Let's be clear here: Zach Randolph is the star of that team, leading his team down the stretch in crunch time. Luis Scola is a role player. The two are not comparable. You could make the "this player makes life easier on them" argument for almost every player in the NBA, including Kobe Bryant.
One thing that he's doing much better is offensive rebounds. His career OReb % is 10.9-- pretty good-- but his OReb% this year is 14.2%-- which is simply special. And, as you said, his shot selection is a lot better as well. I agree, though, having a Marc Gasol next to him helps-- or even a long/atheletic type like Darrell Arthur. Given that the Rockets have been more than decent offensively this, what would help more is good 7 foot athelete and not so much a 6'9'' relative plodder, even an offensivley excellent one.
OP, I figure you must have just started watching the NBA in 2010 or after. Based on what exactly are you saying Randolph was not NEARLY as good as he is now? Randolph has always been a nightly double double threat even prior to this season. Not many players in the league can lay the same claim, other than the household names of Garnett, Howard, Duncan. If you played fantasy basketball you'd know that Randolph has consistently been a top pick due to his insane OREB and FG% stats, a decent FT%, and the bonus of the occasional 3PTM. Those who are surprised of Randolph's performance in this current playoffs are either exclusive Rockets fans (never watch the other 29 teams) or new fans of the NBA.
Not entirely true. I, for example, have been well aware of Randolph's great stats, but am still surprised - almost to the point of extreme - at how much better of a leader he's become, and as such, a winner. A clutch performer. A hop on my back type guy. Again, that's not to say absent a better supporting cast he wasn't that player before - he may have been, but it doesn't SEEM like it. And not just to fans... it has been correctly noted he was traded multiple times for very little in return. Trying to trade for him today would be very difficult.
As I said, Randolph was traded 3 times for nothing. So, maybe people working for NBA teams were not watching NBA until 2010? While he put up numbers before, he was never as efficient as he is now.
We do not have a Marc Gasol who has helped Zach become efficient. The next ''Zach Randolph'',will have to play the role of Yao Ming.
A little background on Zach Randolph from a Portlander..... I'm not surprised by Z-Bo's performance. He's always been a stud at the PF position and he's basically been a 20-10 player for the majority of his career. The biggest difference is Zach is winning and making smart decisions and putting up these numbers in the Playoffs and he's become a leader in the process. Winning and putting up numbers in the playoffs is where superstars are made and this is a prime example of that. This isn't the first time Z-Bo has dominated in the playoffs either. In the 2003 Playoffs the seldom used Beast now known as Z-Bo was born. During the regular season Zach was only in his second year and he averaged 8 points and 4.5 rebs per game in under 19 minutes coming off a very deep and big man heavy Blazers squad. Down 0-3 in the playoffs series with no answer for the Mavs... Mo Cheeks decided to put Zach Randolph into the starting lineup. In the next 3 games as a starter Randolph put up 25/15, 21/10, and 22/9 and led the Blazers to 3 straight victorires in a row and tied the series up with the Mavs at 3-3. The Blazers had no idea Zach was this good, fans were wondering who the hell he was and why he wasn't played earlier and Mavs were about to choke again. They had no answer for his left hand, smooth moves around the basket, sweet jumper, deceptive quickness and uncanny ability to rebound. The Mavs eventually prevailed in game 7 but Z-Bo nearly single handedly beat the mavs by himself. Ever since that series Zach has consistently put up big numbers and earned big checks. He's changed a lot in terms of discipline and decision making and learning how to lead and be a winner but I'm not surprised in the least bit in regards to his talent or numbers.
Without Gasol, you're looking at a bad team with Randolph putting up good numbers, likely moving on to another team (all while people are hating and calling him the cause of all the Grizzlies' problems). Even though Zach Randolph is the better player, Marc Gasol is much more rare. And, I don't think an all star caliber player on a large contract is all that difficult to get. However, acquiring a decent young center is right behind trading for a superstar in difficulty level.
Not really a turnaround. He has averaged around the same ppg and rpg throughout his career. It was just harder to noticed when he was buried underneath the Knicks awfulness for those couple of seasons. But I remember when he was in Portland and the Rox had problems stopping him. Its a lot easier to notice his hustle and abilities when he's on the big stage and succeeding. If anything I would hope PatPat can become someone like Randolph and just bully his way to the paint. That would be nice.
This He's always been a double-double guy, sure. This year though, he has been more effecient as well. The big difference isn't on the stat sheets though. The guy has been the best closer in the playoffs this year. Period. Every time the Grizzlies have need a big shot, he has delivered, with a hand in his face, and another body pushed up against him. Simply put: He's been unstoppable.
