Posted by bernard:
Please no Sweets for Zo ... are you kidding? W/ Zo we, best case, win 2 rounds in the playoffs. Still wouldn't beat Det. or Ind to make finals. So we sacrifice a young, emerging player, who could turn into our starting PF for years or could help us get a young big, for a aging guy who may suffer relapse at any time and have to retire? All for the possibility of winning an extra round in the playoff? (I'm figuring we're best case winning one round w/ current team.) No way.
As for the topic, Nazr is ballin. Even his "off" night last night was OK. Shot for good % and got decent numbers. Don't agree w/ Fish that it's his athleticism that carries him. Doesn't jump very well and is kind of awkward, imo. He's got a motor though, and goes for offensive rebounds as well as just about anyone in the league. Plus he's got those long arms and is quick around the basket. And, yes, he's benefitting from being our 5th option. Folks aren't making defensive game plans to stop Nazr.
What's surprised me is his post-up game. I still kind of cringe every time he makes a 1-on-1 move, but he's been hitting a high % of them, and if he keeps it up, he'll start demanding doubles and will have to learn to pass :).
If they play MS 20+ minutes a night and he responds very well, then of course I wouldnt do it. He seemed to be sliding off, putting on some more weight IMHO and then his minutes really started to drop. This east is wide open. I do have serious ??????? about MS going forward-I really believe he needs to get his weight down to 250 and start facing up much more. I like Mike Sweetney, I wanted to draft him because he was the best player available at our pick and I was kind of shocked that he didnt start playing well until the end of the season[although his terrible family problem at his age was probably a big cause] he played great in SL and has been excellent off the bench for the most part.
BUT,unless he gets down to 250, i dont see him advancing his game--he needs more mobility because he even though he can move that 275 pound chug pretty good, what can he do at 250? Because he is probably close to 6-7, he NEEDS that weight down for the added mobility benefit he would gain. I hear you though, I always think of ZO as a warrior and you need warriors to win. if i was getting that high 2nd rounder+ our own pick and getting rid of moochie norris, i know it might not be popular, hell it might be sadist, but i would sure consider it.
