What do you need to see from Thabeet next season?

Post #1 » by **Mr. E** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:43 pm

I realize that many have already given up on the Daydreamer, but I'm not quite ready to give up yet. We will have a new coach and system, and I have to believe that whomever we hire will come in with the "understanding" that they will give players like Thabeet, Williams & Hill more playing time in expanded roles.

So what are we realistically expecting from Hasheem Thabeet? Big men traditionally seem to need a couple years to really get their groove going, but we really haven't seen any indication of forward progress so far in his case.

For this season to be successful does he need to become a rotation player? Does he need to push for a starting job? Are you willing to continue to bring him along slowly?

What are you looking for from Hasheem Thabeet in order to consider the upcoming season a success for him?

moofs · Post #2 » by **moofs** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:48 pm

He's young (24), but not young enough to "be brought along slowly". He needs to have been working out like a madman and doing drills all summer long. If he's not rotation, we aren't hurt by it, but any sort of dice roll that'd been placed on him will have missed.

texasholdem · Post #3 » by **texasholdem** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:50 pm

Maybe McHale can teach him some post moves

Post #4 » by **Mr. E** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:53 pm

He's 24?

I thought that he was 21 or 22!

texasholdem · Post #5 » by **texasholdem** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:58 pm

Mr. E wrote:He's 24?

I thought that he was 21 or 22!

He was 22 when he came into the league.

x- · Post #6 » by x- » Mon May 23, 2011 7:02 pm

Mr. E wrote:He's 24?

I thought that he was 21 or 22!

He's 24 according to his African passport, which means for all we know he might be 26.

There's no hope, really, but just theoretically speaking he needs to show improvement, period.

The knock on Thabeet has always been his work ethic and lack of desire to be great.
In Memphis he was know for being in the mall everyday, hangin out.

I'm still not sure why he #2. He wasn't even considered a first rounder in 2008.

Post #7 » by **Mr. E** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:08 pm

Wow...one of the reasons I was so patient with him was because I thought he was 21 or 22 (American Years).

texasholdem · Post #8 » by **texasholdem** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:15 pm

x- wrote:[
I'm still not sure why he #2. He wasn't even considered a first rounder in 2008.

He averaged 13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.28 blocks in his junior season and his team went to the Final Four. Hard to blame NBA GM's for passing that up.

rocketsballin · Post #9 » by **rocketsballin** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:17 pm

i'll be ok if he's good enough for spot minutes. doesnt play every game, but around 40-60. 10-20 minutes. depending on our roster and matchups, he can start a few games. i think that's a good career start for a backup center

MaxRider · Post #10 » by **MaxRider** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:37 pm

we need to see him on the floor wearing rockets jersey

NashyMing · Post #11 » by **NashyMing** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:38 pm

I think that's the reason they would hire Kevin McHale.

Apparently, he's a pretty good big man coach. He helped developed Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, etc and had a good relationship with Love (he was sad when McHale was let go but didn't comment about Rambis).

I think McHale can help the development of all the bigs. They should also get the Dream to help out.

College Boy · Post #12 » by **College Boy** » Mon May 23, 2011 7:41 pm

On offense, I would like to see him add at least two go-to post moves (definitely a baby hook and maybe a turn around of some sort), though I would substitute one of those post moves for a 10-15 footer. Also, I would like to see him roll to the rack (ala Tyson Chandler) for an oop at least once per game.

On defense, he needs to stay out of foul trouble. If he can get in some film sessions and watch himself to learn what not to do, he may be able to stay on the floor longer. If he can stay out of foul trouble, that alone would double his value.

Generally, there needs to be at least 25 lbs gained between Thabeet and Hill. He hasn't been on the court long enough for this to be an issue, but I'm sure his stamina could stand to improve as well. The better you breath, the more oxygen you body can send to your brain, the better decisions you make (especially late in games), etc.

I would be very satisfied if Thabeet could become for us what Tyson Chandler is for the Mavericks. I'm not looking for him to be an offensive juggernaut, no, I just don't want him to be a liability. It should not take more than two years of hard work for him to reach this level.

Guy986 · Post #13 » by **Guy986** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:26 pm

I dont want to see anything on offense from him. Catch and dunk thats it.

On defense all i ask is to see him contest shots, rotate, rebound and not foul out.

Is that so hard?

rocketsballin · Post #14 » by **rocketsballin** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:33 pm

Guy986 wrote:I dont want to see anything on offense from him. Catch and dunk thats it.

On defense all i ask is to see him contest shots, rotate, rebound and not foul out.

Is that so hard?

according to the low supply/high demand of pf/c, yes

Aaron Brooks · Post #15 » by **Aaron Brooks** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:56 pm

Guy986 · Post #16 » by **Guy986** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:03 am

Aaron Brooks wrote:DPOY

Thats his best case scenario.

His worst case scenario is Aaron Brooks.

moofs · Post #17 » by **moofs** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:38 am

texasholdem wrote:
x- wrote:[
I'm still not sure why he #2. He wasn't even considered a first rounder in 2008.

He averaged 13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.28 blocks in his junior season and his team went to the Final Four. Hard to blame NBA GM's for passing that up.

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddiiiieeesssssssss and geeennnnnnntlemeeeeeennn!
At _C, for the Rockets, from Valparaiso, tournament winner, BRYYYYCE DREWWWWwW!!

Post #18 » by **TMU** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:39 am

Guy986 wrote:I dont want to see anything on offense from him. Catch and dunk thats it.

On defense all i ask is to see him contest shots, rotate, rebound and not foul out.

Is that so hard?

Agreed. I have 0 expectations for him on offense. Just learn to stay out of foul trouble, block a couple of shots and grab some boards. This dude is a beastin 7'3'' with insane wingspan.

College Boy · Post #19 » by **College Boy** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:49 am

moofs wrote:Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddiiiieeesssssssss and geeennnnnnntlemeeeeeennn!
At _C, for the Rockets, from Valparaiso, tournament winner, BRYYYYCE DREWWWWwW!!

Say bro, I f***ing hated that pick.... smh @ passing on Rashard Lewis 4 times.

texasholdem · Post #20 » by **texasholdem** » Tue May 24, 2011 5:05 am

If we had taken Lewis we would have probably had to give him up to get Steve Francis anyway and if we didn't we would have had to sign him to that monster contract that he's still on.