Scout: Daniel Theis May Be Most Underrated Player in NBA

Post #21 » by **Darth Celtic** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:42 pm

He was really good as a rookie, but got hurt. The next year after surgery he was limited and it showed. A bunch. Every time he came in the other teams center went off. He as kind of iffy the first week or so this year, but then flipped a switch. Has been a real baller ever since, looking like his pre injury rookie season. I know he's a 30ish 3pt shooter, but he is like Kelly O as a rookie, he won't shoot it unless he HAS too.

His team defense is so, so good. One on one against a pure scorer he'll get beat, but give the guy resistance for sure.

Pick and roll he's good, pick and pop he's off and on.

jfs1000d · Post #22 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:54 pm

Theis massively underrated. People think of him as a token starter and the 5th guy to be 5th guy and just a body.

Truth is he anchors our defense, is a screen setter and rim runner. He isn’t great. But he is a good player and really an integral part of the team .

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Curmudgeon · Post #23 » by **Curmudgeon** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:58 pm

It will be interesting to see if the Celtics bring Kanter in to post up Abedayo and get him in foul trouble.

skones · Post #24 » by **skones** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:59 pm

Theis single handedly made Boston's defense work with the departure of Horford, so kudos to him. I was part of the, "Their defense is going to fall off in a big way crowd," and Theis just sort of came out of nowhere and had it covered.

ThumbsUpBaby · Post #25 » by **ThumbsUpBaby** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:59 pm

Theis is underrated, but Bam is an actual star level player. I wouldn't call it a wash.

MarcusBrody · Post #26 » by **MarcusBrody** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:00 pm

I really liked Theis when watching the Cs a few times this year. I remember looking up how tall he was, expecting him to be maybe 6'10". When I saw how tall he actually was I liked him even more. He just plays big.

Ben-N1ce · Post #27 » by **Ben-N1ce** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:02 pm

He's the most hated by refs.

jfs1000d · Post #28 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:02 pm

ThumbsUpBaby wrote:Theis is underrated, but Bam is an actual star level player. I wouldn't call it a wash.

What is Bam gonna do this series? He is 16 ppg, 10 rpg and is a good passer. Very good mobile defender.

He is good, but a star? I don’t think it is a 1-on-1 wash, but Theis was t dominated by Embiid, he won’t have issues with Bam.

I am not expecting bam to go 25 and 15 every game this series.

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nedleeds · Post #29 » by **nedleeds** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:04 pm

Great feet, still pretty athletic even after the knee surgery, just a good enough finisher to keep the pick and roll honest. Can also hit the Kurt Thomas to keep a defense honest. Really only the huge post up centers are an issue and Embiid is in Cancun with KAT. So unless it's a Boston / Denver finals he should be good from here on out (and the NBA will not allow a Denver Boston finals). He also gets abused by the refs for being nearest white guy quite often. Some of the phantom calls on him are demoralizing but he does a good job of not losing his mind.

Post #30 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:04 pm

TheBounceIsReal wrote:Any one else have some suggestions for underrated players to compare Theis to?
.

As a Mavs fan I used to always compare him to our German big man Maxi Kleber. And I still love Maxi, but concede Theis is the better big.

TheBounceIsReal · Post #31 » by **TheBounceIsReal** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:05 pm

jfs1000d wrote:
ThumbsUpBaby wrote:Theis is underrated, but Bam is an actual star level player. I wouldn't call it a wash.

What is Bam gonna do this series? He is 16 ppg, 10 rpg and is a good passer. Very good mobile defender.

He is good, but a star? I don’t think it is a 1-on-1 wash, but Theis was t dominated by Embiid, he won’t have issues with Bam.

I am not expecting bam to go 25 and 15 every game this series.

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Bam was an all star this year and can legitimately guard all five positions on defense. I think that's a pretty good definition of a star.

nedleeds · Post #32 » by **nedleeds** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:06 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
TheBounceIsReal wrote:Any one else have some suggestions for underrated players to compare Theis to?
.

As a Mavs fan I used to always compare him to our German big man Maxi Kleber. And I still love Maxi, but concede Theis is the better big.

Maxi is a way better vertical athlete though, and certainly shoots more 3's ... not sure if he's actually a better shooter.

matt6715 · Post #33 » by **matt6715** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:06 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
TheBounceIsReal wrote:Any one else have some suggestions for underrated players to compare Theis to?
.

As a Mavs fan I used to always compare him to our German big man Maxi Kleber. And I still love Maxi, but concede Theis is the better big.

Agreed. Theis is a true center while Kleber is more of a stretch 4 (when his 3 pointer is falling), but I would kill to have Theis on the Mavs. Every successful team needs guys like Theis, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, etc.

Post #34 » by **bisme37** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:06 pm

jfs1000d wrote:
ThumbsUpBaby wrote:Theis is underrated, but Bam is an actual star level player. I wouldn't call it a wash.

What is Bam gonna do this series? He is 16 ppg, 10 rpg and is a good passer. Very good mobile defender.

He is good, but a star? I don’t think it is a 1-on-1 wash, but Theis was t dominated by Embiid, he won’t have issues with Bam.

I am not expecting bam to go 25 and 15 every game this series.

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Yeah I love Bam but at the same time I don't know why some are making him out to be prime Shaq in advance of the Celts-Heat series. Bam is the best big in the series but Theis and the other C's bigs will do just fine holding him to his him to his normal numbers and impact imo.

100proof · Post #35 » by **100proof** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:13 pm

The Comedian wrote:It’s sure as hell not a wash lol, cmon son. Bam is a top 25 player, maybe top 20.

But Theis is really freaking good, and smart as hell. That was a serious find by Ainge.

Top 25? Really?

Triple M · Post #36 » by **Triple M** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:13 pm

The fact that the Celtics were ok with living with Theis guarding Lowry and even FVV out on the perimeter multiple times tells you how good his defence is. The Celtics wouldn't beat Toronto if Theis weren't successful guarding those 2 one on one.

The Heat run a lot of offence through Bam, so he makes it easier on Butler, Dragic, Robinson, etc. At the same time, Theis plays a role to help the bottom guys as a screener. Bam is just much more versatile, but he is also a superior Athlete

ATLTimekeeper · Post #37 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:15 pm

You have to be a little skeptical of a scout who talks in extremes like that, and then directly compares him to Bam.

TheSheriff · Post #38 » by **TheSheriff** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:20 pm

He is the most underrated when you consider his actual ability compared to the perception of his ability at the start of the playoffs. He is not a star, but people had incredibly low opinions of his abilities.

yeahM8 · Post #39 » by **yeahM8** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:24 pm

probably a good time to bring this image back and introduce the rest of the world to our big 3.

BenoUdrihFTL · Post #40 » by **BenoUdrihFTL** » Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:28 pm

I've been really impressed with Theis after paying attention to him once I picked him up off the waiver wire in fantasy back in like December or January. Hopefully he's in foul trouble all series