Can Mickey please take all Zeller's minutes?

[nickagneta]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

Kid is a special shot blocker

He really is. He has natural instincts on timing that just can't be taught. He just has to get the rest of his game in order so he can earn the playing time to so that the shot blocking he has can be part of an overall net positive contribution. As long as he isn't buried behind much better players next year he should have a chance to shine. It would suck for him though if the C's win the lottery and sign Horford because then he might be stuck behind Horford, Olynyk and Simmons

[KeepRondo]

Not looking to trade Mickey but

Mickey must have some decent value on the trade market.

Has shown an elite ability to block shots. Moves well off the ball. Great team friendly contract.

He probably has more value than Young and Rozier put together.

[jr_3421]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

Love the energy with which the kid plays + I expect him to take more time in easy games as the season approaches its end. Having said this, exaggeration too much?

Our best shot blocker was arguably the best shot blocker in the history of the game.

And then you have McHale (2 blks per 36 mins) and Parish (1.9 per 36). Let's give it some time before we compare a rookie to HoFers.

Moreover, (this is not directed to Dino Pitino but a general remark) I think ppl here are overly harsh on Zeller. He saved our butts many times last season, he accepted without much complain losing his mins to Lee at the beginning of this season, and since he was called back into the rotation he's been doing his best.

True, his Achilles heel is his defensive game against stronger bigs- but our roster in general has an issue there.

His offensive game remains solid. 48%FG  is a regression by comparison to last year but is still good. So is 9.4 rebs and 1 block per 36:not great (esp. considering he gets few mins) but still OK. Not a starter but still a solid bench player.

My problem wth Zeller is that his "solid offensive game" doesn't make up for his awful rebounding and defense imo.

[aingeforthree]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

The 3 blocks are great.  Look at his teammates on the bench during the 3-block party.  That might be even greater.

[danglertx]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

The 3 blocks are great.  Look at his teammates on the bench during the 3-block party.  That might be even greater.

When I saw them I thought it looked like a bunch of guys who got swatted in practice loving seeing it happen to someone else.

[LooseCannon]

Mickey is signed for three more seasons, Zeller is a restricted free agent.  It makes some sense to want more minutes for Zeller so you can evaluate how much you are willing to pay him or if you are even willing to bring him back.

The real reason that Mickey hasn't played is because Sullinger has been surprisingly healthy.

[Tr1boy]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

Kid is a special shot blocker

He really is. He has natural instincts on timing that just can't be taught. He just has to get the rest of his game in order so he can earn the playing time to so that the shot blocking he has can be part of an overall net positive contribution. As long as he isn't buried behind much better players next year he should have a chance to shine. It would suck for him though if the C's win the lottery and sign Horford because then he might be stuck behind Horford, Olynyk and Simmons

Nice issue to have then

Yes his timing is top notch.  Really not easy to block 3 shots within 5 sec without fouling.

Your concerns regarding Mickey are bc he is 5-7 pounds of strength away, just hasn't had a chance for real game opportunities.  CBS is a fair guy and kind of favors vets. Bc like pops has a system and it has to function perfectly.  Also CBS is fair (sometimes for the bad) and Zeller has paid the price this year by sitting on the bench. Giving him a reward

The pt I'm making is, if Mickey actually got 10 mins a game you will see a diff player that is less lost out there. Overall I bet he makes a positive impact on the defensive as long as he is paired with Sullinger or Amir

[SCeltic34]

http://youtu.be/mwe3badqgbI

That third block is as impressive as the hand-switching one from the DLeague. Expert shot-blocking. I don't have an opinion about anything else involving his game, but as long as he earns minutes, Mickey is going to be the second best shotblocker in Celtics history. Somebody convince him to grow his hair out like Ben Wallace.

Kid is a special shot blocker

He really is. He has natural instincts on timing that just can't be taught. He just has to get the rest of his game in order so he can earn the playing time to so that the shot blocking he has can be part of an overall net positive contribution. As long as he isn't buried behind much better players next year he should have a chance to shine. It would suck for him though if the C's win the lottery and sign Horford because then he might be stuck behind Horford, Olynyk and Simmons

Nice issue to have then

Yes his timing is top notch.  Really not easy to block 3 shots within 5 sec without fouling.

Your concerns regarding Mickey are bc he is 5-7 pounds of strength away, just hasn't had a chance for real game opportunities.  CBS is a fair guy and kind of favors vets. Bc like pops has a system and it has to function perfectly.  Also CBS is fair (sometimes for the bad) and Zeller has paid the price this year by sitting on the bench. Giving him a reward

The pt I'm making is, if Mickey actually got 10 mins a game you will see a diff player that is less lost out there. Overall I bet he makes a positive impact on the defensive as long as he is paired with Sullinger or Amir

One concern I have is Mickey prioritizing a block over sound positional defense, just because he's so good at blocking shots.  Blocked shots are good, but good defensive fundamentals and altered shots are usually better. 

I'm not concerned with his lack of playing time this year.  I think he's going to be a solid rotational player within the next two years.  Probably among the greatest steals in the 2nd round.

[Snakehead]

One concern I have is Mickey prioritizing a block over sound positional defense, just because he's so good at blocking shots.  Blocked shots are good, but good defensive fundamentals and altered shots are usually better. 

I don't see it as an issue with him as it is with many shot blockers because he is not that guy who flies over to block your shot as much as goes straight up and has amazing timing and control to manage the block cleanly.  And he blocks shots down vs swatting them.

Now that being said, I think his positional defense just needs work straight up.  But I think he is uniquely positioned to not have that issue that many shot blockers can have because of that special ability he has.  Like if you saw his blocks last night, he is boding his man and just waiting for him to go up.

[greece66]

Nice issue to have then

Yes his timing is top notch.  Really not easy to block 3 shots within 5 sec without fouling.

Your concerns regarding Mickey are bc he is 5-7 pounds of strength away, just hasn't had a chance for real game opportunities. CBS is a fair guy and kind of favors vets. Bc like pops has a system and it has to function perfectly.  Also CBS is fair (sometimes for the bad) and Zeller has paid the price this year by sitting on the bench. Giving him a reward

The pt I'm making is, if Mickey actually got 10 mins a game you will see a diff player that is less lost out there. Overall I bet he makes a positive impact on the defensive as long as he is paired with Sullinger or Amir

[Snakehead]

Nice issue to have then

Yes his timing is top notch.  Really not easy to block 3 shots within 5 sec without fouling.

Your concerns regarding Mickey are bc he is 5-7 pounds of strength away, just hasn't had a chance for real game opportunities. CBS is a fair guy and kind of favors vets. Bc like pops has a system and it has to function perfectly.  Also CBS is fair (sometimes for the bad) and Zeller has paid the price this year by sitting on the bench. Giving him a reward

The pt I'm making is, if Mickey actually got 10 mins a game you will see a diff player that is less lost out there. Overall I bet he makes a positive impact on the defensive as long as he is paired with Sullinger or Amir

If that was intended to show he didn't give respect to Wallace, I think he played Wallace more than he deserved.  Along with Lee (and not playing Olynyk enough) I think those are the best examples of Stevens slacking in that area.

[rondohondo]

Zeller is a wuss .

Mickey Loves you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1rK61dBHM4

[Denis998]

all Zeller is doing is hampering Mickey to develop further into a true NBA player, a quality that Zeller lacks.

[Hemingway]

Mickey is signed for three more seasons, Zeller is a restricted free agent.  It makes some sense to want more minutes for Zeller so you can evaluate how much you are willing to pay him or if you are even willing to bring him back.

spot on. I think we will see Zeller benched soon though as he is just a let down out there. No sense in giving up on hm with out enough chnaces but he is almost out of chances.

[PAOBoston]

This entire conversation doesn't take place once Olynyk comes back. He's pushes Zeller back to the bench. Problem solved