Zizic: "I'll be ready by start of training camp. Adjusting to style of play"

[hpantazo]

another double double for the big croat! 

Teammates starting to treat him more like an inside bruiser that wants contact and not an Al Horford style big. His numbers are benefitting from that.

Would have put up some monster stat lines if he had the petrol tickets for more than 15 or so summer league minutes.

iknow it is only SL but we need all the help we can get ASAP for horford. we need bangers.

Well with Baynes, Zizic, and Morris, we certainly got them now.

[hwangjini_1]

Zizic will be much better than perk. He already is better on offense.

Perk was never as quick or fast as zizic on defense either. Go look at perks first few years of stats. He was a nobody firmly bolted to the end of the bench on a so so team.

[Dino Pitino]

Strong game today vs Warriors. Keeps getting better as he gains confidence. He'll be behind Theis and Baynes in the rotation, but clearly Ainge has aimed to improve toughness, rebounding and D up front, and he has done so with these three, plus Morris.

There was some question whether Ainge would make these improvements up front, but he has done so, which is encouraging for some of us.

Assuming IT is OK, this team has a chance to approach 60 wins this year, and could seriously challenge the Cavs in the playoffs--given James is another year older. They'll have to rest him even more this year.

Ainge has done as good a job as he could with the big depth while still affording Hayward. Horford, Olynyk, Johnson, Jerebko, Mickey becoming Horford, Morris, Baynes, Theis, Zizic is at worst a lateral, at best a pretty nice upgrade at four separate big spots for less money. Good GM-ing. (EDIT: And the Dancing Bear!)

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Who'd have thought that adjusting to a completely different way of playing basketball would take a bit of time.

Didn't stop the boo-birds on here from calling him a bust after two summer league games.

Who was calling him a bust? It would've been silly to do that after a couple of games, considering he's been playing for 10 months straight and only arrived in the country a few days before the start of the summer league.

Midway through the season we'll have a better indication of the type of contribution he can make IMO. Can't be worse than Zeller and a bit more upside.

nobody called him a bust. i simply said he sucked that first game. he definitely turned it around.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

another double double for the big croat! 

Teammates starting to treat him more like an inside bruiser that wants contact and not an Al Horford style big. His numbers are benefitting from that.

Would have put up some monster stat lines if he had the petrol tickets for more than 15 or so summer league minutes.

iknow it is only SL but we need all the help we can get ASAP for horford. we need bangers.

Well with Baynes, Zizic, and Morris, we certainly got them now.

EXCELLENT! muahahahahahahahahah

[chiken Green]

He has definitely turned it around..  You can tell he is getting more comfortable..   He can rebound the ball and he has bee doing a better job finding shooters.

[Roy H.]

Who'd have thought that adjusting to a completely different way of playing basketball would take a bit of time.

Didn't stop the boo-birds on here from calling him a bust after two summer league games.

Who was calling him a bust? It would've been silly to do that after a couple of games, considering he's been playing for 10 months straight and only arrived in the country a few days before the start of the summer league.

Midway through the season we'll have a better indication of the type of contribution he can make IMO. Can't be worse than Zeller and a bit more upside.

nobody called him a bust. i simply said he sucked that first game. he definitely turned it around.

Plenty of folks were calling him a bust or a stiff. It gets way too reactionary around here.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=92446.0

[footey]

He's slow, and can't jump. But he is clever, strong, long arms, timing getting better. And will get better. Also improving at not fouling, and drawing fouls.

Should help us in certain matchups this season. E.G. The Robin Lopez types. We had no one to cover them last season.

[Smitty77]

Stats for the last three games:

20.3 minutes:  11.7 points/11.3 rebounds/ 2.7 blocks/ 1.7 assists and 2.3 turnovers (not bad for a center new to the NBA!!)

I am LOVING this kid!!!!

Smitty77

[liam]

ESPN Highlight for Zizic!

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=20010555

[Big333223]

10 rebounds and 8/10 from the FT line in 17 minutes.

It looks like the competition was pretty poor tonight but that is an encouraging stat line after some unencouraging play to far this summer.

And I still think the NBA will be better suited to Zizic's game than SL has been.

[rochrist]

Strong game today vs Warriors. Keeps getting better as he gains confidence. He'll be behind Theis and Baynes in the rotation, but clearly Ainge has aimed to improve toughness, rebounding and D up front, and he has done so with these three, plus Morris.

There was some question whether Ainge would make these improvements up front, but he has done so, which is encouraging for some of us.

Assuming IT is OK, this team has a chance to approach 60 wins this year, and could seriously challenge the Cavs in the playoffs--given James is another year older. They'll have to rest him even more this year.

Ainge has done as good a job as he could with the big depth while still affording Hayward. Horford, Olynyk, Johnson, Jerebko, Mickey becoming Horford, Morris, Baynes, Theis, Zizic is at worst a lateral, at best a pretty nice upgrade at four separate big spots for less money. Good GM-ing. (EDIT: And the Dancing Bear!)

It' s not even close to lateral.

[aingeforthree]

Stats for the last three games:

20.3 minutes:  11.7 points/11.3 rebounds/ 2.7 blocks/ 1.7 assists and 2.3 turnovers (not bad for a center new to the NBA!!)

I am LOVING this kid!!!!

Smitty77

Only 20 yrs of age as well Smitty.  Not sure we've seen a big man this fundamentally skilled at this age in quite some time. It's incredible to be quite honest.

And that wide Mack truck looking NBA body ? my word.  What happens when this guy in 3/4 years gets accustomed to the states, has a couple good NBA offseason programs behind him, and understands the Brad Stevens offense/defense ?

You can't move him unless he needs to be included in that Anthony Davis trade. Outside of that, keep the development going big man. Love this monster.

[aingeforthree]

Strong game today vs Warriors. Keeps getting better as he gains confidence. He'll be behind Theis and Baynes in the rotation, but clearly Ainge has aimed to improve toughness, rebounding and D up front, and he has done so with these three, plus Morris.

There was some question whether Ainge would make these improvements up front, but he has done so, which is encouraging for some of us.

Assuming IT is OK, this team has a chance to approach 60 wins this year, and could seriously challenge the Cavs in the playoffs--given James is another year older. They'll have to rest him even more this year.

Ainge has done as good a job as he could with the big depth while still affording Hayward. Horford, Olynyk, Johnson, Jerebko, Mickey becoming Horford, Morris, Baynes, Theis, Zizic is at worst a lateral, at best a pretty nice upgrade at four separate big spots for less money. Good GM-ing. (EDIT: And the Dancing Bear!)

It' s not even close to lateral.

Far better team right now & it's just getting started

[CelticsElite]

Liked this pic lol