Blowing Up: Joel Przybilla

Joel Przybilla, C, Portland Trail Blazers

If you don't know, you better ask somebody.

If you need blocks and rebounds--and maybe even if you don't--Joel Przybilla needs to be on your roster right now.

He's been so good recently in these two categories that it might be worth your while to pick him up, even if you don't intend to play him, just so one of your leaguemates can't pick him up, play him, and erode your numbers in these categories.

Pryzbilla's numbers over the past five games are, in a word, dominant. In two words, they're uber-dominant.

During the month of February, Godzylla (props to Shep at Give Me The Rock for the nickname and the original dime on Przybilla when he first started showing signs of life a week or two ago) has averaged 11.1 REB and 3.2 BLK in 9 games.

Over the same time span, Ben Wallace (who I drafted in the second round) has averaged 10.0 REB and 2.1 BLK. If I was certain that Przybilla would average over 30 minutes a game for the rest of the season, I'd be tempted to trade Big Ben right about now for other needs.

There are a couple of major differences between Wallace and Godzylla.

First, Joel actually knows how to finish around the hoop. Ben is shooting .450 from the field this season, improving on his atrocies .421 FG last year. Ouch. Przybilla is shooting .641 FG this season. Nice.

Second, Benson steals the ball, a lot, to the tune of 1.8 per game this year. This is a skill that's exceedingly rare at the C, and one that shouldn't be overlooked. Przybilla couldn't steal the ball if you threw it at his hands.

I'm not saying Joel is as good as Ben. I am saying that the difference isn't as big as you think it is.

PLAYING TIME FORECAST

Przybilla's minutes have been up recently for a few reasons.

First, and most obviously, he's good, he's a hard worker, and he has a good attitude. All three will eventually impress someone in the league, even if you are a corny ass white dude, and they'll impress even more on a team where the latter two are in very short supply.

Second, Theo Ratliff is all banged up. He's got shoulder bursitis (making it very difficult to block shots), and he apparently has a calf injury. Last night he only played 24 minutes to Przybilla's 40 (tied with Damon Stoudamire for most on the squad).

Third, Przybilla is better than Ratliff. He might not have quite the blocks ceiling that Ratliff does--but he's close--and unlike the Rattler, Przybilla can actually a) grab rebounds like a big man should and b) throw the ball in the net when he's standing next the basket, like a big man should.

Fourth, Zach Randolph's injury woes continue. He's missed the past two games with the same problematic knee that caused him to miss six games at the end of January. Adding it up, that's 8 games in the space of one month, which, for the sake of comparison, is the same number of games that Chris Webber has missed this year with his chronic knee trouble. Hmmmm... To top it off, Randolph hasn't actually started a game since January 12.

Add these things up and you'll realize that things are changing up in Portland in repsonse to talent and necessity. Przybilla stands a great chance to keep playing big minutes, even when Randolph gets back. He looks like the kind of guy who can control the paint for many years to come (he's only 25), and he's a great fit with what they're trying to do right now in the Rose City.

If you have the means, I highly recommend picking him up.