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

[saltlover]

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.

Žižić is by far more advanced with his footwork and shooting touch in general than Perk was, it is not comparable. Even though Ante is 20 and we are comparing him to prime Perk. He is no Hakeem, it is just that Perk wasn't talented in that regard at all. I remember so many travels committed in the first few mins of our games when they were trying to post him up. Defensively, the League is more demanding to true 5's than it was 10 years ago. Now, these guys have to switch regularly far out and it is not an easy task for those frames and pounds. Perk was a very solid, strong post defender, moved his feet well for the mass he had, Ante will have to go a level deeper if he wants to be a starter.

Speaking for myself, I am holding Ante Zizic to a higher standard than Kendrick Perkins. Why?  Because like many of us, I think he could be better, perhaps MUCH better.  I was rather critical of Ante in the game thread last night, and I got jumped on.  That's fine, this is CB.  I did this because if he can clean up a few things I expect him to not only provide EXACTLY what the team was missing last year, but also get in the graces of Brad Stevens to give him playing time.

So, I still view Zizic as a "project" and likely 3rd string center, at least to start the season.

I think is how the team looks at him too.  The goal is for him to have Baynes role next year, when the luxury tax is going to be an issue and veteran free agents unaffordable.

[Surferdad]

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.

Žižić is by far more advanced with his footwork and shooting touch in general than Perk was, it is not comparable. Even though Ante is 20 and we are comparing him to prime Perk. He is no Hakeem, it is just that Perk wasn't talented in that regard at all. I remember so many travels committed in the first few mins of our games when they were trying to post him up. Defensively, the League is more demanding to true 5's than it was 10 years ago. Now, these guys have to switch regularly far out and it is not an easy task for those frames and pounds. Perk was a very solid, strong post defender, moved his feet well for the mass he had, Ante will have to go a level deeper if he wants to be a starter.

Speaking for myself, I am holding Ante Zizic to a higher standard than Kendrick Perkins. Why?  Because like many of us, I think he could be better, perhaps MUCH better.  I was rather critical of Ante in the game thread last night, and I got jumped on.  That's fine, this is CB.  I did this because if he can clean up a few things I expect him to not only provide EXACTLY what the team was missing last year, but also get in the graces of Brad Stevens to give him playing time.

So, I still view Zizic as a "project" and likely 3rd string center, at least to start the season.

Why would you hold Zizic to a higher standard than Perkins? Is this 20/20 hindsight speaking?

Zizic is a EU guy selected 23rd. Perk was the #6 High School prospect who was selected 27th. Perk played 13 seasons, started 565 games and started on a team that won an NBA Championship. If Zizic does that then I'd say his career was wildly successful for a late round 1st.

Um, because I think he will be better if he achieves his upside?  Is that okay?  Yes, it's hindsight of course, I don't see a problem with that.

[Evantime34]

I don't think Zizic is quick enough to guard the pick and roll. If he drops down, guards are going to pull up for open 3's all day.

He reminds me with Tristan Thompson, except if Thompson wasn't quick enough to defend the pick and roll. I'm not sure if that player is that useful in the league today.

I'm hoping he only looks slow in summer league because he just came off of playing a full season overseas. If his quickness doesn't improve by training camp (after resting post summer league) then I will be concerned.

Give me Yabu over Zizic any day.

[Big333223]

I don't think Zizic is quick enough to guard the pick and roll. If he drops down, guards are going to pull up for open 3's all day.

He reminds me with Tristan Thompson, except if Thompson wasn't quick enough to defend the pick and roll. I'm not sure if that player is that useful in the league today.

I'm hoping he only looks slow in summer league because he just came off of playing a full season overseas. If his quickness doesn't improve by training camp (after resting post summer league) then I will be concerned.

Give me Yabu over Zizic any day.

Tristan Thompson is also my comp for Zizic but I'm more bullish on his ability to guard the pick and roll. He's slow end-to-end but he's got good footwork and decent quickness. He also seems to have pretty good instincts from what little I've seen.

Watching the highlights from his last game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbMaAH-BRzY

At 1:35 he throws up a 20-footer that looks pretty smooth. He hasn't taken many of those but that one looked like it felt natural and his FT shooting in Europe was very good for a big man. If he can become Tristan Thompson with an 18-footer and reliable FT shot, that would be excellent.

[JHTruth]

I don't think Zizic is quick enough to guard the pick and roll. If he drops down, guards are going to pull up for open 3's all day.

He reminds me with Tristan Thompson, except if Thompson wasn't quick enough to defend the pick and roll. I'm not sure if that player is that useful in the league today.

I'm hoping he only looks slow in summer league because he just came off of playing a full season overseas. If his quickness doesn't improve by training camp (after resting post summer league) then I will be concerned.

Give me Yabu over Zizic any day.

Tristan Thompson is also my comp for Zizic but I'm more bullish on his ability to guard the pick and roll. He's slow end-to-end but he's got good footwork and decent quickness. He also seems to have pretty good instincts from what little I've seen.

Watching the highlights from his last game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbMaAH-BRzY

At 1:35 he throws up a 20-footer that looks pretty smooth. He hasn't taken many of those but that one looked like it felt natural and his FT shooting in Europe was very good for a big man. If he can become Tristan Thompson with an 18-footer and reliable FT shot, that would be excellent.

I think he'll be fine on the P&R. He's very well-coached on that it's obvious, he follows the player with this hands up last night like a 5-year pro. I don't think he'll have any problems with the PnR. I think solid starting C on a contender is probably his ceiling. DD rebounder with effective enough offense with good defense.

He'll probably be surrounded by all-stars for most his career so he'll be fine. We can't have 5 max guys anyway...

[CelticsElite]

He is not one dimensional offensively like a lot of centers. That's what I like too