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Can Kenny Thomas play the 3 spot?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by man532, Apr 10, 2002.

  1. man532

    man532 Member

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    If Kenny improves his outside shooting does anyone think he can play the 3 spot? His missing layups hurts also as shown in the game last night.

    However, he has great footwork, which will help him play defense against the tough 3's in the western conference.

    In addition, this will create a mismatch on the offensive side with Kenny being able to post up effectively.

    I like a starting lineup Kenny Thomas, Maurice Taylor, Cuttino Mobley, Steve Francis, and Cato. Better defense and rebounding on both sides of the ball. I also like the subs of Moochie, Torres, Rice/Walt, Griffin, and our 1st round draft pick. I'm sold on Langhi, Morris, Collier, or Tierre Brown.
     
  2. No Worries

    No Worries Member

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    I do not think KT can play 40 minutes/game at the 3, game in game out. I can definitely see KT geting spot minutes at the 3, depending on the matchup.
     
  3. NJRocket

    NJRocket Member

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    I dont see KT guarding some of the ther 3's in the league...i think he will be more suited to a Carl Herrera type role
     
  4. man532

    man532 Member

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    Kenny has excellent footwork and hustles on D, I would like to see Rudy try him at the 3. It's better than 3 hog lineup at the end of the game, where Steve, Cat, and Moochie dribble out the shot clock and hoist up errant shots.
     
  5. DearRock

    DearRock Member

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    I think KT has proven that he can be our 3. In fact, I would move Rice to back up Mobley and get rid of that 3 guard rotation. My SF's as of now would be KT, Tmo and DL. I expect Rice and KT to be able to take most people at their position into the low post with their back to the basket. KT in particular, I would use to muscle and dominate many at his position.



    Center Power Small Point Off

    Cato Taylor Thomas Francis Mobley
    Griffin Morris Moochie Rice
    Collier Langhi
     
  6. j-bone

    j-bone Member

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    If Kenny isn't traded over the offseason, then he will be our three, because there is no way you put him on the bench in favor of Mo Taylor. So, with Mo Taylor coming back and solidifying the four spot, then I say K.T. will play the three spot. Personally I think K.T. will get traded for an inside presence because he's our only trade commodity. You can alway play Morris, Griffin, or Taylor at the three. But I have to say this again and again, get rid of CATO:mad:
     
  7. Scarface

    Scarface Supremely FocASSed
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    Why should we get rid of Cato? The dude rebounds and blocks shots. I thought thats why we needed a center?
     
  8. kidrock8

    kidrock8 Member

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    Offensively, KT could play the 3, mainly because of his slashing skills.

    However, I'd rather have him guarding 4s, on defense.
     
  9. crossover

    crossover Member

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    maybe... but i think eddie can play the three and should

    anyone else see eddie at the three being a possibility?
     
  10. lpbman

    lpbman Member

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    Guarding 4's isn't exactly great either, just about all of them can shoot over him. I love his hustle, but he's a tweener and we should move him or Mo who doesn't hustle. I believe Rudy thinks he can merge the two if he keeps them long enough.

    I'd rather try Wilcox at the 3, personally
     
  11. WinkFan

    WinkFan Member

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    Kenny can't guard threes or fours. He needs to be guarding bench players.

    Why do people talk about KT's post up game all the time? He almost never posts up. In fact, his offensive game is very similar to Cat or Wink, without a pull up jump shot. He gets the ball at 20 feet, and either shoots a jumper or drives to the basket.
     
  12. WinkFan

    WinkFan Member

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    For every shot Cato blocks, he watches half a dozen or more uncontested layups. Joel Pryzbilla is more intimidating.
     
  13. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    He guards threes and fours better than Mo T, Rice or Walt

    Rocket River
     
  14. Bailey

    Bailey Veteran Member

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    Winkfan,

    He may not receive the ball in the post, with his back to the basket, but he definitely has post moves. He frequently turns his back to the defensive player, and spins for a lay-up or a baby hook (with his off hand more frequently now, which is good to see).

    Let's be honest, although he can blow by the slower players with his first step, his ball-handling isn't great. It's his footwork down low that gets him a lot of his shots, even if he begins the play facing up his player. Don't forget that's how Mo T likes to get the ball too.

    Defensively, he can guard some 3s and some 4s. He seems to have gotten better at denying opposing 4s the ball this year, which helps negate the height thing. I like him in the starting line-up, because he's explosive and he hustles. If he's going to get shown up by the quicker threes, who else is going to guard them? Even if Cat slides to the 3 (I think he can be a decent defender when he tries) we have Mooch on the floor, and he's a worse defender than Stevie.

    I think you have to keep KT. Sure, his trade value is probably at it's height (people around the L know him now, small contract), but who are you going to get? Although there are some defensive issues, he's now a tough match-up for the opposition. He's making the lay-ups (with a couple of exceptions) that he was missing the last two years, and that's why his FG% is so respectable.
     
  15. man532

    man532 Member

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    KT does an awesome job of rebounding and we get killed on the boards. By the way didn't Larry Smith lead the league in rebounding a couple of years? Larry, pass it on.

    Listing the 3's, who do you think is better. Rice, Walt, TMorris, or KT. No contest, Rice and Walt don't rebound or play D. TMorris is scared of his own shadow.

    How we match up against the 3's in the Western Conference and why Kenny Thomas has a better shot at stopping these guys than Rice, Walt, or TMorris.

    Lakers - Rick Fox = Adv Rockets
    Portland - Pippen = Adv Rockets
    Seattle - Lewis = Adv Seattle (KT can post up at will)
    Sacrementio = Stojokovic = Adv Sac (KT can post up at will)
    Clippers - Odom = Adv Clippers
    Suns - Marion = Adv Suns = (KT can post up at will)
    Utah - Kerilinko = Adv Rockets
    Dallas - Adrian Griffin/Buckner/Newman = Adv Rockets
    San Antonio - Bowen = Adv Rockets
    Memphis - Battie = Toss up
    Minnesota - Garnett = Adv Minnesota
     
  16. DearRock

    DearRock Member

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    Good job, Man.

    I do not see any SF in the league that can stop him except Garnett. These is no matchup at the SF slot, in the west, that concerns me. At this point my only concern would be the 5 spot. As far as the 4 spot, there are some question marks related to hom MoT will bounce back and how much improvement EG would be able to make this summer.

    In the draft the first 15 players are likely to include the following:

    Yao Ming 7-5 283 C Shanghai (China) 1980
    Curtis Borchardt 7-0 230 C Stanford Jr.
    Drew Gooden 6-10 230 PF Kansas Jr.
    Qyntel Woods 6-9 230 SG/SF Northeast CC So.
    Amare Stoudemire 6-10 240 PF HSSr.
    Chris Wilcox 6-10 240 PF Maryland So.
    Jason Williams 6-2 195 PG Duke Jr.
    Jared Jeffries 6-9 220 SF Indiana So.
    Dajuan Wagner 6-2 200 PG/SG Memphis Fr.
    Melvin Ely 6-10 256 PF Fresno St. Sr.
    Caron Butler 6-7 235 SF UConn So.
    Kareem Rush 6-6 214 SG Missouri Jr.
    Dan Gadzuric 6-11 245 C UCLA Sr.
    Chris Marcus 7-1 285 C Western Kentucky ^Sr.

    Of these, 8 are able to address our most pressing need
    based on size and weight. Any two would work for me. Goodbye Walt and Willis.
     
  17. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    He plays the 3 about as well as rice or williams which isn't saying much. Ideally , Thomas is like Corliss,Malik, Gary trant type of tweener player. Good bench player but is better suited for spot starts and off the bench hustle and desire. Having him and Taylor starting just wouldn't be good no matter how you cut it.
     

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