Should Zeller get more minutes?

[LarBrd33]

I'm not specifically talking about the playoffs.  I mean in general do you think Zeller should be playing more minutes?  He has the highest offensive rating on the team.

Season averages:  10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 55%/82% ... 21.2mpg

For those who care, he has a PER of 19 which is the 2nd highest on the team behind Thomas.

Per-36 minutes:  17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 block (similar to Sully, but more efficient)

Defensively, he's not very good though.  We have some bigs like Sully and Olynyk who do a better job spreading the floor.   Is 21 minutes for Zeller as much as he should be getting?

[Chris22]

No.

[Who]

No. I don't think so either.

[LarBrd33]

FWIW,  the Per-36 stats for our bigs.


Zeller:  17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.1 block, 55%/0%/82%
Sully:  17.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1 steal, 1 block 44%/28%/76%
Bass:  16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal, 0.6 block, 50%/28%/79%
Oly:  16.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 1 block, 47%/34%/68

[Eja117]

When the alternative is KO I would say definitely.

[Al91]

Whenever the Cs go with a three guard lineup w/ or w/out ET as the SF there usually isn't room for Zeller, at least from what I've seen so far. He doesn't fit into a small lineup which "appears" to be our best scoring lineup. So no, I don't think Zeller warrants more minutes.

I've never been one for per 36 either. Like some have said (notably Charles), if the players were good enough to play 36 minutes, they would be playing 36 minutes.

[TheFlex]

Yes. The problem is that we now have 4 PFs now that deserve at least 15 mpg. In theory playing Olynyk at center and Jerebko at SF should help that, we saw some of that last night. But the reality is that someone needs to go, I think.

It will be interesting to see how good Zeller can become. Has he reached his peak of development and now just needs minutes? Or is there potential left? That will be a determining factor in who gets left out.

Bass and Jerebko will be tough decisions this summer for Ainge.

[SHAQATTACK]

Zeller makes the most of what he has .   He ll never jump higher or run faster.   He could become a better shooter and improve his defense possibly .   

He is a tuff skinny dude ,    Can play every game and avoids injury .

Right now , I d play him till he fouls out .   He cuts down the paint points , just being 7 ft and roaming the paint.

When KO and Zeller are out teams pour on the effort to score in the paint .

[snively]

No.  He's a good finisher and a big body who doesn't make anyone around him better.  Sully and KO are both better for the team offense and even Bass is more useful.

[littleteapot]

I'd play Zeller as many minutes as possible and I would take Olynyk out of the rotation. I think only Zeller can really keep the Cavs out of the paint, and Olynyk will provide no resistance.