Thabeet

[Rico444]

Some of the people in this thread are nuts. Thabeet is the 2nd best center we've ever had.

 

[superjohn]

Donyell Marshall was voted Big East Defensive Player of the Year, even though Calhoun (correctly IMO) said he, "couldn't guard a chair", though he led the league in blocked shots (a way-overrated stat.)

I admit to some bias, having been coached in college by someone who valued tough-nosed defense, not stats.

Yikes. I'm sure you were a better defender in college than Thabeet.

 

[mauconnfan]

Donyell Marshall was voted Big East Defensive Player of the Year, even though Calhoun (correctly IMO) said he, "couldn't guard a chair", though he led the league in blocked shots (a way-overrated stat.)

I admit to some bias, having been coached in college by someone who valued tough-nosed defense, not stats.

I also played for coaches who desired tough hard nosed defense. I get that part of it. But many of his stats weren't even in columns due to not having columns for altered shots, rushed shots, afraid to take shots which he led the nation in no doubt. No one needed him to guard anyone on the perimeter although he had decent feet by the time he left. Not only was he a great rim protector in college his rebounding stats improved every year as did his scoring.

I mean I respect your opinion but it's not right in this case, or close if you actually really believe he is the most overrated player in our history. Actually again it's not close.

 

[FatElvis]

This revisionist history about him being an overrated Husky doesn't cut it. He's obviously an NBA bust. But the guy was a game-changing defensive presence with enough offense to keep the other team honest.

In keeping with this year's theme of "what ifs" thanks to so many close, painful losses, I have little doubt we'd be a tournament team with a talent like Thabeet at center.

 

[Excalibur]

Donyell Marshall was voted Big East Defensive Player of the Year, even though Calhoun (correctly IMO) said he, "couldn't guard a chair", though he led the league in blocked shots (a way-overrated stat.)

Calhoun, also correctly, called Thabeet "the most dominant force in the country" in 2009. Only Okafor was more complete from a defensive standpoint.

 

[HooperScooper]

Calhoun, also correctly, called Thabeet "the most dominant force in the country" in 2009. Only Okafor was more complete from a defensive standpoint.

Yeah, but what does Calhoun know about basketball?

 

[mauconnfan]

Calhoun, also correctly, called Thabeet "the most dominant force in the country" in 2009. Only Okafor was more complete from a defensive standpoint.

Wow that's a great debate with these 2. Okafor was a great defender and a really good shot blocker most of that from the pure guarding perspective. Thabeet was more secondary blocking but a dominant force in that area. Flip a coin almost here I may lean a little on that end to Thabeet but no one would be wrong. I think I go in pure size and length, thinking of what the players had to look at as they went to the basket or tried to score form the low post. Again either way the opposition had to think hard about how to squeeze one in.

 

[superjohn]

Wow that's a great debate with these 2. Okafor was a great defender and a really good shot blocker most of that from the pure guarding perspective. Thabeet was more secondary blocking but a dominant force in that area. Flip a coin almost here I may lean a little on that end to Thabeet but no one would be wrong. I think I go in pure size and length, thinking of what the players had to look at as they went to the basket or tried to score form the low post. Again either way the opposition had to think hard about how to squeeze one in.

No debate, Okafor was the better defender. Okafor is there with Anthony Davis as the most dominant defensive bigs of the last 20 years.

 

[Excalibur]

Wow that's a great debate with these 2. Okafor was a great defender and a really good shot blocker most of that from the pure guarding perspective. Thabeet was more secondary blocking but a dominant force in that area. Flip a coin almost here I may lean a little on that end to Thabeet but no one would be wrong. I think I go in pure size and length, thinking of what the players had to look at as they went to the basket or tried to score form the low post. Again either way the opposition had to think hard about how to squeeze one in.

I think that most post players not named DeJuan Blair never even bothered to go after Thabeet due to his size and length. He was also deceptively fast -- I can recall many times where he would close the gap on a guard coming off a ball screen who thought he had a clear lane to the hoop and erase the shot. Okafor was a superior one on one post defender who used his quickness off the ground to block shots (Akok is similar in that regard) and understood how to position himself.

I always thought that Jake was a great "position" post defender. Okafor was just as good in that regard, and added other-worldly shot blocking instincts and quickness.

 

[mauconnfan]

I think that most post players not named DeJuan Blair never even bothered to go after Thabeet due to his size and length. He was also deceptively fast -- I can recall many times where he would close the gap on a guard coming off a ball screen who thought he had a clear lane to the hoop and erase the shot. Okafor was a superior one on one post defender who used his quickness off the ground to block shots (Akok is similar in that regard) and understood how to position himself.

I always thought that Jake was a great "position" post defender. Okafor was just as good in that regard, and added other-worldly shot blocking instincts and quickness.

I would actually take Jake in a down low banking one on one I agree he was excellent and held his ground like EO did. Thabeet the rim protector extraordinaire, EO really good all around and Jake the stabilizer wish we had one of them now we'd be 14-3.

 

[Mike Honcho]

A couple more Thabeet articles out in the past week:

B/R Mag: 'He just got left behind'

'He Just Got Left Behind'

Hasheem Thabeet walked from the bench to center court in just three steps. He looked up at the crowd and listened to their short applause. About 3,000 fans were scattered throughout this 13,000-seat arena...

bleacherreport.com

Cardiac Hill: Pitt great DeJuan Blair reflects on Hasheem Thabeet slam in interview

Pitt great DeJuan Blair reflects on Hasheem Thabeet slam in interview

Former Pitt power forward DeJuan Blair is a beloved figure in Pittsburgh for a variety of reasons, one of which is his legendary toughness. On Thursday night, listeners tuning into The Jeff Capel...

www.cardiachill.com

 

[joober jones]

There's being tough and there's being a fecal orifice. Blair was being a fecal orifice. I wonder if that gets past the filter.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I admit to some bias, having been coached in college by someone who valued tough-nosed defense, not stats.

 

[businesslawyer]

Looking back how good do people really think he was? I mean yes he was a #2 pick but wasn't on any AA teams if I can recall, perhaps maybe a defensive team. He played for us, so I'm biased, but I'm not sure he was better than Jake or Travis. He blocked shots, and dunked demonstrably but I don't remember him having an arsenal of offensive moves.

I'm not convinced he's even in our top 5 (which speaks good for UConn): Emeka, Andre, Jake, Boone, Travis.

He was a much, much, much more impactful player than Jake or Travis. Scored, despite a lack of skills, reounded and totally changed the game on defense.

Not in Emeka's class, but as a college Center who was. We can discuss Boone -- Boone might have been better over his career but at their best Thabeet gave us a lot more. Drummond only played one year -- comparing him to those who played 3 or 4 is useless. But if I take each each of their best year's, Drummond had far more skills and was more of an NBA ready prospect but Thabeet did a heck of a lot more of making us a better team than Drummond ever did.