally didn't HAVE to double him. I've only watched the game once, though, so maybe I'll catch more doubles after watching it the second time.

Ed O.

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"In the end, it all comes down to talent. You can talk all you want about intangibles, I just don't know what that means. Talent makes winners, not intangibles. Can nice guys win? Sure, nice guys can win -- if they're nice guys with a lot of talent. Nice guys with a little talent finish fourth, and nice guys with no talent finish last."

-- Sandy Koufax

BEEZ

But I think they have a right to be if you guys signed JUST a very good player to a MAX deal.

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I have no clue!

BBert

I think it's clear to everyone that Zach's a bit egocentric in his ability to view the game.

His defense is still lousy. He doesn't challenge anyone going to the basket.

But my biggest complaint is on offense. When a teammate is trying to take the ball to the basket, he rushes toward them with his hands in the "give me the rock" position, literally causing his man to almost run into said teammate. He did this twice in a row in the 4th causing Darius to miss two cake shots.

Is he really that much of a bonehead, or is this his insidious way of forcing his teammates to give him the ball?

Shareef is a much better overall basketball player than Zach. Zach seemingly had much more trade value than Shareef last summer, before his ridiculous extension. I would still keep Reef over Zach.

Don't get me wrong, I like Zach overall. He's still young. He can be a bull around the basket. He does a lot with his physical limitations. I just hope he figures out how to play a team game some day. If he had the much hated Karl Malone's wiles, we'd be in good shape.

BLAZER PROPHET

I don't necessarily think SAR is a better player, but better for this team. SAR keeps the ball moving and scores his points within the offense. Zach would be good for a post-up team. Good player, but on the wrong team.

BBert

I agree completely. Two different good players. I'd rather watch this team in motion, swinging the ball around, hitting the other team where they ain't. Reef can contribute to his teammates success better than Zach.

But Zach's still young. I still hope he can develop this part of his game, since he's not going anywhere.

Blazer Ringbearer

Zach was tentatively named the new team scapegoat the moment Sheed was shipped out of town.

He has just recently solidified his status.

Oldmangrouch

Is Gasol more than just "very good?" He was signed to a comparable deal, and I don't hear Grizz fans kvetching.

The number of players who can actually carry a team on their back (eg Jordan) will always be rare. Zach is not THE solution, but he is PART of the solution. The deals given Theo and Miles were far worse, IMHO.

BEEZ

I totally agree. But in slight defense of Gasol hes shown a more complete package but I would say his defencies cancel out his plusses to where Zach is concerned so they are about the same equally as players. It was a ridiculous deal as well. Mac deals are thrown around too loosely.

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I have no clue!

Schilly