2011 Atlanta Hawks Player Review: Zaza Pachulia
by Kris Willis on Jun 7, 2011 8:00 AM EDT
Email
Print
Zaza Pachulia enjoyed another solid if unspectacular season off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. Despite nearly falling out of the rotation early, Pachulia played a big part with Atlanta's success against the Orlando Magic in the playoffs. While Zaza brings somewhat of an awkward game offensively, he pumped energy and toughness into the Hawks lineup during the playoffs. I call his offensive game awkward only because he fails to replicate his good performances with any consistency. Some nights he looks quite capable on the offensive end and others he looks rather uncomfortable with the ball in his hands and constantly looking for contact rather than focusing on finishing at the rim.
Pachulia appeared in 79 games for the Hawks this season and started seven. He averaged 15.7 minutes in those games which was up nearly two minutes a game from the previous season. Zaza's field goal percentage dropped to .461 this season but countered that by shooting much better from the free throw line hitting 75 percent from the line this season. Pachulia's value to Atlanta goes beyond his 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game averages.
For a Hawks team that is sometimes described as soft, Pachulia takes on the tough guy role well. He agitates opponents and isn't afraid to mix things up inside. As a back up center, he is signed through the 2013 season at a very reasonable $4.7 million next season and $5.2 million the season after that.
Interesting enough, it looked like Zaza was going to be on the move at last season's trade deadline. With the Hawks struggling at the time, rumors were rampant that Pachulia was on the verge of being traded. Early in the season he fell out of favor with coach Drew and even fell behind Josh Powell in the rotation for a stretch. However, in the end his energy, size, and sheer hustle won out and he made a distinctive impact in the playoffs for Atlanta.
26 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think Zaza's contributions can't really be summed up on the stats sheet.
All teams need a blue-collar player who’s willing to butt heads with the opposition to take them off their game, and Zaza fits the bill perfectly. And as you said Kris, he doesn’t break the bank as a back-up, so the Hawks are getting their moneys worth out of him.
Will making it back to the Eastern Conference Semis give Larry Drew another year at the helm?
And they could be getting much more
Players like Zaza and Wilkins aren’t what ails this franchise and should not be the first name’s added to the block. If they were to move Zaza, I doubt they would get that same mentality back and I would be mighty disappointed. Zaza embodies the working man on this team and he’s a great draw for the fans.
Good season for a good player and an excellent player to have coming off the bench.
"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.
ZaZa is king of ATL . . .
and as far as current basketball players go, that cannot be disputed.
What ZaZa does for atlanta is much more than numbers in the box score. He contributes to the strength of the franchise as a whole. He embraces the city of atlanta and its fans and he sticks up for his new people. he doesnt back down, and he makes even the casual fans take notice. He loves this city and its people. I have said it before but I think he truly does look at GA as his new Republic of GA, his home away from home. Of all the players on the team that could champion the city of ATL, in the end, it’s ZaZa.
I think of ZaZa throwin his head at JRich in the playoffs. I think of Z throwin the basketball at ZaZa and him just turning around like What? (was so proud that he didnt respond by fighting with the fellow eastern european, I thought ZaZa was gonna take that as a go -ahead and start swinging) I think of “NOTHING EASY!!!”
Why did we win the first game of the season this year?
Think about ZaZa Vs KG a few years ago in the playoffs. Most players would be scared of KG. ZaZa DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SCARED. He is from Eastern Europe. He isn’t scared of any thugs. He has seen worse than KG (not that i truly think kg is a thug, more just a basketball court thug) and he let him know that that s*** don’t fly with him.
I truly love this player. He is part of the franchise and part of the city as much as he is a part of the team. ATL needs players like that to grow its fan base.
by HoopsHighlights&Hope on Jun 7, 2011 9:06 AM EDT reply actions
LOOK AT HIM!
Posted proper with a dime on the arm – Are You Serious?
I bet he took her to Eno for desert and drinks after. . . well maybe not, but maybe he drove her by where his restaurant used to be and told her about it.
by HoopsHighlights&Hope on Jun 7, 2011 9:11 AM EDT reply actions
Zaza was so huge for this team
He did have his struggles early in the year, and it was that as much as whatever baggage was between him and LD that pushed him down in the rotation. Zaza is the one big on our bench that EVERY team could use, regardless. The rest of our post rotation was filled out by guys who might have been out of the NBA if the Hawks had not signed them. We were really, really fortunate Sund did not pull the trigger on a deal for him-after what happened in the Hinrich/Jordan Crawford deal, I’m fairly grateful.
Plus, and this was big for us, he stayed healthy all year long. We had injury problems with Joe Johnson and Al Horford and Josh Smith even missed some time. Zaza brings rebounding and post defense, even if he doesn’t have the most deft feet or praise-worthy footwork. We certainly would have lost to Orlando without Zaza on the roster.
My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.
by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
Why did the Hawks want to dump Zaza?
This never made sense to me. Zaza was the only big coming off the bench that could give the team nearly league-average minutes, and yet he not only fell out of the coach’s favor but was nearly dealt at the deadline. If anything, the Hawks should be trying to supplement their bench with another guy like Zaza—someone who can spell Josh Smith more ably—not getting rid of him. That they even contemplated such a move makes me nervous for what the offseason holds.
There's really only one way to describe Zaza
“There is first love, and there’s Zaza Pachulia love”
"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesnt work hard"
by Hudson's Soul Patch on Jun 7, 2011 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Zaza was borderline worthless
For too long to say he had a solid season. Zaza did come to play after the all-star break but that was too little too late IMO. If you are going to let Zaza off the hook you have to also let Larry Drew off the hook for coaching a few good games down the stretch. The only way I could say Zaza had a solid season was if I had very little expectations for him. Zaza was almost moved because like Marvin and I guess Bibby, this team could use upgrades at there positions and they are simply taking up too much payroll to be giving so little production. Zaza’s toughness is also fake. I gauge toughness in things like playing defense consistently, and he does not do that. He does not protect the rim nor does he take charges. He did not take a real hard foul once against Rose. Zaza can still be used in a trade to get some real help at Center and that would be the best option for this team.
I disagree
Zaza struggled some early but I think he brought pretty good value as a back up center. Everyone always talks about getting some real help at center but never drops a name of a player that is available or would help. Fact is there isn’t that many out there that are obtainable.
@Kris_Willis
More than one way
To look at things. Zaza never had to be resigned. We could get a vet minimum guy to give what Zaza gives most of the time. The guy is productive 30% of the time to be generous. We could have $4.75 more million to spend this summer. I think Dalembert will end up playing for the MLE. If we could offer him a little more than the MLE we could get him rather than the Heat, Knicks, or Celtics, but considering we will all have the same amount to spend because we spend money unwisely on guys like Zaza, Marvin, and even Kirk is not worth $8 million to come off the bench we will not have that advantage and Dalembert will surely choose the Heat, Knicks, or Celtics over us even if we were willing to spend the MLE which we wont be. I don’t look at it like you. I look at it as he is simply not worth his pay so he is hurting the team.
by superiorblogman on Jun 8, 2011 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Zaza is a lot of what is right on this team.
He IS the toughness on a team that desperately lacks it. He will stand up to anyone and he is completely fearless. The way he stood up to KG a few years ago and the way he went at J Rich this year sends a message that we won’t back down. It really set a tone and lit a fire under the Hawks. Plus, the guy is a super guy in the city. There is not much to dislike about Zaza. A true Hawk.
I'm on the Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl
I bet more people think Zaza if from Georgia than Josh Smith
And this is why horford is the man
by the way, cant wait to see what we have to say about jeff teague in the player review. I expect the opinions to it to be the complete opposite of what many will say about joe johnson
I like to think of Jeff Teague as our secret weapon..... so secret that the Atlanta coaches have no idea who he is.
It looks like Al is assuming more of a leadership role with those statements.
Rather than willing Joe to take over the leadership, he needs to be the one to take on the leadership role if Joe is willing to turn up on game day and not earn his pay check.
Will making it back to the Eastern Conference Semis give Larry Drew another year at the helm?
I think Zaza should be our starting C next season.
I really think the biggest problem with Zaza is the organization has never placed any type of real expectations on him. I really think if at the end of this season the coaching staff let Zaza know next season to either expect to start or play MAJOR minutes he would rise to the occasion. After an uneven season due to him and LD I think if we get the post season Zaza next year we will be fine.
by xavip on Jun 8, 2011 8:00 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
It will never work
Zaza is an energy guy. He is good as backup, because he comes in with energy when the starting centers are tired, and he can be annoying.
As a starter in this league, Zaza won’t last. He can not block shots, and he will foul a lot. Plus he has many issues releasing the ball near the basket, making his shot get blocked or turnovers occur.
We need a starting center. Zaza is good as back-up, though his salary is borderline starter material.
Zaza
Is not a starter. The only reason to start Zaza would be because his salary says he needs to be more productive. That’s the same reason we started Bibby over Teague so long until we had to make an uneven trade of 2 1st rd picks and take on more salary. That’s the same reason unless Kirk is traded for something that we have a more pressing need for I expect him to start over Teague next year. We don’t need to start Zaza simply because his salary says we need to get more production out of him, he is not a starter in the NBA.
by superiorblogman on Jun 8, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
is it crazy
to take a chance on a risky player like greg oden. i know he is made of glass but could we move marvin for a big guy who other teams might shy away from because of health issues? i feel like thats the best we can do with marvin. i know n0thing about the ends and outs of trades so forgive me if this is just plain silly talk
by HoopsHighlights&Hope on Jun 8, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions
Absolutely not imo...
Oden, when healthy, has proven to be a very, very good player. I’d love to add Oden to the mix, depending on the cost of course. He wouldn’t be worth Josh, but maybe Marvin and definitely worth seeking as a FA should Portland not pick up his option.
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Peachtree Hoops
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Behind the Box Score, where the Heat grabbed control behind LeBron James’ amazing afternoon
- Behind the Box Score, where the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the fourth quarter. Again
- Kevin Durant’s game-winner beats the Lakers in Game 4 (VIDEO)
- Behind the Box Score, where the Los Angeles Lakers answered at home
- Pau Gasol wins the 2011-2012 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
