The major difference between Thornton and Thad

[LongLiveHinkie]

As many of you know I wanted Thornton in the draft. I still wouldn't be angry if we took Thornton, but I've finally decided that Thad was the better pick. I've watched a lot of Thornton this year, and I have to say that the major difference between both is basketball IQ. Thad is like 5 years younger, and he has a MUCH higher basketball IQ. He just has that natural feel of the game. What do to/where to be/etc.

I think with maturity, his scoring will polish, but the basketball IQ is there.

[THFM]

I agree I talked about Thad and Thorton over on the Clippers board and they were being so rude about it. They say how Thorton still has room to grow and he already has showed his polish while Thad has the "potential" cloud over his head. All of them think Thorton is the better player now along with in the future and Thad is a bust. I think there just pissed they didn't pick Thad so there showing super loyalty to Thorton. Honestly I don't see Thorton's game improving a lot more. Think in FIVE YEARS Thad will be Thorton's age NOW.

[P2K]

I do wish Thad had Thornton's aggressiveness on offense.

[ankle420breaker]

I do wish Thad had Thornton's aggressiveness on offense.

Thad plays within his limits on offense.... I personally see that as one of his positives.

[carlos1223]

Either way the Clippers suck and we're way better han them

[carltong23]

I wanted Julian Wright on draft night. But judging by their rookie year, Thaddeus seems like the best long-term pick. Thornton is a great athlete and an aggresive scorer, but at 24 how much better is he going to get? Hes like a young Stephen Jackson, except Jackson seems like a better defender. I honestly havent seen anything of Wright except highlights of him at Kansas on youtube. Thaddeus is a good defender, a good opportunistic scorer without having any plays run for him, and great rebounder for a rookie whose playing as an undersized PF. Besides Horford I cant think of any rookie from this draft or even the previous draft who has as much of an instict for rebounding as Thad.

[The Guilty Party]

Besides being better than him right now, let's see where Thad is in 5 years time when he will be at the same age Thornton is today. I think we have to hope that DiLeo was the brains behind the draft because King has had some solid picks.

[PhilasFinest]

the key difference...Thornton had 10 turnovers last night vs the sixers...

[ankle420breaker]

the key difference...Thornton had 10 turnovers last night vs the sixers...

Amen Finest.... he EARNED that double double

[sec-106]

the key difference...Thornton had 10 turnovers last night vs the sixers...

Double Amen.

[barkley34]

Agree about the BBall IQ, Thad is also going to be a much better defensive player.

[Skates]

I also remember Julian Wright being in the mix. Looks like Charlotte got the short end of the stick on that one. The other guy I would have liked at 12 was Rodney Stuckey, who still may be a very good player.

[sixersinsider]

Thad vs Thornton
...Great offense...Thornton
....Beats Great defence...Thad
Thads bball i q is tremendous in all facets of the game except on the offensive end. I love is hustle he probally leads the nba in Dives on the floor.Has an above avg jumper He could even develop into a lockdown deffender.Whether it is five years or 10 down the line he will never be a proliffic scorer(able to create his own shot 10 or more times a game) Great glue guy.Lets live in reality sixers fan This kid Thorton has had games where hes put up 50pts in college. He is a scorer by nature I would put him above Loul deng if i was trying to draft a scoring option.Thad was drafted with the concept of us being back in the lottery.The sixers would rather have Thorton.

[ankle420breaker]

Thad vs Thornton
...Great offense...Thornton
....Beats Great defence...Thad
Thads bball i q is tremendous in all facets of the game except on the offensive end. I love is hustle he probally leads the nba in Dives on the floor.Has an above avg jumper He could even develop into a lockdown deffender.Whether it is five years or 10 down the line he will never be a proliffic scorer(able to create his own shot 10 or more times a game) Great glue guy.Lets live in reality sixers fan This kid Thorton has had games where hes put up 50pts in college. He is a scorer by nature I would put him above Loul deng if i was trying to draft a scoring option.Thad was drafted with the concept of us being back in the lottery.The sixers would rather have Thorton.

Why would the Sixers rather have a guy who is 5 years older and one dimensional?

[Skates]

Thad vs Thornton
...Great offense...Thornton
....Beats Great defence...Thad
Thads bball i q is tremendous in all facets of the game except on the offensive end. I love is hustle he probally leads the nba in Dives on the floor.Has an above avg jumper He could even develop into a lockdown deffender.Whether it is five years or 10 down the line he will never be a proliffic scorer(able to create his own shot 10 or more times a game) Great glue guy.Lets live in reality sixers fan This kid Thorton has had games where hes put up 50pts in college. He is a scorer by nature I would put him above Loul deng if i was trying to draft a scoring option.Thad was drafted with the concept of us being back in the lottery.The sixers would rather have Thorton.

First of all, no great offense does not beat great defense. The Spurs, Pistons, Lakers, Bulls and Rockets all won with defense and certainly had enough scoring to back it up. The big offensive teams like Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Golden State have zero championships to show for it. Big scorers who win championships like Jordan, Kobe and Duncan are two way great players, that is why they win.

Second, Thornton was playing in college when he put up all of those big numbers. The college game is still entertaining, but since nearly all of the great players and some of the very good ones went straight to the NBA or played one year (starting last year), the college game has seen its talent level drop dramatically. He was also older and more physically developed than most college players. He will be a good scorer no doubt, but don't expect someone of Jordan/Iverson caliber when it comes to scoring. Thornton reminds me of a guy who will be the leading scorer on a lot of bad teams.

Finally, if you really watch basketball you can see that Thad has nearly all of the tools and he's only 19. He will be a lockdown defender, a very good rebounder for his size and he already shows a smooth jumper, although it needs work, and incredible instincts for scoring around the basket. A glue guy? Give me a break, Shane Battier and Josh Childress are glue guys, not Young as he develops.

Thornton is a jump over or run through you kind of athlete and he forces a lot of shots. I believe Thornton lead the Sixers in assists last night. Thad's skills are far more subtle, he doesn't look as explosive as Iggy or Thornton physically, but he reminds me more of Tim Duncan (no, not as a big man) or Paul Pierce. They both have tremendous instincts and silky smooth, as opposed to explosive, athleticism. They have efficiency of motion and you never realize they are killing you until the scoreboard flashes their numbers at the end of the game. Thornton will be flashier, Thad will be better.

[Sixerscan]

The big offensive teams like Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Golden State have zero championships to show for it.

Big defensive teams like the modern Rockets and Bulls have zero championships to show for it.

You need both.

Also, he was talking about individuals, not teams. That isn't that wrong. I'd rather have a great offensive player that plays terrible defense like Steve Nash or Mike Redd than a guy like Bruce Bowen.

Now, saying Thornton is a great offensive player (And Thad defensively) isn't even close to true yet, but that one statement isn't wrong in theory.

[freshie2]

6'8" vs 6'8"
19 vs 24
Lefty vs Righty
53% vs 44%
33% vs 35%
69% vs 73%
4 rpg vs 4 rpg

They both have a lot of things to like about them...hopefully Thad keeps developing and in 2 seasons, he's being mentioned as the top young SF in the league...we shall see.

[Stanford]

Thad vs Thornton
...Great offense...Thornton
....Beats Great defence...Thad
Thads bball i q is tremendous in all facets of the game except on the offensive end. I love is hustle he probally leads the nba in Dives on the floor.Has an above avg jumper He could even develop into a lockdown deffender.Whether it is five years or 10 down the line he will never be a proliffic scorer(able to create his own shot 10 or more times a game) Great glue guy.Lets live in reality sixers fan This kid Thorton has had games where hes put up 50pts in college. He is a scorer by nature I would put him above Loul deng if i was trying to draft a scoring option.Thad was drafted with the concept of us being back in the lottery.The sixers would rather have Thorton.

1) You don't even know the brothers name.
2) He had a grand total of zero 50 point games in college. He had a single 40+ game, and that was against an unranked team.
3) I have a hard time believing Thad was drafted with the idea that we would be back in the lottery. Andre Miller wasn't being shopped at all during the offseason or during the current regular season.

[Skates]

Big defensive teams like the modern Rockets and Bulls have zero championships to show for it.

You need both.

Also, he was talking about individuals, not teams. That isn't that wrong. I'd rather have a great offensive player that plays terrible defense like Steve Nash or Mike Redd than a guy like Bruce Bowen.

Now, saying Thornton is a great offensive player (And Thad defensively) isn't even close to true yet, but that one statement isn't wrong in theory.

I don't think you can build a winning team around a one dimensional scorer or a one-dimensional defensive player. Nash is a bit of a special case as most great passing point guards are, their offense is not just good for them it makes the players around them better offensively. Make the comparison between a healthy Michael Redd (or Eddy Curry if you want a big guy) and a healthy Marcus Camby/ younger Dikembe Mutombo level defensive player and it's a lot closer call for who you build around.

The Knicks/Miami/Rockets of Van Gundy and Riley are not really my idea of good defensive, that system is more about beating people up and taking the air out of the ball and few of those teams consisted of great individual defenders. You are right about not winning in those systems, even with scorers like Ewing, Yao and McGrady around. The Miami championship was quite fluky and was the one time the better offensive team absolutely should have won.

Hey, I'd he happy with Thornton and I doubt I would see much in Thad watching from a distance. To see the things that are going to make him special you have to watch him every game. Right now he won't burst at at you like Thornton. In either case I'm glad Julian Wright is not a Sixer.

[sixersinsider]

1. Thorton scored 45pts on miami in a major game in march(I apologize for intentionally decieving the Jury)
2 Believe it or not The sixers may be in the lottery this year(Atlanta is Beating Goldenstate at the half)
3.The sixers picked Larry Hughes over Paul pierce under simallar circumstances as the ....young over thornton ...pick