Jason Thompson
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How will putting a center next to JT change the fact he leads the NBA in fouls?
Or that he commits a ridiculous number of TOs for a guy who doesn't assist the ball?
Or that he is a chronic and immature cry baby?
Or that he has little to no post moves despite having a great former post player in Shareef to coach him?
JT is a nice guy and tries hard, but I am over watching him play. His performance is pre-determined due to his fundamental deficiencies.
Or that he commits a ridiculous number of TOs for a guy who doesn't assist the ball?
Or that he is a chronic and immature cry baby?
Or that he has little to no post moves despite having a great former post player in Shareef to coach him?
JT is a nice guy and tries hard, but I am over watching him play. His performance is pre-determined due to his fundamental deficiencies.
There needs to be 1 thread on how much Spencer and Jason “suck”. This is getting ridiculous. Every game there’s a new thread about 1 of these 2. Why can’t people just let these guys learn? Seriously? We’re not going to win a championship this year...scratch that…we’re not even going to make it to the Playoffs. You want the kids to learn, here it is, let them learn. They will make mistakes, they will have their ups, their downs, and it will take more time for big men to put it together. But it will take time and they need to go through this.
But you’re right, Jason does complain a lot and he does need to learn how to work with the NBA and part of the reason why he’s not given a lot (or some freedom) is because he’s always complaining. He opens his mouth too much instead of figuring out a way to play. And he needs to learn that and until he does, he’s always going continue to have this problem.
But you’re right, Jason does complain a lot and he does need to learn how to work with the NBA and part of the reason why he’s not given a lot (or some freedom) is because he’s always complaining. He opens his mouth too much instead of figuring out a way to play. And he needs to learn that and until he does, he’s always going continue to have this problem.
We won't know unless we get an NBA Quality Center in Free Agency. He sure was playing well early in the year. Then he just seemed to crap out. Maybe it is mental. Maybe he is giving up before the games even start knowing that the Kings have no Post Defense and are giving up 105.39 points a game (4th worst in the NBA). Yes that is partly his fault but if the Kings were to acquire a defensive minded center, JT wouldn't be guarding 2 guys every night. The guy he is supposed to guard and whoever is blowing by Hawes to the rim! Help defense because of Hawes is causing JT to get a lot of his fouls too.
I don't want to sound like a JT apologist. There are plenty of those here on this blog. No one is causing JT to miss his jumpers but JT. JT is not a bad player He is better than the players selected after him in the draft:
http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board.html
And there are 2 that were selected before Thompson that I believe those teams wish would have taken Thompson instead of the player they got. JT's numbers have gone up this year from last across the board. Next year will be the All Important 3rd year for him, and I think he has already proven he belongs in this league! 2.6 points more and 1.4 rebound improvement over last season and there is reason to believe he will continue to improve Next year if he continues to work out, practices that 12-15 foot jumper and AND STOPS WHINING TO THE REFS, he will be a force in the paint!! The thing about the refs should be handled by PW. When he does it, he should get the hook and the coach should go over and have a talk with the kid. His emotions are getting in the way of his improvement ! At least the Kid gets fined every time he gets a tech. He should get suspended before this habit becomes un-removeable. God WILLING, the Kings want GET Jason in the weight room and have him bulk ups at least 30 more lbs and I bet he does it! Then lets see with more strength upper and lower and he could be just the right thing for him to succeed!!
Offensive/Defensive/Total 2009
2.9/4.5/7.4
Offensive/Defensive/Total 2009
3.20/5.50/8.80
His 8.8 Rebounds is just below DOUBLE the next Kings player on the team, So we know he is active under the boards. Sure those numbers a somewhat skewed because he misses so many gimmies but he gets those rebounds and more often than not he puts them back in. I think that JT is ahead of schedule considering this is ONLY his SECOND year and his improvement over last year is what you want to see in a second year player !! What will this kid look like next season when he really starts maturing physically and mentally, and starts seeing how he can score and improve his footwork for rebounding! No, JT is NOT a BUST. Where he was selected 12th in '08 make him look like a steal! (Petrie does it again !!!) I wouldn't have selected ANY of the players taken after Thompson:
http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board.html
And in fact, I would not have taken Danilo Gallinari, Joe Alexander either and they went BEFORE JT!! Do you think those 2 GM's aren't getting heat for not seeing this Kid's potential! For a kid selected 11th he is becoming a solid big man who seems to be ahead of the learning curve everywhere but dealing with blind, gamboling refs !! He Played 4 YEARS AT RUTGERS, A STONES THROW from Bristle Conn, home of the Sports world Leader. They totally missed this kid. Most Bigs take time to develop unless they are in the top 5 in which case you have the possibility of drafting a Superstar or monumental bust (ie Durrant vs Oden) The GM's are paid the big bukz to make these kind of calls. I really thought that Oden was the most for sure player and that Durrant was a tweener that might be outta position at the 2 or 3 like all the "Experts" believed.. I was dead wrong and so were they.
One last fun fact. Those so called "Draft Experts" are saying that this year will be a strong year for Bigs. Last year they said that all the players after Griffin was a potential flop. They said, not a deep draft/ They were wrong about 08-09 which was a deep draft and has a lot of starters as rookies. Petrie picked up two starters! Draft Guru = Dumb hack with agenda to push some player for all the wrong reasons. Stay away from the East Priority Sports Nonsense channel and website. I have been checking out draftexpress because they have Euro league info and the draft potential of euro's going NBA, Good site with a lot of in depth info on the players. I use it now for my day to day Basketball News Fix!! Thank Goodness for the Draft Express site! Check it out!
I don't want to sound like a JT apologist. There are plenty of those here on this blog. No one is causing JT to miss his jumpers but JT. JT is not a bad player He is better than the players selected after him in the draft:
http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board.html
And there are 2 that were selected before Thompson that I believe those teams wish would have taken Thompson instead of the player they got. JT's numbers have gone up this year from last across the board. Next year will be the All Important 3rd year for him, and I think he has already proven he belongs in this league! 2.6 points more and 1.4 rebound improvement over last season and there is reason to believe he will continue to improve Next year if he continues to work out, practices that 12-15 foot jumper and AND STOPS WHINING TO THE REFS, he will be a force in the paint!! The thing about the refs should be handled by PW. When he does it, he should get the hook and the coach should go over and have a talk with the kid. His emotions are getting in the way of his improvement ! At least the Kid gets fined every time he gets a tech. He should get suspended before this habit becomes un-removeable. God WILLING, the Kings want GET Jason in the weight room and have him bulk ups at least 30 more lbs and I bet he does it! Then lets see with more strength upper and lower and he could be just the right thing for him to succeed!!
Offensive/Defensive/Total 2009
2.9/4.5/7.4
Offensive/Defensive/Total 2009
3.20/5.50/8.80
His 8.8 Rebounds is just below DOUBLE the next Kings player on the team, So we know he is active under the boards. Sure those numbers a somewhat skewed because he misses so many gimmies but he gets those rebounds and more often than not he puts them back in. I think that JT is ahead of schedule considering this is ONLY his SECOND year and his improvement over last year is what you want to see in a second year player !! What will this kid look like next season when he really starts maturing physically and mentally, and starts seeing how he can score and improve his footwork for rebounding! No, JT is NOT a BUST. Where he was selected 12th in '08 make him look like a steal! (Petrie does it again !!!) I wouldn't have selected ANY of the players taken after Thompson:
http://www.nba.com/draft2008/board.html
And in fact, I would not have taken Danilo Gallinari, Joe Alexander either and they went BEFORE JT!! Do you think those 2 GM's aren't getting heat for not seeing this Kid's potential! For a kid selected 11th he is becoming a solid big man who seems to be ahead of the learning curve everywhere but dealing with blind, gamboling refs !! He Played 4 YEARS AT RUTGERS, A STONES THROW from Bristle Conn, home of the Sports world Leader. They totally missed this kid. Most Bigs take time to develop unless they are in the top 5 in which case you have the possibility of drafting a Superstar or monumental bust (ie Durrant vs Oden) The GM's are paid the big bukz to make these kind of calls. I really thought that Oden was the most for sure player and that Durrant was a tweener that might be outta position at the 2 or 3 like all the "Experts" believed.. I was dead wrong and so were they.
One last fun fact. Those so called "Draft Experts" are saying that this year will be a strong year for Bigs. Last year they said that all the players after Griffin was a potential flop. They said, not a deep draft/ They were wrong about 08-09 which was a deep draft and has a lot of starters as rookies. Petrie picked up two starters! Draft Guru = Dumb hack with agenda to push some player for all the wrong reasons. Stay away from the East Priority Sports Nonsense channel and website. I have been checking out draftexpress because they have Euro league info and the draft potential of euro's going NBA, Good site with a lot of in depth info on the players. I use it now for my day to day Basketball News Fix!! Thank Goodness for the Draft Express site! Check it out!
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It is hard to watch and I agree with you, it's a different situation with Jason and he needs to learn how to work around his foul troubles or else he'll never learn and grow as a player. Unfortunatly, it's not going to be a quick fix and I think it will take time with him to finally learn what he can do (in the eyes of the refs)...And maybe if he talked less and just played the game then the refs would give him an opportunity to do his thing without fouling out all the time.
Said this earlier in the season:
Prescient?
ETA--I think Thompson really plays better as a center, on both ends of the court. He already showed glimpses of this last season, and this season it's good that we're virtually equalizing his time between PF and C. He's absolutely getting torched on individual matchups at PF this season--really. Considering that he's not an impressive stealer or shotblocker, he should really look to draw charges--but he still doesn't. There's really nothing worthy about his defense at all.
Another thing--despite putting up what looks like slightly better numbers this season, his impact teamwise is worse--he's always been a better "team defensive player" than team offensive player, and both rates are down from last year. He's also really, really hurting us offensively. It's a definite regression here, but this might be his real ability, at the same time.
Prescient?
ETA--I think Thompson really plays better as a center, on both ends of the court. He already showed glimpses of this last season, and this season it's good that we're virtually equalizing his time between PF and C. He's absolutely getting torched on individual matchups at PF this season--really. Considering that he's not an impressive stealer or shotblocker, he should really look to draw charges--but he still doesn't. There's really nothing worthy about his defense at all.
Another thing--despite putting up what looks like slightly better numbers this season, his impact teamwise is worse--he's always been a better "team defensive player" than team offensive player, and both rates are down from last year. He's also really, really hurting us offensively. It's a definite regression here, but this might be his real ability, at the same time.
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I hope you didn't put those two sets up stats up in any sort of argument that they are not that far apart? As an aside, whenever you are talking about a star playedr vs. a non-star player the star player's stats are considerably depressed as well by opposing teams putting their best defenders on him, double teaming, gameplanning, while the just another guy player is largely free to get his just playing against whoever.
!
If he can ever get over 'bad hands'. Bad hands when defending (fouls), bad hands when dribbling (turnovers). bad hands when laying up or putting back (missed easy shots). These when considered together paint a grim picture. I haven't yet given up on him but he has to improve to be effective off the bench! He is no starter.
If he can ever get over 'bad hands'. Bad hands when defending (fouls), bad hands when dribbling (turnovers). bad hands when laying up or putting back (missed easy shots). These when considered together paint a grim picture. I haven't yet given up on him but he has to improve to be effective off the bench! He is no starter.
If I read what your saying, it won't make any difference if we get a new center? If we get another center westphal wouldn't have to play JT at center as much as he does. I'm not saying you are wrong in your assesment about JT's shortcommings, but getting another big can't do anything but help whether he is taking time away from Spencer, JT or Brockman.
Bad attempt at humor here. For all these "what Amare without Nash" people out there, here is a little fact for you, Amare was 20/9 player BEFORE he played a single game with Nash. Thats a fact for those out there that have appreciation of Amare's offensive talents.
He was a 20/9 player before Nash rocked up in Phoenix and he still is a 20/9 player without Nash.
He was a 20/9 player before Nash rocked up in Phoenix and he still is a 20/9 player without Nash.
And that was pre Amare's mid range game. No one can compare Amare's mid-range game now and back then.
Amare has proved that he is a 20/9 player before he played a single game with Nash. Now that he is putting up similar numbers with Nash people brag on how Nash makes him better than he is which is just rubbish.
Amare has developed a deadly mid range game since his sophmore year and doesn't rely on his atleticism as much as he did back then. He is a much more complete player now than he was back then. Back then he could jump out of the gym, now he can shoot the light out from mid-range and is still a very strong finisher around the basket.
You pluck Amare into any situation and he is a 20/9 player regardless of whether he has Nash next to him or not.
Amare has proved that he is a 20/9 player before he played a single game with Nash. Now that he is putting up similar numbers with Nash people brag on how Nash makes him better than he is which is just rubbish.
Amare has developed a deadly mid range game since his sophmore year and doesn't rely on his atleticism as much as he did back then. He is a much more complete player now than he was back then. Back then he could jump out of the gym, now he can shoot the light out from mid-range and is still a very strong finisher around the basket.
You pluck Amare into any situation and he is a 20/9 player regardless of whether he has Nash next to him or not.
JT is just too wound up. Too tense for the game. His own worst critic. Every time he misses a shot or does something he thinks is wrong the critic in his head knocks the hell out of him to the point that he doesn't keep focus on the game. Somebody needs to read the yoga master's books and teach the kid how to relax and play. That's P L A Y. Not work, P L A Y. Have fun, noodle with the G A M E rather than adopting the WWI take the hill at any cost trench warfare attitude.
ahhhh Jt, he does frustrate me watching him, coming off the bench would do him some good, but hes are best option now sadly enough. The guy plays with his hands to much, defense is about moving feet getting good position, he just seems off balance so much. On offense he doest take contact well when trying to back down even a smaller player. In college he didnt play top notch talent and he was quicker then most big men, im not ready to give up on him yet its his second year keep working Jt.
JT's problems are at so many levels it's hard to see him overcome them. I hate to agree with Bench_blob's quote "His performance is pre-determined due to his fundamental deficiencies", but this is very close to my view of him as well. Foul trouble, the aforementioned masking on both ends of the court, the fact that he plays better as a center than a power forward...they're all alarms. And he's never really made us a better offensive team, and he's largely a very poor individual defensive guy. His real value lies in his hustling ability, largely his ability to get offensive rebounds and occasionally can the 15 footer (which he's decent at)--so if he gets confined in that role I think he'll excel more. That's why if JT stays, we need another big who can take the pressure off him.
