Just saw a clip of his presser after the game last night, and he said he tells LeBron to shoot anytime Boston gives him the shot be it beneath or above the 3 point-line.

So it's not just LeBron being uncoachable and jacking up irresponsible shots, it's LeBron being told to take those shots by his coach.

Would you expect LeBron to ignore his coaches orders when he's shooting bad? I don't know.

Should Mike Brown tell LeBron to stop shooting? You would think yes, but that's a lot of not-confidence (?) he's showing in LeBron.

I think he ought to run REAL plays instead of running "give the ball to LeBron and see what happens." That's the solution. Don't put LeBron in that position.

He's scared shitless to coach LeBron.

It's not even about LeBron all the time....when Brown try to play small-ball, he doesn't design anything to get his shooters open. The announcers will say "it spreads the floor" but when they Celtics are so talented defensively, it doesn't really make things easier for LeBron. They collapse on him at the basket and he'll have to throw up a crazy finger roll.

I know there's a lot of Z fans here....but I can't stand seeing him taking those soft jumpers all game. I like him on the offensive boards but I wish he could do something intimidating....it's embarrassing how soft this team is sometimes.

quote:

Originally posted by CIMO:
I know there's a lot of Z fans here....but I can't stand seeing him taking those soft jumpers all game. I like him on the offensive boards but I wish he could do something intimidating....it's embarrassing how soft this team is sometimes.

I'm right with you on Z. I'd gladly forfeit his 18 foot jumper to see him start playing like a man.

I've never been a big fan of Z, but I will state that he is playing better today than at anytime in his career. The guy has produced in Scoring, Rebounding and Defending with blocked shots and such in these playoffs.

He's actually been the best player on the floor for the Cavs in most of these games.

He played a litte better Saturday night in terms of defense and rebounding. He was manning up on defense and even getting contested rebounds. Usually he only gets gimme rebounds and a few offensive boards.

He still rarely goes up strong.

I'd be interested to see how he fares without a guy like LeBron on his team to get him open looks. He'd get the ball more but he won't be getting half those open looks.

I hate his softness at any rate.

Z is playing the best ball of his career and is the Cavs most consistent shooter besides Joe Smith from intermediate range. He fills an outlet for LeBron to find and open shooter and also pulls Perkins or whoever is guarding him away from the basket.

Z is the last problem this team has right now.

quote:

Z is the last problem this team has right now.

Huge agreement.

Even though Lebron is struggling, and maybe BECAUSE he's struggling and we won by 20, I still think we can win this series.

Boston doesn't look like a 66 win team to me. At all.

As usual, game four is the most important of the series. If the Cavs knot it up, I really believe they can win a 3-game series... but only if Lebron comes out of his coma.

Lose and it's over.

They gotta win tonite.

If they lose this series, all they need to do is look back to game one. That was the game to steal and they had it.

What's worse is Detroit looks vulnerable right now with Billups out.

He's not the problem right now, LeBron is. But..

I know people get sucked up into his sweet 18 foot jumpshot, but theres a shitload more to playing the Center position than that.

The guy's not even averaging 8 rebounds a game in the playoffs and you can hardly say he's a fierce defender.

When people say he's played well they're just looking at his shooting. People say Bron has been terrible, yet he leads the team in assists and rebounds per game along with playing great defense. People only look at shooting.

They've played well because of team defense, and guys like Wally, West, Boobie, and Joe Smith. And Z.

People are just enamored with a 7'3 guy shooting from the outside. He's played well but lets get real, if defenses take away that jumper he's hardly even a starter.

On one sequence just now, Z turned the ball over on offense, then Rondo took the ball from him after he got an offensive board, then Perkins out-physicalled him, rebounded Rondo's miss and got the score over him.

People don't pay attention to sequences like that. Good centers don't have that shit happen.

At least not all at one time, in bunches, constantly.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas 10 10 30.6 .517 .000 .784 2.50 5.10 7.60 2.0 .50 .90 1.70 2.90 14.9

Even Collins said Z has been the team's most consistent performer in the playoffs. I don't know what you're hunting for here, but Z has played good ball. Go ahead and name me all the better centers in the league and in the playoffs still.

He's playing 30 minutes a game and getting almost 8 boards, and that's with Wallace, Andy and Smith around.

Z is a hybrid center, the point could be made that Wallace is more of a center on this team. How about the swat he had on Garnett in game one?

You can take any player and pick apart certain sequences he has during the game.

This is funny for me, two years ago I wanted him gone he sucked so bad in the playoffs, but he was hurt.

Z was a point guard in the past, you cant expect Tim Duncanesque performances out of him.

Z doesn't have one or two sequence like that, he has them constantly.

You want all the better Centers in the playoffs?

Pau Gasol
Rasheed Wallace
Dwight Howard (before yesterday)
Tim Duncan

And another few that that are up for discussion...I definately like them better but some others might not...

Mehmet Okur
Joe Smith
Tyson Chandler

And there are some more power forwards that I'd rather have than Z like Garnett, Boozer, David West, Odom, and maybe McDyss.

The common thread amongst most of those guys? They're MEN, they rebound, play defense, and aren't scared to break a finger nail dunking.

I would go ahead and name the numerous other ones from around the NBA but half-time is almost over.

Joe Smith has been light years better than Z in this series doing the intanglible, tough minded things. AND his jumper is just as good as Z's. His post-up game is better, too.

BTW -- help blocks don't impress me. When a player denies his own guy he's guarding is when it's impressive.

I just don't get the fascination with Z, he makes jumpers but other than that he's a sloppy un-coordinated woman who is a complete liability on the court most of the time. He can't get those shots all by himself, either.

And if you've paid any attention, you'd have seen that the Celtics are having a WAY easier time scoring with Z in there.

I'm kinda trying to decide if you are worthy of a real response, cause you sseem slightly on your own wavelength.

Remember, I asked you "CENTERS" as you were stating.

Dude, seriously, you're a Z hater, that's cool.

Christ, I finally read your bullshit. Dude, nobody sticks up for Z, so WTF are you talking about?

Basically, your shit is moronic.

quote:

I just don't get the fascination with Z, he makes jumpers but other than that he's a sloppy un-coordinated woman who is a complete liability on the court most of the time. He can't get those shots all by himself, either.

There is no "FASCINTAION" with Zmont, dude. He is what he is, and he has been for a long time.

You better go back to Campy Russell and shit, or you're done.

Can you list a bunch of power forwards again????

What's pathetic is a bunch of you guys are letting this shit go....that's bullshit.

quote:

BTW -- help blocks don't impress me. When a player denies his own guy he's guarding is when it's impressive.

Larry Nance, one of the greatest Cavs ever, made a living off of off the ball blocks.

You gotta be still in your twenties.

Dude, nobody is blowing Z besides you.

quote:

Originally posted by RifferX:
[QUOTE]BTW -- help blocks don't impress me. When a player denies his own guy he's guarding is when it's impressive.

Larry Nance, one of the greatest Cavs ever, made a living off of off the ball blocks.

quote:

Originally posted by RifferX:
Can you list a bunch of power forwards again????

I named centers, jackass. What do you call Mehmet Okur, Rasheed Wallace, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Joe Smith, Tyson Chandler and Tim Duncan?

That's almost every Center that was left in the playoffs that was better than Z.

And then I named power fowards in order to explain that I'd rather have a 6'9 or 6'10 power forward play the center position than Z's faggot ass. ANY power forward in the NBA can probably match Z's physicality. Let alone Centers. I'd rather someone like Garnett or West play center, sacrifice the size, but gain the manhood.

Z's a horrible center.

Until people learn to pay attention to all the other things on the floor besides 18 foot jumpshots, they won't understand. If all you want is jumpshots, you might as well sign Jason McElwain. They're about the same in everything else.

Meanwhile, Z let PJ Brown sit us as home for the rest of the playoffs. While LeBron held Pierce to 6 in the fourth, Ben locked down Garnett, Z couldn't hold down PJ freaking Brown.

Hope you're proud of your little WNBA player.