Zeller is training on the job
Tyler Zeller has the kind of selfdeprecating humor that makes it easy to appreciate the challenge of changing teams mid-season and trying to keep in step with a fast paced, Giannis Antetokounmpo-led offense.
“Unfortunately, there’s going to be a couple of turnovers where they think I’m there, and I don’t even know that I’m supposed to be there,” said the 28-year-old center Monday after practice at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center.
But seven days and three games into his Milwaukee Bucks tenure after he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets, Zeller is already drawing high praise from interim coach Joe Prunty. Prunty and Zeller worked together in Cleveland in 2012-’13.
Most of Zeller’s best plays haven’t shown up in the stats yet in an average of 14 minutes per game as a backup – although he is averaging 4.7 rebounds a game – but Prunty pointed out Zeller’s value in getting teammates open.
“He did so many things the other day for a guy who has barely been with the team,” said Prunty. “He had a huge block, set screens to get teammates open, he was rolling to the basket, and those are winning basketball plays.”
The Bucks need Zeller to play well. Starting center John Henson has been dealing with hamstring soreness and has been ruled out Tuesday night for the Atlanta Hawks game in Milwaukee, leaving Thon Maker, Marshall Plumlee and Zeller to fill in.
With a healthy Bucks team, Zeller may not be needed to pour in a lot of points on offense – Zeller was
averaging 7.1 points a game in Brooklyn. That means he is instead looking at immediate defensive contributions. But even that has been eye opening in the Bucks’ system, which he said was vastly different than Brooklyn’s.
“Pick and rolls, we were basically in the lane” in Brooklyn, said Zeller. “Here, we’re what we call, push defense up higher, pressuring the ball more, trusting your backside. Whereas in Brooklyn it was more kind of sitting back, waiting on them at the rim.”
Zeller said he played a similar, more aggressive style when he was in Boston (2014-’16).
“So I’ve seen it before,” said Zeller. “I think it’s a little more aggressive here than they were even there.”
When Zeller watched film in the Knicks game, he was “everywhere,” and in the Miami game, he still wasn’t quite in position. So he’s still adjusting to his new responsibilities.
“I thought I was up a good bit – and I watched film and I was like, ‘Wow, I’m not even close,’ ” said Zeller.
Now with his fifth NBA team since joining the league in 2012, Zeller said he simply sees his role with the Bucks to contribute whenever he has the opportunity.
“Trying to play as hard as possible,” said Zeller. “Still making a lot of mistakes – which I’ve got to clean up.”
Every Bucks coach on staff has met with Zeller personally, and he’s eager to play the last 30 or so games of the season – including a two-game homestand this week – with this up and coming team.
But all-star weekend will only be a physical break for him, not a mental one.
“I’ll be watching our four, five games and re-watching all of them,” said Zeller. “Trying to be little better. Make one less mistake or – multiple less mistakes right now.
“I want to be able to go deep in the playoffs and be a part of something special.”