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Tyler Zeller getting love as an underrated player

Chuck - Red's Army January 22, 2015 Celtics News, Tyler Zeller 9 Comments

ESPN Insider Amin Elhassan believes Tyler Zeller is one of the most underrated players in the NBA:

Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz

Tyler Zeller | Boston Celtics

While the first few players I mentioned are all on teams in the thick of the playoff race, I wanted to give some acknowledgment to a couple of guys whose vacation plans come April are already booked.

Gobert has been tremendous this season as a rim protector and above-the-rim finisher, a more under-control version of JaVale McGee, and he has drawn effusive praise from several writers on TV, including Zach Lowe on the Grantland Basketball Hour and ESPN Insider’s Tom Haberstroh on NBA Coast 2 Coast (Haberstroh’s kudos were so emphatic, it led George Karl to remark, “I think he likes Gobert”). Gobert is holding opponents to 37 percent shooting at the rim and ranks third in defensive RPM among centers at plus-4.18, not to mention inhaling nearly a quarter of all available defensive rebounds when he’s on the floor.

Meanwhile, Zeller has blossomed on the offensive end in Boston, where he’s been able to take advantage of extra touches, particularly on the low block. In college, I admired Zeller’s array of Antawn Jamison-esque unconventional flip shots around the basket, and he’s used them to help him be an excellent finisher out of the pick-and-roll despite not having a ton of explosion or lift. He also has developed a nice free-throw-line-extended jumper, which can allow him to shallow roll and pull up for the open jumper.

Zeller isn’t exactly lighting it up lately (shooting 44% over last 10 games), but I think all Celtics fans are surprised at his level of offensive production this season.

Rudy Gobert is a guy to keep an eye on. The 7-1 center – who can defend the rim and rebound – was drafted 27th by the Nuggets in 2013 and traded to Utah. He’s due $1.1 million next season.

Utah has to make a decision this off-season with FA center Enes Kanter. Will they pay big-bucks for the offensive-minded Kanter or let him walk and stick with defensive-minded Gobert?

No doubt Danny Ainge will be watching.

KGino

Would love to get a young unproven center and have him suddenly blossom in a C’s uniform. Ideal situation!!

I’d also like to remind everyone, Danny got Zeller, a 1st round pick and Thorton for a 2nd round pick we probably won’t even have to surrender and a Trade Exception lol. Sure the Thorton contract was looked at as a negative but… YOINK!
- Dave
  
  Thornton’s is an expiring so all good!
bill_nair

When I was at the Bulls game last week I specifically watched Zeller. One of his first shots was a free throw line jumper…nothing but net….Didnt take a single jumper for the rest of the game. His brother Cody on the other hand is allergic to the paint and shoots nothing but long 2’s. Id like to see Brad try and tell the guys to run some pick and pop plays more often. Get guys like Sully, Zeller and KO some open midrange jumpers rather than 3’s. Brad needs to watch some videos of our 08 title run and see how important that shot was and how much it helps a team when utilized properly.
eddysamson

I have Gobert on both my fantasy teams, dude is a beast. His usual stat line is like 6-8 points, 8-12 rebounds, 1-4 blocks a game plus all the other stuff mixed in. Between him and Dieng I feel like we need one of these guys.
- bill_nair
  
  I was very intrigued by Gobert during the draft. Very pleased with how hes been playing. Its fun to sit back and say “hey, I thought he’d be good and now he is”.
  - Dave
    
    Yea those guys would have been nice but I think Schroeder would have been a better choice at the time since Rondo was injured. A center I wish we went after was Mozgov, underrated built 7’1″ center with great hands, athleticism and defensive awareness. He would have definitely made KG’s life easier.
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wil

Ive read a piece somewhere about TZ that he is actually defending pretty well too. Might not be blocking shots but stat says he affects shots pretty well.