The guy has been working out all off-season. Sometimes alone and other times with teammates. He has been posting pics and tweeting about it the whole time. You, of course, just missed that. Stop hating like a kid and do research..... like an adult.
I posted, i think a month or so ago, videos of him playing good defense against the great Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Garnett and Nowitzki in his rookie season. Even blocking some of their shots. He moves his feet very well for someone his size. Those videos have since been taken down(for whatever reason). So until any of you can prove that he can no longer do this, then i will not be convinced that he is a bust. Even Memphis admitted regret for letting him go. Because they know what too many of you can't seem to understand. When those little Christmas lights finally come on, he is going to be a very good role player. Which is all he needs to be to get this team where we want to be.
Chuck Hayes proved he was an NBA player by getting a double-double (10 pts, 12 rbs) in the 2nd regular season game that he played for the Rockets (when he was also younger than Thabeet is now). We all joked about his lack of offensive game at the time, but right away, he knew where to be in the offense and how to cut to the basket - Tracy got at least 1-2 assists off of Chuck every game. So there has never been any doubt - even from the very beginning - that Chuck Hayes could function in the NBA. Hasheem, on the other hand, has never had anywhere near a similar impact on an NBA game. It's ludicrous to expect that his height and shotblocking skills will somehow cover the fact that he's a weak rebounder and completely clueless in offensive and defensive schemes. In the NBA, there are certainly specialists (usually shooters or man-to-man defenders), but if they can't function in the flow of the game, it doesn't matter how good they are that specialty - they don't see the court. And it's particularly crazy to think he'll ever come close to 10 pts a game. Dennis Rodman averaged 25.7 pts a game as a college player (not to mention 15.7 rbs per game), but never averaged higher than 11 pts a game in the NBA (his career average was 7 pts). Thabeet averaged 10 pts per game in college, but has shown none of the intensity and definitely none of the basketball IQ of Rodman. It's easy to fall in love with players who are particularly tall, particularly athletic or particularly good at one facet of the game. And without a doubt, Hasheem can block the ball. But he really hasn't shown anything else, and you're only setting yourself up for disappointment if you really expect him to blossom into starter material when he clearly seems to lack the fire for the game.
Let's see what he can do with a training camp, some focused instruction, and some minutes. I'm optimistic.
man, why is everyone always hating on me? who cares if id rather make millions and spend time at the mall rather than put in work on the court. let me be.
Knote, thats probably what it might take. The Rockets may just have to bite the bullet and get this kid some clock. IMO this lockout really hurt in that him in that he was unable to work with McHale in the offseason. Its still difficult to imagine Thabeet could average 11 boards and 5 tap outs at Uconn without some of that translating over to the NBA.
I'm not comparing the 2, but where do you think durant plays at in the summer? During the lockout, he was rolling in a van hooping at ok st every day. When he's in austin, he's at U.T. hooping.
And next year will we be saying, "The guy has only played 10 years of ball, give him some playing time..."? It's easy to say "kick him to the curb if he sucks this year" now, but honestly that's the reason why these cycles of insanity continue. What was that saying, madness is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
When he came back from the d-league and play 20+ mins in memphis, he was 6ppg,6 rebs and 1.5blks and looked like he was starting to get it. The thing about a guy like thabeet is he needs to play and experience the game to make his adjustments. His rare size and ability to alter shots at the rim is enough on this lottery team to give it go for me. Will he be out of position at times? Yes. Will he miss a rotation or anticipate a play defensively like chuck? No, but when he's at the rim, you will see head and pump fakes from guys. That's enough to allow the perimeter guys to catch up and dig the ball or close out faster. He should play an play as much as possible.
Exactly this team has NOTHING to lose by letting him play a good number of minutes.... Because the payoff could be huge..... DD
LOL if would be funny as hell if we make the playoffs with this roster Lowry Martin Morris Patterson Thabeet
Remember guys, he is about to start his 3rd year in the league. I don't even think he has been playing basketball 10 years yet.
