No, I don't have a quote of Thomas bashing the Rockets coaching. But given his performance for the Sixers there are only two scenarios. Either KT was fed up with houston and didn't want to make the effort, or there is truly a problem with our coaching and/or their strategies. I'm not going to over-deconstruct here, but it seems like Brown is better able to capitalize on KT's strengths and get him to be more consistant. Could our problem in houston really be the coaching? This might be a clue.
Perhaps Kenny playing against Eastern conf "big" men has something to do with it. Or a change of scenery. KT would not have helped us this year.
Kenny does seem to perform well against east pf's. There are things that Kenny did here that he hasn't tried in Philly. 1. No 3's or long jumpers out of his range. 2. He immediately gives the ball to AI or Snow after a rebound and doesn't bring it to half court like he did here and then give it to Steve almost begrudingly. 3. There doesn't seem to that "attitude" that he had here like he was always mad at something. Kenny is playing within himself in philly and I am happy for him. He worked very hard to prove he deserved to be in this league and I am proud of him. I still think it was a good trade for all involved. I can't help but wonder would Kenny be doing so well against kg, webber, duncan, etc.
Who escaped from Houston to become an all star? KT is in a very defined situation, and AI and Brown (or maybe Brown and AI?) do the defining. DC is suddenly studly. His contract expires at play-off end. Coincidence? The same coincidence that the Philly situartion is ripe for KT and he has embraced it. Give him credit. But all star? Uh uh.
Good Point Nene. Could it be that he's finally playing in a system that moves the ball a little more and doesn't leave him standing like a statue at the 3 points arch? Maybe he finally feels like a real team player? Sure he has to give the ball away to the stars everytime he touches it, but he's allowed to work himself into an open shot and they actually pass him the ball when he does so. He may not be an all star but he is another clear example of our bench players proving to be starters or stars in other teams offenses. Its not the talent, its the system.
Sometimes a player's strengths and weaknesses fit one situation better than another. Kenny didn't fit a) the Rockets as they were or b) the Rockets as we hope they'll become if Yao Ming grows a torso and Steve Francis grows a brain. Kenny was a major reason why we didn't move the ball around. He fits better in Philadelphia (also because of smaller matchups in the east), and if he ever stops b****ing about being traded long enough to think about it, he'll realize we did him a favor.
IMO, he was <b>more</b> involved in the Rockets offense than he is in the Sixers offense. We actually gave him plenty of isolations and postups in Houston. His main focus in Philli is Defense and rebounding. His points come from Iverson penetration and dish, or put backs on offensive rebounds. Then why does he seem happier there, even while he gets to create less on offense??? Because he is contributing regardless, they are winning, and he is 2 games away from going to the Conference finals
1. How many threes is EG chucking this year. . . could it be the system?????? [KT did not throw alot of threes b4 leaving . . .to be honest] 2. notice AI and Snow are not half way up his back trying to wrestle the rebound from him either. . . also . . if he gives it to AI or Snow he will get it back sometime b4 the next rebound also. 3. I prefer his attitude too that EG dude [almost like he high and uninspired] Rocket River
KT got the chance to play. That was his favor. Then he was traded to a situation better for him for a player ostensibly better for Rox situ. Why is this such a big deal? Name me four full termers? Stock, David, Malone and ? And Malone is likely to leave this list in July!
I dislike the trade more than anything because WE WERE LEFT WITH MO-T and EG Or 4 spot from being SOLID [not great but solid] ro mediocre and uninspired The 4 spots was like half as strong. . . even though the 3 spots was twice as good the problem is. . the 4 spot in the west is 3 times tougher than the 3 spot in the west Rocket River
You got it. I will forever be of the opinion that if we didn't have MoT under contract, we would have kept Kenny. The Rockets would have kept EG based solely on this "potential" he supposedly has, and Mo was under contract before Kenny really proved himself. If that wasn't the situation, KT would still be a Rocket. Like Will said, we did him a favor.
Ya'll talk like he was playing poorly here. He was playing very well for us and everyone knew it. We traded him while he was playing well. It isn't like we gave up on him and he blossomed in Philly. He does the same stuff for them he did for us.
Kenny Thomas averaged 14 and 7 rebounds in 01-02 when he got a chance to start. For Philly he averaged 10 and 8 boards. There is no dramatic improvement in Kenny's game. He is the same player, if you watch, he takes the same shots.
After KT was traded to Philly, he averaged about 49% from the field - which is better than anyone on our squad save Yao. He got intermittent play with one super strong month in there towards the end - depends on the matchups. I posted an interview with KT and separately Larry Brown in the Rockets thread, and KT said Brown asked him to do a lot of new things and LB specifically said he was going to try KT at the two next season, among other things.
Yeah, could it be that he's now playing in a SYSTEM where everybody knows his role: REBOUND AND GIVE IT TO IVERSON, AND GET READY TO RECEIVE A PASS WHEN HE GETS DOUBLED OR TRIPLED AND HAS NOWHERE TO GO? Oh, and maybe a place where everybody has given up complaining about their superstar not sharing the ball helps too.
Not every team is for every player...Van Horn didn't exactly become a legend when he moved from Nets to the 76ers. He's been kind of a flop. KT is just playing playoff basketball. when you're in the playoffs your intensity and demeanor rise to the occasion.
Houston's big men still sometimes try to dribble up court and lose the ball or botch the fast break. Someone need to tell them to stop.
Besides Rudy T you only have Trainee Coaches as your Assistant Coaches and you saw the disaster that Larry Smith caused, not only for the Team not making the playoffs but also Yao Ming had such limited playing time/support that he lost the ROY.
