As we keep looking at the 2012 Summer League match ups that involved the former North Carolina Basketball players this post will deal with Tyler Zeller, the seven footer who probably had his less productive game in the Vegas tournament. His Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2) lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1), at a game played at Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV, by the final tally of 78 to 65. On a side note, the other first rounder taken by the Cavs, Dion Waiters, was out in this one due to an injury.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVHBP5vC3Hk&version=3&hl=en_US]
Zeller was definitely not himself in this game, not looking to go up strong, but it also felt like the team was not getting him the ball in this one like they had in the first three games of the tournament. He ended the game playing less than 20 minutes, while scoring just 2 points (1 for 7 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 0 for 0) to go along with seven rebounds (five on the offensive side), one assist and a TO while having a pts differential of -5 in this game. If you watched the game you saw that while on the offensive side he was not what he had been in prior match ups the former big man for head coach Roy Williams looked ok on the defensive side of the ball.
In the end it is going to be interesting to see if this is a bump in the road for Zeller or if this is a small view of what might happen when the seven footer sees real action in the National Basketball Association. In my opinion Zeller, who was a four year player as a North Carolina Basketball player, was solid while in Chapel Hill, showing up at every game and practice, is not going to do things differently now that he is at the next level. He might never be an NBA All-Star, but on the other hand when the Cleveland franchise traded for him they did not expect that, but what he is going to be is a good solid player who can do things on both side of the ball, and that should be good enough for both the Cavs and its fan base. For more information on Zeller, other former Tar Heels now at the next level and UNC Basketball and Football news check out isportsweb often.