Dash Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 “He’s going to get 20 minutes because of who he is. He has to earn everything else after that. That’s our arrangement with the Rockets, and they’re on board with that.” Thabeet said Sunday that he’ll be with the Vipers for four games and looks at the assignment not as a demotion but as an opportunity to play and prove that he is an NBA player. He knows the role he’ll have to play to intrigue the Rockets for the future and, quite simply, get his career on track. “Just block shots, rebound the ball and be a presence defensively,” Thabeet said. “They didn’t send me out here to score 50 (points) or break records. Just to come over and just play well.” http://www.themonitor.com/sports/thabeet-48229-hidalgo-vipers.html Thabeet desperately needs playing time if he's going to improve and Adelman is as stubborn as ever and won't play him, so sending him down to the Vipers is a good move. Its only for 4 games and the Rockets get a glimpse at what Thabeet can do with playing time. He's in action tonight, I'll keep this thread alive for those 4 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenneral Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 I really hope he does well... I'd at least like to see him be a serviceable big man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Expected. We cant just keep him sitting on the bench, at least this way he gets some sort of PT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Bomba Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Expected. I'm glad we at least got something out of this scrub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 11 points (5-5 shooting), 6 rebounds and 4 blocks in 26 minutes. Lackluster rebounding but he was very solid defensively, which is what Houston is looking for him to do. A lot of fans who watched the game said that he looked like he was out of shape, probably due the lack of playing time. Hopefully he improves next game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 26 minutes is 26 minutes no complaints there, the was I see it as long as he is getting PT I am happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 ^Yep, yep. I honestly think he could make a difference if Adelman were to give him some playing time. He'd be far more productive defensively than Jordan Hill and Brad Miller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 ^Yep, yep. I honestly think he could make a difference if Adelman were to give him some playing time. He'd be far more productive defensively than Jordan Hill and Brad Miller. we would be better of playing 4 on 5 than having Brad out there. And on the point of him not getting PT from Rick I think its ok because he hasn't played much with the team, so losing some chemistry this late in the year is the last thing we need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Chemistry doesn't really matter when you're not going to make much of an impact offensively, let alone even touch the ball. Thabeet is only going to be there to be 7'3 and alter a few shots. I guess it matters some if you're talking about help defense but honestly I don't see Thabeet having much trouble fitting in with the team. Its different with Terrence Williams because he needs the ball in his hands to be effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Chemistry doesn't really matter when you're not going to make much of an impact offensively, let alone even touch the ball. Thabeet is only going to be there to be 7'3 and alter a few shots. I guess it matters some if you're talking about help defense but honestly I don't see Thabeet having much trouble fitting in with the team. Its different with Terrence Williams because he needs the ball in his hands to be effective. I understand the way your looking at it but why risk it? Especially if he is considered to be out of shape as some people said. What we are doing it working right now so try something and mess it all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Great article on Thabeet and Dawson's workouts, love what I've been hearing about this guy's attitude since day 1. The lineage of Rockets big men is impressive: Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming. That's a pair of Hall of Famers and two players that put up very solid numbers before injuries wrecked their careers. Longtime Rockets assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson tutored all of them at some point. "We've been very blessed as far as the big people that have come through here over the years," Dawson said. Although Dawson is technically retired, his latest project is Hasheem Thabeet, the 7-foot-3 center whom the Rockets acquired from the Grizzlies in the Shane Battier trade. Since becoming a Rocket, Thabeet has undergone six one-on-one sessions with Dawson on how to be an effective big man in the NBA. And Thabeet can use the extra work. After being drafted second overall out of UConn by the Grizzlies in 2009, Thabeet has been a virtual non-factor as an NBA player. In fact, the Grizzlies sent Thabeet to the league's developmental league for a stint in an effort to improve his game. Nearly two full seasons into his NBA career, Thabeet has averaged just 2.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. With the Rockets, Thabeet gets a new start with a team which considers him a project. Dawson's charge is to transform Thabeet into a productive NBA player. "(Dawson) told me a lot of fundamental things," Thabeet said of his tutorials with Dawson. "The way to shoot the jump hook and a lot of those type things.""He has a pretty good touch," said Dawson. "There are a few tests that I've run the big men through that can tell what kind of touch they have and his is not bad, especially for 7-foot-3. His movement is good, his footwork is awful. He's got a lot to learn." But Dawson's biggest current point of emphasis is the defensive end of the court. Thabeet said he was certainly aware of the differences between college and the NBA, but he continues to adjust. "In college, in the zone they let you just sit in there and block shots," Thabeet said. "Here you gotta go in and out every three seconds." Dawson is helping Thabeet learn to play NBA defense. "At UConn Coach Calhoun just put him in front of the bucket and told him to block everything that came in and he did," said Dawson. "He got drafted on that. That's what got him into the league and that's what we're trying to strengthen and enhance. What you do is try to enhance what he's doing and this summer we may change some things or add. Post moves is one of the things he needs. He doesn't have that at all." While he is currently far from the comparison at this point, Thabeet has an upside that may one day be comparable to Dikembe Mutombo's body of work. While Mutumbo was limited as an offensive player, he became a force in the NBA as a shot blocker and rebounder. Thabeet said Dawson has preached patience. "He told me just because you start working with something today you're not going to get it the next day or three days later," Thabeet said. "It's going to take time and a lot of work. So I have to just work." Thabeet has displayed a willingness to do the non-glamorous grind required. "I don't think he's ever been shown this much attention," Dawson said. "He loves it. We get there early. We always work out before practice, and he has to get there early. He comes with a smile on his face and goes to work." Thabeet may not go down among the best Rockets big men, but he's getting the advantage of tutoring from the guy that's worked with almost all of them. http://www.foxsportshouston.com/03/18/11/Rockets-hope-to-transform-Hasheem-Thabee/landing_rockets.html?blockID=443847&feedID=3714 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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