I agree. I think playing time will be crucial to getting quality out of him. He needs a chance mess up and learn.
All these reports are from 2009? He was considered a top lottery pick back then. No one thinks he's that caliber of player any more.
After watching clips, he reminds me of a taller, smarter Stromile Swift with less touch on his shot. Also seems a bit less aggressive than Stromile could be at times. Let's hope he's got the work ethic Swift never had.
Durvasa, some of us are reaching for any silver lining we can find from this deal. It's an attempt to keep a black depression from covering the world and snuffing out the life out of every Rockets fan.
Everyone was high on him before the draft. When he didn't initially produce, he spent time with Hakeem, Deke and even Yao in China. From what I've read, he wants to learn. Soccer is his game of choice and his love. Not basketball. Its just a 9 to 5 job (so to speak) and something he does and is required to do, to help support his extended family. Hopefully while here, he can become inspired and find a love for basketball.
I like how most of his weaknesses are due to limited training, so maybe we can get something out of this guy. I agree with others that I don't trust Memphis's training staff, they overhyped him too much and I guess they really did not know what they were getting. They should have known he was extremly raw and would be a work in progress. He needs to practice and play these remaining games, we will not know what we have if we don't play these guys. Anyways if I'm an NBA GM, I would stay away from big men in the lottery as far as possible nowadays. Kwame Brown Darko Milicic Greg Oden Hasheem Thabeet and to an extent Yao Ming That's a sad list right there.
For those of you saying going up against Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola, and Patrick Patterson should really help him with going up against physical players.... you do realize he got to go against Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in Memphis, right? It doesn't get much more "physical" down low than that.
What I'd like to see happen. 1) Chuck work with HT on his positioning 2) CD make him take 1000 jumphooks a day, with his size he'd be dangerous with a solid jumphook. 3) Hakeem help Hasheem with his footwork. I'm actually a little worried with Hasheem's work ethic. Listening to 1560 the day of the trade, there was a Memphis radio guy who is very plugged into the Grizz, that said he spent more time at the mall than in the Gym. Still, one can hope.
Yeah, but how helpful are those two. I'm making an assumption but Randolph doesn't seem like the type to put in much time helping teach a kid the ropes. If he is interested in getting better....big IF....then he has plenty of help here with our coaching staff and players. If it's one thing I trust it's the Rockets ability to develop a big.
I have confidence that Thabeet is coming to a far better situation for his development than he had in Memphis, and Hayes will be a significant part of that process. Now whether any of that will "take" remains to be seen. I have some doubts, but after a day to tap down my disappointment with how the deadline played out, I'm trying to be optimistic.
Let me say something about thabeet and some of the comments from some of the posters. A guy like Thabeet shouldnt have to learn the tango from scola. Scola derived that move from the lack of explosion. When you're 7'3 and have the athleticism thabeet has, you just rise up and dunk on people. At the very least, a mini hook or jump hook. CD has been probably the best at teaching big guys the essence of the jump hook. Thabeet will never be an above average post player. All he neeeds to do offensively is be as good as deke. Deke got to the point the little face up jumper and jump hooks went in. Thats all thabeet needs to do. The other points about hayes teaching him things defensively. Hayes and thabeet are 2 totally different types of defenders. Hayes has to defend before the offensive player gets in position vs thabeet has the size to defend after the player has position. Thats not to say hayes cant teach him something because he can,but most of thabeets lessons will be on the court in real game situations. Like i said in the other thabeet thread, the rockets need to get him back to where he was at the end of last year. If adelman isnt going to play him and morey needs to get this clear, they need to send him to the d-league and allow the coaches to work with him there.
Mutombo shoud be hired to coach amd motivate this kid. As said by others before, that's a more realistic goal for HT, becomea Mutombo kind of player, not wasting time trying to make him an Olajuwon kind of player.
Yeah people are reaching for anything at this point. How has working against Hayes,Scola, and Patterson worked out for Jordan Hill. As for the scouting report. This was done before the draft and sadly it was remains spot on.
