Can Jason Thompson play the 5 in the NBA?
- Thread starter Smills91
- Start date
Arby's Roast Beef
Starter
I definitely can see him as a part time center Mark Blount face-up style with some level of physical tools, but I'd be more impressed if he stuck with just being a PF considering his adequate height (6'10"ish) for that position. I see him more as a finesse player who can bring a certain level of inside-outside game at peak form, not as a banger who's asked to routinely handle bigger, stronger players both offensively and defensively.
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
I wouldn't mind us experimenting with a Thompson/Shelden lineup until Hawes gets his act together defensively. With Shelden at the 5, of course.
No. Just, no.
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Well excuse me for caring about defense
It's not that. It is that Sheldon is not a 5. Let us please quit trying to force players to keep playing out of position, shall we. It typically doesn't work....
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Been away for a few days. Been moving. Way too much work, but, I'm finally up and running. Strange conservation going on here. Its as though we've assumed that Hawes is a bust and we have to look elsewhere for a center. We haven't even played a game yet folks!
Can Thompson fill in at center if needed? Sure! He played center his last two years of college. I think his best position is Power forward. Its where he has the advantage of height and quickness, plus ballhandling skills. In truth, where he can play, whatever position, depends on how good he actually is. I suggest we just wait and see.
Can Thompson fill in at center if needed? Sure! He played center his last two years of college. I think his best position is Power forward. Its where he has the advantage of height and quickness, plus ballhandling skills. In truth, where he can play, whatever position, depends on how good he actually is. I suggest we just wait and see.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Maybe to the untrained eye. But the only time Shelden ever found remote success in the NBA is at the center position. Shelden cannot guard 4s. He's not fast or athletic enough. He's also got the strength and weight to guard most 5s, he reminds me a lot of Kurt Thomas in that regard. It's true that he has the height of a PF, but he has an absolutely huge wingspan.
I don't see why we can't experiment. Shelden will never be a successful PF. Maybe he can find it at C next to a long and athletic true PF like Thompson.
True. But Hawes likely isn't physically ready to start. And if Miller is traded this year, then the spot has to be filled by someone for the time being.
Vlade4GM
All-Star
And yet only an 8'8 standing reach.
Telemachus
Starter
Whenever Williams played the 5, the opposing center just shot right over the top of him. And for all that strength, and never used it to keep his man from getting position. He waited for his man to get the ball and then tried to push him off the block (that never works), and usually just ended up fouling or giving up the shot.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
And what info do you have that states that Hawes isn't physically ready to start? Do you know something the rest of us don't? Also, my great aunt that raised me always told me that "IF" is for children.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Good point there. At least Thompson isn't vertically challeged.Right, in that regards he's like an ultra-broad-shouldered, 6'6" (in shoes) guy with a neck/head that's long enough to make him 6'9".
He's got the size to play college C, or small ball NBA C, but he lacks small ball speed.
I'm afraid there's no position in the NBA that's great for him.
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