FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.More than seven feet tall. A mountain of a man. A true big man for the modern age. Able to score, rebound, and defend in the post. Loved by teammates. Feared by opponents. The crucial down-low component that could help the Blazers contend for a championship.
I'm talking, of course, about Joel Przybilla.
Why, who were you thinking of?
Przybilla is the polar opposite of his younger replacement (as in, the guy he's being replaced by). No hype. Not flashy. Not heralded or swooned over. But when we start throwing out the phrases "effective" and "workman," Przybilla is as prime a candidate as any. The Vanilla Gorilla has not only done the work, put in the time, and become a very solid NBA center, but he's got the numbers to back it up.
Taking a waltz down Przybilla's advanced metrics is a pleasant experience, like eating ice cream on a hot afternoon, or throwing up after you've drank too much. You just feel better after. His true shooting percentage was tops on the Blazers at 65%, but of course he only took three field goals a game. JP still posted career numbers in points and rebounds per 36 (and per game, if you're archaic).
His contributions on the team level are what are most important, though. He led the Blazers in Offensive Rating (points scored by the team per 100 possessions) and was second in defensive ratings. He finished fourth in plus/minus on the squad, which is pretty impressive considering his low minutes. As someone who is considered the worst starting player on the Blazers, Przy slides in a league-average 15.4 PER. But what's most impressive about this set of stats, though, is his usage.
Przybilla was one of the most efficient players on the most efficient offensive team last season, and managed to do so with only a 10.2 Usage rate, which is second to last among all Blazer players. So essentially, when you talk about those players that make their team better without needing to have the ball in their hands? Statistically, Joel Przybilla fits that mold perfectly.
As a comparison, Greg Oden's PER in his rookie season was 18.1, 3 points higher than Przybilla. But Oden's usage was also nine percent higher than Przybilla. Which is fine, if your team is building around Oden. But the Blazers, as you may have heard, have this guy named Brandon Roy, and he's pretty good. And they have LaMarcus Aldridge. And Rudy Fernandez. And Andre Miller, now. So they have tons of players who need touches. Przybilla is a great component because he manages to consistently create winning lineups without needing the ball much. Oden was much the opposite in his rookie season.
Of course, the "rookie season" part of that is what needs emphasis. Oden is certainly capable of becoming a player much greater than Przybilla, worthy of touches and points and all the accolades and hype he's already received.
But at the same time, Przybilla is a much more known quantity, and that's to be appreciated. He works hard on defense, moves in the flow of the offense, does his job, and allows the Blazers' best players to make plays. So do yourself a favor. Take a few moments this season to appreciate the guy who's not on the cover of the magazines, but who's putting in the work to get his team ahead.
