Change in JT's game?

[VF21]

One of my biggest complaints about Jason over the years has been the irritating habit he had of getting a pass deep in the paint and insisting on dribbling the ball once before going to the hoop.

Is it just me or has he quit doing it? I could have sworn I didn't see him do it even once tonight.

If that's because of the assistance he's getting from Clifford Ray, then I think the guy deserves a BIG raise!!!

 

[jcwkings]

he seems to have eliminated everything that hurt him in the past, remember when he would hack and reach all the time, and get offensive fouls left and right. he seems to recognize that now when driving in, either taking a half hook, or dishing it out. Also he used to take too long to finish his inside shots, leading to getting his layup blocked. Now hes going up strong with both hands more often, this is also due to the fact that JT is bigger and stronger than he has been in the past, kudos to him for working hard on his game and body.

 

[LWP777]

Agree VF. He is playing the best basketball of his career now. He's not playing super fast like he did before. It's like his basketball IQ has doubled in the past couple of weeks. Weird.

 

[Spok22]

Agree VF. He is playing the best basketball of his career now. He's not playing super fast like he did before. It's like his basketball IQ has doubled in the past couple of weeks. Weird.

Hes becoming SMART. lol

 

[OptimusRhyme]

He looks great out there! Under control and confident.. Whats his free agency status? is he retricted next year?

(Also can one of the Mods help me with reacctivating my other Optimusrhyme account please)

 

[VF21]

He looks great out there! Under control and confident.. Whats his free agency status? is he retricted next year?

(Also can one of the Mods help me with reacctivating my other Optimusrhyme account please)

I'm sending you a PM as you read this.

EDIT: Can't send the PM yet. Takes a bit for the system to approve you. What happened? Did you forget your password?

 

[rainmaker]

Just another example of why you don't give up on young players. They take time to develop. Really is becoming even more apparent how much Westy hurt our young guys.

JT is really playing well, much more patient. Also going up stronger. Most impressive I think is his reading of the defense. Getting the shot or pass he wants. Knowing how to attack the defense while looking calm. I think the game is slowing down for him.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I'm sending you a PM as you read this.

EDIT: Can't send the PM yet. Takes a bit for the system to approve you. What happened? Did you forget your password?

Thanks! Yes, I forgot the password, then KF's emailed me a new one. But I couldnt retrieve it because my hotmail account got hacked and shut down.

 

[jcwkings]

his defense is much improved as well, i would say hes a solid defender now, last year he was a pretty bad defender.

 

[jalfa]

I actually recall him doing it once this game on either a cut or a roll to the basket, where he would've had an open layup if he doesn't dribble and got it stuffed when he did. but yeah, Jason has been really impressive of late. if this is all Clifford Ray's doing, then we should've gotten him way earlier!

 

[JB_kings]

JT is not the only big man who has looked better since Clifford Ray was hired. Cousins moves on the block looked better last night. Perhaps Ray is teaching him how to deal with putting his defender in positions where they have to either foul him or let him score. Often Cousins would just attack the rim and get swatted.

They need to promote Ray to full time coach ASAP. He's only working with the big men in here in town.

 

[Gilles]

Yeah, Cousins doesn't try quickly throw the ball towards the hoop like he did previously. He now puts his body into defender and then shoots.

 

[ppine]

Thank Clifford Ray. Realize that JT has had to change a lot of his offense that worked in college. His main difference is confidence. He doesn't get pissed off at himself like he used to.

 

[Fear the Putin]

next stop for Clifford Ray...Hassan

 

[Spike]

JT has always had these moments, contract year included. He's just a lot more consistent with them now, which has been great.

 

[Padrino]

its a consistency that comes with time. some players acquire the necessary maturity to find success in the nba earlier than others, some later than others, and all with a tremendous variety of factors in mind. where is the expectation level? how does the coach utilize the player? who does that player surround themselves with? what does that player do away from the team to improve? there's a hundred additional questions to ask, but JT's gettin' it done, regardless. his numbers are relatively pedestrian, but he's settled into a role player's skin, which is exactly what the kings need. further down the line, if this team becomes a playoff contender, they may require something more from their starting PF position, in which case JT would go to the bench, where i imagine he would continue to grow and mature. ultimately, he's becoming exactly what i have always hoped he would become: a versatile utility big man who scraps and hustles. he's not great at anything, but he's good enough at everything. that's the province of successful role players in this league...

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I just hope we don't severely over-pay JT because of these recent games. He looks very good out there, much improved. But so do many players when their contract is coming up. I dont want to be right about JT and playing for money right now then possibly slipping back to "mediocrity".. I hope im wrong. It's easy to be blinded by those shiny 18pts, 15 reb, 4 asts statlines hes putting up right now. I hope our GM really evaluates this situation and thinks this extention through correctly!

 

[Padrino]

I just hope we don't severely over-pay JT because of these recent games. He looks very good out there, much improved. But so do many players when their contract is coming up. I dont want to be right about JT and playing for money right now then possibly slipping back to "mediocrity".. I hope im wrong. It's easy to be blinded by those shiny 18pts, 15 reb, 4 asts statlines hes putting up right now. I hope our GM really evaluates this situation and thinks this extention through correctly!

meh. i say pay the man. truth is, quality bigs are at an absolute premium in the nba, 24/7/365. forget the all stars of the league for a moment, cuz they're not exactly knockin' down our doors to come play here, anyway. that said, how many non-all star PF's can you think of that might potentially give you 18/15/4 on any given night? now, JT's defense is not exactly top tier, but it has improved, as has his overall consistency and drive to hustle. gimme guys like thompson and cousins who go after the ball, fight for every possession, and play with a truly palpable passion. if JT was still playing out of control, letting defenses get into his head, and showing a general lack of smarts on both sides of the ball, i'd say we should definitely think long and hard about whether to extend, and for how much. but he's a guy who has steadied himself, and who knows his role. and when the situation calls for it, he's ready and willing to rise to the occasion and play above his role. so i shell out some dollars to keep him in a frontcourt rotation that's woefully thin. i do my best not to overpay mightily, but in a league that's constantly scrambling after even just the most mediocre of big men, a player like jason thompson stands out to me as someone actually worth investing in...

 

[Spike]

but he's a guy who has steadied himself, and who knows his role. and when the situation calls for it, he's ready and willing to rise to the occasion and play above his role. so i shell out some dollars to keep him in a frontcourt rotation that's woefully thin. i do my best not to overpay mightily, but in a league that's constantly scrambling after even just the most mediocre of big men, a player like jason thompson stands out to me as someone actually worth investing in...

This. Quality big men are hard to find. Mediocre big men are hard to find. JT is somewhere in between, although I feel he is much closer to quality than mediocre. He knows his role and plays it well.

 

[ppine]

The Kings need guys like JT because of his big motor. Recent coaching seems to have helped a lot. Cousins is a little erratic lately. Both these guys ate a little humble pie against the Jazz. Hayes showed great defense last night. He may also be benefitting from big man coaching, and also may getting into to better shape to make contributions on offense.