Big man Zizic ready to get on board
WALTHAM — At the age of 20, with a half season of top-level European basketball to his name, Ante Zizic is embarking on a long learning process as a Celtics rookie.
But for those with painful memories of how badly the Celtics were exploited on the glass in the playoffs, the 6-foot-10 Croatian has some welcome words.
“I think I can help this team with rebounding and toughness, because that’s my style of game. I prefer that,” he said yesterday after practice in preparation for the NBA Summer League.
After dominating the Adriatic League over the first half of last season, Zizic joined Turkish club Darussafaka Dogus, and came under the guidance of former Cavaliers coach David Blatt.
Zizic joined a team that reached the Turkish league semifinals, but more notably played in the EuroLeague playoffs for the first time since the franchise was founded in 2000. Zizic flourished under Blatt’s watch, though not with the same dominant effect he had for Cibona in the Croatian League.
But no matter. Zizic believes he was helped not only by the heightened competition, but also by Blatt’s NBA-friendly system.
“(Blatt) prefers an NBA style of game, so when I arrived in Istanbul and Darussafaka in a couple days I learned how NBA teams work,” he said. “NBA is totally different. I need a little bit of time to adjust to all the rules and what I can do in the game, but of course I just want to keep improving because I am only 20 and I think I can improve every single detail of my game.”
The lengthy schedule also benefited Zizic last season. He has a good idea now of the NBA grind.
“I played like three different competitions in one year, many games, or 80 games, so it’s like NBA,” he said.
Nader likes chances
Abdel Nader was one of the stars from last year’s summer league jaunt, and the high-scoring small forward parlayed that experience into a strong run last winter with the Maine Red Claws.
Now he can expect more. Considering the Celtics’ wide range of potential trade and free agent maneuverings, there may actually be spots available at the bottom of the roster.
“Yeah I think there’s some opportunity here and anything can happen,” Nader said. “I’m just gonna control what I can control, play hard, and see where it takes me.
“I think I’ve done a lot. I’ve matured mentally for the game (which) was the biggest thing for me,” he said. “I got a little stronger over this D-League season. I’m a better decision-maker and I just understand the game better. … Just (show) that I can defend multiple positions, continue shooting the ball well, attacking the rim, things I’ve already shown but just continue doing them at a high level with more consistency.”
Brown hip to return
Jaylen Brown finished his rookie season with a nagging right hip injury, though not as serious as the torn right hip labrum that eventually forced Isaiah Thomas out of action in the playoffs.
Unlike Thomas, who is still resting and considering surgery, Brown needed roughly seven days to bounce back.
“I heal pretty quickly, so I was back on my feet in a week, tops,” Brown said. “They told me it would take longer but it was fine in a week. Overall just getting better in the gym. I’ve been working out two or three times a day to get better every day. And using that approach to get better for my second year. And it’s pretty much the same approach as it was last year: Be ready for everything. Nothing is expected, nothing is given.
“So I’ve gotta come to work out, come to work every day and see where that takes me.” . . .
Though he is not on the summer league roster, forward Jordan Mickey has worked out with the Celtics since the start of minicamp on Thursday. He will not compete in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.