OK, Martin and Fizer will both be gone. Even though I'm totally swimming upstream with the rest of the world, I wasn't totally excited about drafting an undersized PF any way. Swift would have been PERFECT IMO, but he's going back to school. Here are two guys that intrigue me from Monter's top 12 PF's: 4. Etan Thomas 6-9 247 SR Syracuse Thomas must also make the move to power forward in the pros. He is a strong low post player with big hands. The size of his hands hurt him as a free throw shooter. He is an aggressive defender and quick leaper, which makes him one of the top shotblockers in the country. However, he also tends to get into foul trouble. He has good strength and has been compared to Brian Grant. Thomas is an aggressive defender and quick leaper, which makes him one of the top shotblockers in the country. He uses his strength well and has shown improvement as an offensive player. Thomas was plagued by injuries early this season, but he has bounced back to help lead the Orangmen to their strong start. Thomas is averaging 14.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots per game. He is shooting 61.8% from the field. He will play in the Desert Classic, the biggest of the three pre-draft camps and is a mid first round pick. 5. Kaspars Kambala 6-9 250 JR UNLV Kambala is an excellent low post player with good interior moves. He does a good job of drawing fouls and getting to the charity stripe. Kambala needs to become a better passer and he is not the shotblocking presence you would expect. He is a good rebounder who is not afraid to play physically. Kambala needs to stay out of foul trouble. He is averaging 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds a game and is shooting 54.5% from the field. Kambala could benefit by coming back for his senior campaign. Thomas sounds a little like OT? Kambala sounds cool, b/c they say he’s got some offense. Best of all, they’re both a good size for a PF. Just curious as to what you guys think, cuz I think we need to find a way to get a PF with our lotto pick. For reasons, just check out my post on the BBS. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited April 03, 2000).]
You're right oakdogg... we NEED a PF from somewhere.. I also wasn't thrilled about drafting Fizer.. we already got one undersized PF in Kenny.... although Martin would be nice I think getting the no 1 pick is a fantasy ! But I've been looking at Etan Thomas all season, he looks ok, pretty lame offensively, but very solid defensively and able to really send shots back. He'd need to learn the PF position because he's been playing center in college, but he's got the right body size and speed to play PF in the pros ! If we get Orlando's/ Phillies or Detroits pick then we should definitely try and land Etan there. He's not worth a lottery pick tho'. ------------------
DrNuegenbauer: You are the man with the answers! It seems like every question I post, you reply with some real good info. Thanks a lot. Do you know anything about that Kambala guy? I've never seen him play, but the description peaks my interest, because he seems to have good size for a PF and the description says some good things about his offense. It's unfortunate that the year the Rocks suffer through terrible luck and get such a high pick that it looks like there won't be any strong players to fill the Rocks' biggest need. ------------------
Isn't it tragic !! ( about no PF's being out there) - and the way the rockets are playing now we'll probably end up with 32-35 wins.. probably forcing ourselves down to about 10 in the lottery... On Kespars Kambala, I've never seen him play, but you're right, the appraisal of him is intruiging.. although I don't like the bit where it says he doesn't block shots or pass well... anyway, if we end up with the 10th+ pick then we might as well just grab Etan Thomas straight up. ------------------
Let me get this straight. Kenny Thomas-6'7'', 260 lbs.-too small to play poward forward in the pros, despite the fact that he's only two inches shorter than Malone, and the same weight. Etan Thomas-6'9'', 249 lbs.-"he's got the right body size" to play poward forward in the NBA. So two inches taller and 11 pounds lighter makes you ideal to play power forward? I really believe that KT ,aka "Buggy" as I like to call him, can be the starting power forward for this team for years to come. When is the last time the 22nd pick in the draft, an undersized power forward, has grabbed 22 rebounds in a game in his first year? Two inches aren't going to discourage me from this guy's potential. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that we are the only NBA (sorry for any confusion regarding my earlier signature, I do realize that the Braves and Stars are both mentioned in the national anthem) team mentioned in the national anthem? I didn't think so!
Height is so unimportant at the NBA level....it is all relative to SKILL level. That's why you have 6'9" guards and 6'4" power forwards. I don't want to get caught up in proto-type bodies and height, but more along the lines of skill and strength. Etan Thomas is a decent player at the college level...but has no polish, no range, and very little offensive ability with the exception of trash buckets. Defensively, he is strong and rebounds well. A second round pick at best....if he goes earlier I will be surprised. Kambala - I have watched this guy, and was mildly impressed with his ability. He is a tank on the blocks. He lacks the defensive prowess Etan Thomas has, but has more ability to create his shot and rebounds well. Also not a first round pick....but a good second rounder if we have the pick. ------------------ HOOP-T Hey Shaq, Acme called, and they want their bricks back!
Thomas is a pretty good player, he will be a late/mid 1st rounder in my opinion. Thomas and Ken Johnson will probably make decent defensive oriented PF's. If we get another late 1st, I would like to draft either one. Relative to Kenny--the 2 inches and longer arms of Thomas' or Johnson make a huge difference in playing post players defensively. It is no accident both players racked up the blocks in college ball while Kenny was rather average in this department. I don't have a problem with neccesarily a 6' 7" PF (Kenny), but I do have a problem with a line-up with a 6'3" PG, 6'4" SG, 6'6" SF and a 6'7" PF, none of whom block many shots nor are that great of rebounders (SA and KT may not be bad, but not great if forced to play bigger positions). I would feel better about Kenny at the 4 if we have a relatively tall (6'8"+) defensively skilled three and moved Shandon to the 2 (he has quite a defensive and rebouding presense when he plays this position). Examples of three's like this are McGrady, a young Pippen, or a Horry with heart. Of the potentialy draftees, I guess T. Morris and Battier would fit the bill if they came out, maybe a high schooler as well. Likewise, though it would be a project, maybe Demarr can develop his defense and add strength so that he can become a three. [This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited April 03, 2000).]
We can't draft Eton Thomas! We already have Kenny Thomas. Having two Thomases -- both playing PF no less -- will be too confusing on the bbs. Remember after the last draft when we had Thomas Hamilton, Kenny Thomas, and Venson Hamilton? It was a nightmare. No one knew who anyone was talking about! That's why Venson Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton are no longer with us -- they weren't worth the mistaken identities. I'm not going to go through that again. I'm sure Rudy has learned that lesson! ------------------
well it worked OK for the Pacers and the Davis boys. I think Venson can be a good NBA PF. Rudy sent Popeye Jones to Europe his rookie year too and he came back as a nice player.
Well, from what everybody's saying, neither of these guys would be the type of player the Rockets would consider drafting with either their lotto pick or the Orlando pick if they get it. It's too bad Swift is not coming out. Rocketman95: Kenny T may have the "potential" to be a good starting PF, but he hasn't been one this season IMO. If you compare his stats to the rookie seasons of most other starting PFs, the comparison would not be favorable for Kenny. The worst of all is that gruesome FG%. He may shoot some threes, but still, 41% is awful for a PF. Also, there's been a bad trend in the Rockets' box scores of opposing PFs (at least the ones who are a significant part of their team's offense) blowing up for bigger than usual games against Kenny. 22 rebounds is great for one game, but overall his rebounding has been average with a fair number of subpar games. As far as size is concerned, I don't think anyone is going to disagree that lack of size is a disadvantage at the PF position. If you make up for it in other areas, great, but it's still a disadvantage. Being four inches shorter than someone you're guarding is significantly different than being two inches shorter than someone you're guarding. I'm not saying write Kenny off as a potential starter. I'm just saying that the PF spot is a WEAK link for the Rockets that they should try to improve, either through trades or through the draft. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oakdogg (edited April 03, 2000).]
Good point sir scavajal - having a short PF is no big problem if you have height in other areas, but we don't have height in other areas. I also agree that Kenny Thomas COULD be the starting PF, but he needs to show far more intensity on a consistent basis, and he needs to learn how to block a shot or 2. Plus he needs to learn to use his big frame to push opposing PF's further away from the basket and make their shots more difficult. That's why I'm a fan of Kenny Thomas off the bench - let him come on and play hard for 15-20 minutes, if he's having one of his on nights then let him go at it! Otherwise we need a taller PF who is defensively sound and who can play the help defense role and who is willing to work hard for the garbage points. That's why I like Etan Thomas, sure he's not skilled in offense at all, but his college FG% was over 60 - he obviously knows his limitations and takes only the shots that he's got a chance of making (to clarify, I'm not saying that his FG% will translate directly to the pro's, just that it indicates that he knows his range). I'm, also aware that Kenny Thomas was over 52% from the field in college, but as a shorter PF he was always going to find more opposition on his way to the hoop (plus his desire to show his range...). Also, the comment about the 22nd pick getting 22 rebounds.. I guess that makes him a better player than if he was the 14th pick and got 22 rebounds? I'm not looking at Kenny and saying "what a steal in the draft, let's keep him and play himasmany minutes as possible" - I look at him as a player in a rockets uniform and say "he's got great skills - now if there could just be a little consistency he'd be great" I'm not meaning to lead an attack on Thomas here, I'm just saying that despite the fact that he might be your favourite player he still needs to learn about the game and needs to become more consistent (not 22 boards a game consistent) - and I don't expect it to happen overnight - but I still think we need a taller shotblocking type at PF, and if we've got some late first round picks then why not pick one? ------------------
Something to consider about potentially drafting a 4, is that we still have the rights to Venson Hamilton, who is currently playing in Europe. Is either Etan Thomas or Kaspars Kambala better than Hamilton? If not, why bother drating either of them? ------------------
