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Timofey Mozgov: The good, the bad and the ugly

By Christopher Lavinio

Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

The Good

Timofey Mozgov, who has some familiarity with head coach Kenny Atkinson during his days as a young prospect with the New York Knicks, is excited to be in a new environment with a young and hungry roster.

Mozgov, despite turning 30, is still a big body at 7’1″ who makes his force known in the paint. He played quite well running the two-man game with newly acquired guard D’Angelo Russell back in Los Angeles, and Atkinson plans on using the big-man in similar situations as well.

Another bright spot with Mozgov is his willingness to develop under Atkinson, making his game more versatile in the Nets’ motion, pace-and-space offense.

"“Kenny Atkinson has experience turning big men into 3-point shooters. The Nets coach pushed for Brook Lopez to add the long ball to his game last season and was part of a staff in Atlanta that developed Al Horford’s 3-point shooting. “Atkinson said that doesn’t mean Mozgov will follow in the same mold, as he sees the 7-foot-1 center as more of an inside presence, with a career line of 7.4 points and 4.9 boards. “’We can expect Timmy to be a little bit closer to the basket,’ Atkinson said. ‘We’ll put him in that dunker position behind the basket. He’s really good there. He’s good at the elbows. He’s got a nice jumper.’” via BrooklynNets.com"

One of the intriguing things about Mozgov’s game is his willingness, when motivated, to run the floor and slash to the rim on fast breaks. In a November game against the Brooklyn Nets, Mozgov was often right alongside ball-handlers D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young, setting high perimeter screens and rolling to the rim.

One underrated component of Mozgov’s game is his ability to knock down elbow jumpers. He has a quick knack to find open spots on the floor and make room for his playmakers to generate on the wings while camping out on the baseline.

Mozgov does a good job stretching parts of the defense out, and, if he develops a consistent 15-17 foot jump shot, could be a valuable cog in the Nets’ offense.

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