The Boston Celtics have youth and talent in their roster but if they are to become a formidable team in the near future, they need considerable size in the middle especially when facing againts the big boys of the Western Conference. The answer to such a vital need? A bulked up Tyler Zeller per masslive.com:
"I felt like last year I played a little underweight (at about 250 pounds), and if I gained 10 or 15 pounds, I would be able to hold my own a lot better down low," he said. "I was able to do that and hopefully I can continue to get better and better. I hope that will help me hold my own rebounding-wise as well as in the post."
Zeller's minutes declined in his second year with the Cleveland Cavaliers but his production rose steadily. From 43.8 to 53.8, his field goal percentage rose by 10 points while his rebounding rate increase by 3 from 12.5 to 15.1. The 24 year old Center revealed that he was able to adjust with the speed of the NBA game but still planned on making significant improvements to his body. So how much extra weight does he intend to gain?
"Between 260 and 270 I think," Zeller said in massllive. "For a (center) I think that's a reasonable weight. You've got guys like Dwight (Howard), people like that who are 300 pounds. So you've got to be able to hold your own against them, but you also have to be able to move with the guys who weigh less than that."
Basketball Insiders also reveals that head coach Brad Stevens intends to maximize Zeller's potential in Boston and will give him every opportunity to gain heavy minutes at the center position. If all goes well, he should be able to start at the position for the coming season.
Zeller is still young and if Steven's manages to bring out the best in his newly bulked up frame, then the Boston Celtics should feel pretty confident about their future.
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