| Surprise, You Have a Center! Authored by Billy Ray - April 13, 2005 - 5:21 pm
When Joel Przybilla was signed to a two year contract over the summer the news was not greeted with fanfare. Granted ESPN’s bottom line might have flashed the signing for a minute or two and the local papers covered the signing, but beyond that Przybilla’s addition went relatively unnoticed.
The Blazers already had a starting center in Theo Ratliff. Ratliff already was garnering the attention of the whole league blocking shots at beyond all-star levels. Ratliff was also just signed to a 3 year extension essentially locking him into the starting position for many years to come.
Or so we all thought…
The Blazers training camp and preseason went on with few surprises. Przybilla looked solid in his preseason outings despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss 2 games during the preseason. The nagging injury caused Przybilla to miss the first 5 games of the season in the injured reserve.
Injuries had always been a part of Przybilla’s career. His career high in games played came in his second season playing for the Bucks when he recorded 71 appearances. Przybilla had only recorded 82 appearances—equivilant to a full NBA season—in his 3 other seasons in the league. Quickly Przybilla was being cast aside as another lottery pick who couldn’t match the potential.
But Przybilla, whose dedication had been questioned numerous times by former coaches, dispelled the notion that he did not want to work by shedding 40 pounds in the off-season before coming to Portland. One of Przybilla’s former coaches George Karl had wanted Przybilla to put on extra weight to battle players in the middle. But that added weight did little to help Przybilla fight off competition in the trenches of the NBA, instead adding mounting injuries to the young players’ career.
At first, Przybilla was everything that Portland expected: a solid player who would chip in a few rebounds, a point or two, possibly a block, and not do anything outside of his abilities. The Blazers had found a decent backup center.
Or so they thought…
Przybilla’s first start came against the Philadelphia 76’ers in Philadelphia on January 10th. Ratliff had been struggling, and then coach Maurice Cheeks decided he had to make a change. That change might have proven to be one of the best things Cheeks could have done for the franchise.
Since taking over the starting position on January 10th, Przybilla has compiled terrific stats as a starter: 8.7 points per game, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.74 blocks all in 31.3 minutes per game. Despite the knock that Przybilla was not a scorer he still managed to hit 19 points twice and is a regular double digit scorer.
While the numbers aren’t Shaquille O’nealesque, they are still quite astonishing.
Przybilla has solidified himself as a cornerstone of the Trail Blazers franchise. He has become a nightly threat to the Trail Blazers franchise record for blocks in a game. He has also come dangerously close to a triple double the hard way recording 18 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks against the Pacers, 13 points, 21 rebounds and 8 blocks against the Kings, and 16 points, 7 rebounds and 8 blocks against the Spurs.
Przybilla is a feel good story for a Blazer team that isn’t feeling to well. He presents a legitimate shot to be the second Blazer in a row to win the most improved player award while finally finding a home in the NBA.
Surprise! The Trail Blazers have found their center.
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