re: Zion with some good comments after the game

Because he isn't fat lol. He just isn't an NFL bean pole. Dude is a defensive end playing a skinny man game.

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At no point in the history of the sport have people made this “it takes him month to get into basketball shape” bullshite excuse.

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I don't think anybody on this board thinks that it's acceptable that he's not in better conditioning, but he's a one of one type of athlete. I get how frustrated you are. I am too.

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straight up just don’t see it

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Dude dunked last night with his head above the rim and people still call him fat.

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Shaq used to do this too. The difference was Shaq had enough size to be good on both sides of the ball regardless of the shape he was in. But yeah, there's no way to sugar coat this as acceptable, it's just the hand we have to play.

Hopefully fatherhood changes his focus and we don't have to wait until December every year for him to show up.

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Shaq did not need to be in shape. He was so much bigger than everyone else and dominated based on his size. Zion exerts a ton of effort based on his style and his game is built a lot on athleticism. Many here equate to him getting winded to being out of shape rather than the level of effort and athleticism he has to exert to play his game. Many try to compare it to a guard who takes jump shots. He gets beat up a lot and take a physical beating. Yet, those sitting in their chair behind their computer screen want to claim that they know that he is not in the proper shape or he is "fat" rather than he is exerting alot of effort.

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I don't think anybody on this board thinks that it's acceptable that he's not in better conditioning, but he's a one of one type of athlete. I get how frustrated you are. I am too.

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Which part is the most frustrating? The 22 points a game? 7 rebounds a game? 4 assists a game? 50+% FG%? I get that people are frustrated with losing, but to me the frustrating part is that many on this board want to place the blame on Zion solely and I do not get it. It is as if they need him to be the scapegoat. This team is missing a ton of players and it has an average, at best, coaching staff. Too many turnovers, particularly Ingram. Many of the bench players are not performing. Nance looks to be a shell of himself. DD is still very inconsistent. Ryan is streaky to say the least and we seem to be relying on G League players to provide crucial bench minutes.

Zion will never be what you could call lean, but he doesn’t have to be as long as he can move and last for four quarters.
Barkley was never really svelt.

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Zion

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needs to figure out his diet, that fat frick

Unfortunately unless he learns to shoot the basketball at a decent volume and clip, his style of play will always require him to be in peak conditioning to play like a superstar at the start of the season. He'll get there in a couple of weeks but the team shouldn't have to wait 10-15 games every year for him to get his shite together.

He needs a better training regime in the offseason. Gilbert Arenas talked about conditioning and how much work he put in during the offseason to get ready for the season. It goes beyond "playing basketball" and requires a lot of cardio work. And it makes a lot of sense the way he laid it out.

It more like they are trying to let those two figure it out on their own. They have played so little together that they are going to have to go through the ups and downs of figuring out how to play together in the most effective way. It will probably take 30-40 games in the process. Let's hope we can stay around .500 or better while they find their chemistry.

What I don't get is why people are content with such a low standard for Zion. This is year 5, he should be dominate out of the gates. Other superstars are producing at an incredible rate year in and year out. 28-30ppg on good efficiency and are carrying their respective teams. Are we asking too much for Williamson to play like a star player we expect him to be?

Flashes of dominance should no longer be enough. He should be dominating from day 1. A generational player who isn't playing like a generational player. That's why I'm not content with his play.