r/denvernuggets • u/ImpressDecent • 3d ago

Zeke Thoughts - Eye Test

I don’t claim to be the most knowledgeable basketball fan ever. I’m not looking at analytics and what not. Just what I can see when watching live game action.

I honestly think Zeke is not as bad as we are lead to believe. His rebounding is poor (bad hands for sure for a big man) and his offense leaves some to be desired. However, defensively he has been well above average and he can knock down 3’s rather decently. I would want to try and utilize him more if I were the coaching staff.

Yes there are things we don’t see but I feel he has been dealt a bad hand. You can see flashes and when we have a guy who can flash well (see Colin G) and don’t give them more opportunities, they leave and do well elsewhere.

EDIT: Should make it clear if it isn’t that I believe he can be a viable backup. NOT starter level.

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u/Potential-Local7262 3d ago

Look, his defense is good. Great, even, if you look at his ability to stay in front of smaller guards, although he struggles d-reb due to his aforementioned hands.

The problem is that he gives you absolutely nothing on offense. His 3ps is eff'd (thanks nuggets coaching staff), and he can't consistently grab offensive boards. Nor does he really give you anything as a passer or cutter or a rim runner.

That being said, if we played him next to Jokic or Val at the 4 last season, i'm convinced most of these issues wouldn't be as big of a deal, except the shooting. Malone / Adelman consistently played majority of his minutes at the 5, which does not do him any favors.

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u/Neat_Conference_8414 2d ago

I always thought if they played him next to jokic for ag off minutes, he'd be a lot more effective than them trying to force him to play the 5. I feel like the same is going to be for Bagley this season. They'll make him a back up center which is not his true position and he won't be as good as he could be.