again i ask, is james thomas from UT nba material? every time i go see UT play he looks like the teams best player out there. tj is awesome but thomas has lots of tenacity out there all the time. oh yea and buckman looks a lot like dirk physically. maybe it was the vodka tho if the rockets moved the ball around half as much as the longhorns....we can only dream ;p go clutchcity! go longhorns! boo hangovers! class time
James Thomas reminds me of Brian Grant Dirk and Buckman may look like each other physically but there games are completely different Dirk is a great long range shooter who is improving driving the ball . He also has a good turn around. Buckman is an excellent rebounder with a good midrange shot.
Thomas will succeed in the NBA for one reason alone, he LOVES to rebound. I'll take a guy like that anyday over a guy with more talent, who doesn't play as hard. I've also been surprised with his low post game this season, he's starting to look pretty good down there. On a different topic, does anyone else think that TJ Ford could be the answer at PG for the Rockets? He sees the floor better than anyone I've seen in my lifetime, save Jason Kidd. To me he just seems like the type of guy that would be perfect running next to Steve, and as he's shown this year with guys like Thomas, Buckman, and Klotz, he understands that the offense must go through the big men, something I'm afraid Steve may never realize.
If Thomas really bulked up, he'd be like Ben Wallace with a nice 5-foot shot that's consistently made. Even their hair is similar.
Why don't you give your logic in one of the TJ or UT vs OU threads? Do you not think the Rockets would draft him? I do. Plus he is on record that he is staying for next season.
He is listed at 6'8" on Texas web cite, which means he probably is 6'7" or less. Unless he has really long arms, that just isn't size to be a starting caliber NBA power forward unless they have some kind of unreal athleticism, which Thomas does not have. Thomas is an excellent college player who will have an excellent overseas career or be a career back-up in the NBA. Of course hustling, physical and rebouding machine 6'7" NBA power forwards can be nice subs to have.
Thomas seems to be a real workhorse every game. He tries to get every rebound in the game. I think a lot of teams need a banger like him.
I've been saying for a while that Thomas reminds me of Wallace but with a better offensive game. The guy just flat out hustles for every rebound and loose ball. Plus he takes pride in doing so.
He has shown an improvement in his low post game recently. Even at 6'7" he has a chance in the NBA. Jerome Williams is starting for the Raptors and has similiar skills and physical traits. I think Thomas' low post game is better than what Williams' was in college.
Thomas is a tenacious rebounder, and extremely active going for loose balls and things like that. I think jerome williams is a fair comparison in that sense. However, most people don't know that he not only has a solid post up game, but also a GREAT jumper from 12 to 15 ft out, both at the top of the key and from baseline. He really doesn't get many, or enough, shots in the UT offense, but he is far beyond the "Trash man" role he played as a freshman when all his points came on put backs and offensive rebounds. Part of the deal is that with TJ's driving ability, and the number of low post threats texas possesses in buckman, thomas and klotz, teams sag a lot. Zones are implemented by some of the weaker defensive teams to keep TJ outside shooting jumpers rather than killing them penetrating and dishing. All in all, I like JT a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it in the NBA, but I've also seen other players I felt were just as talented not make it. I call it 50/50. I think he'll get drafted, though. Late first or early second round.
I think he has the potential to be almost as good as Wallace. If his potential pans out, I could see him getting about 10 ppg and maybe 10 rpg. I think his offense is ahead of Big Ben's, but his rebounding is a step behind. Anyone have Wallace's college stats? BTW, I think the Rockets might want to look at him with their second rounder. I know we have MoT and Eddie, but we need a banger. Mo is becoming one in a way, but I think he would be a good fit here.
