I mean wow. Do you hate Zizic?
Lol. I don't even hate his game. But he's a very limited player, a long shot to make the NBA.
May I remind you that he's a tremendous rebounder with a 9'3" standing reach with a fantastic motor.
I think I mentioned those things, along with the fact that he changes ends quickly. Without a doubt, he's got potential.
He even could become a good rebounder at the NBA level, but he's got to get stronger in the lower body.
The length gives him potential as a shot-blocker, in theory. But he's slow off the floor, his shoulders are slow, and he doesn't anticipate well. All of those deficiencies can potentially be reduced, but it's hard to see him ever having "rim protector" on his resume.
Newsflash we need someone exactly like that this year.
Obviously the Celtics brass think otherwise. That's why he's half way around the world, while Mickey gets spot minutes and Nader is in Maine.
There are three aspects to this:
First, he's not physically ready to be in an NBA game - opponents would be mopping the floor with him if his coach were fool enough to put him out there.
Second, he's not good enough yet at what he does do - if he ever will be. Most guys don't get what kind of commitment it's really going to take; and Ante has some physical limitations to deal with.
Third, he needs to be able to play a more complete game - he needs to play passable defense and take better care of the ball, at a minimum.
If he can advance in all three aspects, he could be getting spot minutes on an NBA team. To get into a rotation? He needs to excel at something, or be very good all around.
Look - I'm the guy who roots for the outsiders, the longshots, the idiot savants, the has-beens and the long-since written-offs. But those guys have got to work twice as hard. It'd be great if Zizic made it, but let's not kid ourselves - it is
really going to take something for him to get there.
Of course he has weaknesses, but if you focus on his strengths you would realize he's a great fit with Horford or Olynyk. Thanks.
The Celtics have an offense where all five guys move and touch the ball. Ante does not move the ball - he's a classic "black hole".