Timofey Mozgov Discussion: Shut Down For Season (66)

I argued my position with what I see and you argued your position with stats you claim exist but haven't provided, aren't specific to Mozgov, or have been debunked by Trodgers.

 

This is why I caution going "guns blazing" in an argument with good friends like this - I'm trying to figure out whether Khmrp just misread the stats or whether he's looking at another stat. We're all friends here. No need to go deep

 

I don't remember it, for what it's worth. I try not to be a douche about stats, so I hope I wasn't. I openly admit that I'm not watching the team this year. That context is necessary for making sense of stats.

 

We've already gone over the fact that Mozgov is one player and not the team's defense. We've also gone over how the rest of the starters (minus Nick) suck defensively.

 

I think Mozgov is getting too much credit around here. A guy that makes 16 mio. and regularly fizzles out with 5/5 stat line is not exactly living up to his money. Sorry. And his P&R defense is awful because he gets out-quicked by the statue of liberty on defense.

We need someone who produces something countable.

 

Yes but thats not a surprise really. Every slow footed 7 foot stiff is having troubles in the NBA. There is a reason why guys like Hibbert or Mozgov aren't exactly in high demand.

Todays NBA requires a fast pace, versatility and quick feet to be able to defend the P&R and close out on shooters. Mozgov is a presence and can score down low but thats not what wins you games these days. Its his P&R defense that loses you games though.

 

I agree with all of this, except I feel you have to account for the other end of the coin.

There are still a number of tall and really big, big men that will abuse the smaller quicker centers in the league that are built to switch and defend guards. As great as Tarik Black's energy and motor are, he would get abused by LMA, Cousins, Karl Anthony-Towns, and even Dwight to name a few, just because he isn't tall enough, or big enough to battle with them consistently. They can all just reach up over him or rebounds and tip ins, or rise up for a jump shot over him and score at will. That's why Luke subs out Black for Mozgov whenever the other team inserts that big. GS simply isn't as good this year defensively because they lost that role player in Bogut.

Make no mistake, I'm not claiming that Mozgov is some great center, but he is generally solid. He doesn't get abused by the other team's big centers, and he will usually score when in position, and make the right play more often than not. That is still valuable in this league, and on this team. I don't want to think what these centers and big PF's like Anthony Davis would do to Black or Robinson if they were our only option for center.

If the contract is the sticking point for some people, I don't know what to tell you, other than welcome to the new NBA.

 

Are opposing Centers the ones doing the damage? No? Then he seems to be holding his man in check and doing his job. Trodgers already posted Mozgov's Per differential at +2.1 and Hibbert's at -11.1, so there's the slight (actually big) improvement you requested.

Also, we seem to have won 10 games so far this year and it took till what, February, March of last year to get 10 wins? But I suppose the other players get the credit for the wins just like Mozgov somehow gets all the blame for the losses.

It's hard to know what you're talking about when you make ambiguous statements like "the team overall d is worse than last year". Are you talking about points per game? Is what you're talking about adjusted for the increased pace this year? I have no idea. Again if you're going to claim numbers support your argument, tell me what stats you're talking about.

 

Mozgov is averaging 14.3 points and 7.9 boards per 36. And he's doing it on 55.7% FGs.
We run a fast pace, but that's still 19.2 points and 10.7 per 100 possessions.

Hibbert was at 9.2 and 7.6 per 36 and shooting 44.3%.
His per 100 possession stats were 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.

I think we have to agree that Mozgov is a better player on offense than Hibbert was - and it's not even close.

 

4.6 rounds to 5!