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After watching tonight's game, I am convinced Thabo has ability on the offensive end. He is definitely not a taller version of Duhon, as many have opined. He splits defenders well, gets to the basket, has the size to finish, and can draw contact. The only troubling thing is his jumpshot. I have read in recent Beat articles about Thabo's work ethic and that he spends extra time on his shooting, but there was no evidence of that tonight. Thus it is frustrating because you get the feeling that Thabo is making a sincere effort on his shot. Is there something mechanically wrong with his jumper? If there was, I am guessing Ron Adams, "The Shooting Doctor", would have diagnosed it by now. Thoughts?

Its too flat, he has a funny little hitch to it sometimes and his feet aren't always under him. He's just not a shooter. He can improve, but it'll never be money.

He has the Perkins syndrome. His arms are just too damn long..

BrooklynBulls wrote:Its too flat, he has a funny little hitch to it sometimes and his feet aren't always under him. He's just not a shooter. He can improve, but it'll never be money.

His rookie year, Nocioni never looked like he was going to be able to hit an open shoot with any accuracy. Kevin Martin, Marion and Barbosa have some ugly forms, and they struggled with the outside shot early in their careers. Pippen didn't shoot any outside shots his first few years. Hell, Lebron had an ugly form on his outside shot, and boy did it used to be inconsistent.

What am I saying? If Thabo puts in a good off-season and gets more comfortable on the floor, and works on his strengths (slashing), he can become a potent offensive weapon with a reliable outside shot.

MrSparkle wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



His rookie year, Nocioni never looked like he was going to be able to hit an open shoot with any accuracy. Kevin Martin, Marion and Barbosa have some ugly forms, and they struggled with the outside shot early in their careers. Pippen didn't shoot any outside shots his first few years. Hell, Lebron had an ugly form on his outside shot, and boy did it used to be inconsistent.

What am I saying? If Thabo puts in a good off-season and gets more comfortable on the floor, and works on his strengths (slashing), he can become a potent offensive weapon with a reliable outside shot.

Martin was a good shooter in college. Barbosa has textbook form, its just a 2 hand shot no one uses anymore. Marion is still a very inconsistent shooter, he just penetrates at will. Pippen, too, was not a good shooter. LeBron STILL isn't. Like I said, it can get better, but to expect a great shot from him is expecting too much.

Only 35% from the floor. Thats beyond ugly for a guard.

He just needs to shoot shoot shoot in the off season. And maybe even bulk up a little so he can slash and absorb contact around the rim more effectively...

.. and work on your bank shots, it could be useful for a player like him.

JCrossover#1 wrote:Only 35% from the floor. Thats beyond ugly for a guard.

He is shooting 44% in January, and is over 50% since being named a starter.

I put this in the postgame thread. He has horrible footwork on his jump shot. Look where his feet are on many attempts and its laughable. You will see him with his feet spread out wide, in front of each other, etc.

His shot is also flat, but he has to work on his feet before his hands. If you don't get a consistent lift, you are going to struggle.

I notice that he occasionally has decent form + some arc and backspin, but mainly at the start of games. I think he gets mentally sloppy as the game goes on.

Personally, he (like many of the Bulls) needs to recognize that J's are less likely to fall in the late 3rd and 4th quarter, and to shift the mix of their shots to more layups. I think Thabo's numbers were somewhat distorted because he actually did take the ball to the hole more last night and was getting fouled (which is good).

coldfish wrote:I put this in the postgame thread. He has horrible footwork on his jump shot. Look where his feet are on many attempts and its laughable. You will see him with his feet spread out wide, in front of each other, etc.

His shot is also flat, but he has to work on his feet before his hands. If you don't get a consistent lift, you are going to struggle.

Bingo. And last night it was particularly bad.

He's never going to be money from deep. In addition to the footwork problems, he slings it. He sort of whips it at the rim with an abbreviated follow through and it leads to a low tragectory shot.

But his form looks much better on the mid range jumpers. He follows though much better and holds his form. His offensive game will eventually be predicated on mid-range jumpers, penetration to draw contact, and post ups (he showed wonderful touch on a baby hook a few times as a rookie, but I haven't seen him take that shot yet this season).

DuckIII wrote: (he showed wonderful touch on a baby hook a few times as a rookie, but I haven't seen him take that shot yet this season).

Perhaps you missed the running, spinning, left-handed hook off the glass a couple games ago. It was amazing, and it included 4 things Adrian Griffin is no longer able to do.

BrooklynBulls wrote:Perhaps you missed the running, spinning, left-handed hook off the glass a couple games ago. It was amazing, and it included 4 things Adrian Griffin is no longer able to do.

I didn't miss it. That wasn't a post up move, which is what I was referring to.

DuckIII wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I didn't miss it. That wasn't a post up move, which is what I was referring to.

I just really wanted to talk about that shot. You know, the left hander off the glass. Spinning.

Thabo does have a hitch. The confusing thing is the hitch slows down his shot but he still doesn't get his feet under him.

I'd like to think he'll get better but he'll never be more than average from deep. If his midrange game improves though he'll be a pretty solid offensive player.

Thats one of the flaws, his feet, he doesn't get them underneath him and he gets little lift off the ground. He practically shoots a set shot at times, that affects his ability to pull up and shoot over defenders, particularly in the midrange area.

Then you have the the actual release and set point of the shot. Like already mentioned it's a rather flat shot, he shoots it at the rim instead of up into the sky. His shooting motion is more like a throwing action, he shoots it forward instead of up. He almost raises it to far above his head--it actually goes a little bit behind his head. It's not so bad from midrange, but because it's so flat it's really hard to connect from further out.

I think he could become a good shooter from midrange, he just has to get quicker at gathering the ball from the dribble and raising up into the shot pocket, it's a little slow at the mo and his poor footwork often leaves him unbalanced.

As for 3 pointers? I think he needs a lot more arc if he wants to connect better.

Like Duck said, his offensive game is dribble penetration and possibly the midrange shot. Thats if he can get better balance(footwork) and quicker elevation IMO.