Z-Bo, the $84 million bench player?

Zach Randolph has become an enigma for Portland. Zach is a really good player. Nobody disputes that. What he hasn't done is put together a complete game. Not yet. There are parts of Zach's game that are lacking and when he is on the floor the Blazers are vulnerable. Setting screens and passing out of doubles/triples (and recognizing when he needs to) are big weaknesses for Zach. When Zach hurt his knee it gave Cheeks a chance to try using Theo and Pryzbilla instead of Zach. The results have been quite successful. The Blazers suddenly had a formidable presence in the middle on defense. The Blazers began to play much better, and now they are winning.

Now coach Cheeks is faced witht he dilemma of how to fit Zach back into the lineup. His choice has been to bring Zach off the bench. Zach is playing very well off the bench. Personally I think this could be a very good learning experience for Zach that will eventually help him develop his game to where he can become an effective starter. Until then I hope Mo keeps him on the bench. Zach seems to think he is on the bench due to his knee. What he needs to realize is that his knee put him there, but his game is keeping him there.

The Blazers need wins and if that means Zach coming off the bench, so be it! I hope he means it when he says "if I don't start, it's cool". As long as we win Zach, as long as we win.

"...It (Zach's injury) has created an almost staggering reality that the player in which management has invested the most money, and the player who leads the team in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (9.9), is nothing more than a super substitute. It is a momentous decision that is not lost on Cheeks, who shrugged his shoulders and used the old bumper-sticker rationale:

Stuff happens, Cheeks said. "A lot of times, you have to look at (the contract) and look at the dynamics of it, but the whole thing has evolved differently now.
"Everything before was Zach, Zach, Zach. It's not like that anymore."

To his credit, Randolph has handled the new situation well. On Saturday, he had 28 points and 12 rebounds and made all 10 of his free throw attempts in 33 minutes. It was the second time in the past three games that Randolph has played the entire fourth quarter.

"Whatever (Cheeks) wants me to do, I'll do it," Randolph said. "He's the boss. I ain't complaining. If I don't start, it's cool. As long as we win..."
Source: Oregonlive.com