Sofar Kurt Thomas has been a big let down to me.

[Goldfield]

I expected alot more from him sofar.

 

[jbeecham]

I expected alot more from him sofar.

At least he hit some of his jumpshots tonight. He's getting called for fouls on defense whenever he tries to play physical (which he probably didn't get called for in NY because they were known as a tough team). He also still learning where he needs to go off of the screen to get himself in the best position to get the pass from Nash and it looks like their two man game is improving timing-wise (now KT just has to make the layups since he can't dunk).

 

[elindholm]

Thomas got abused by Gasol tonight, much worse than I would have expected. Gasol has added some passing skills to his game that I think caught the Suns by surprise. And I don't know why he's having such a hard time establishing position for rebounds. But jbeecham is right that Thomas's offensive game showed signs of life.

 

[Espo]

Hot Rod Williams anybody?

 

[elindholm]

Hot Rod Williams anybody?

I have to admit, I've started having flashbacks. But Thomas, at least, has been quite healthy throughout his career, whereas Williams was always struggling with some minor injury or another. Also, if and when Stoudemire comes back, there won't be as much pressure on Thomas to play above himself as there was on Williams (and Longley after him).

 

[Amaretotheline_]

The Suns didn't trade Thunder for Kurt Thomas, though. The Suns upgraded on Q with the other trades and signing over the Summer.

 

[green machine]

The role that I think we all want Thomas to play isn't the right one for him. He's not gonna dominate the post, he's a complimentary player, and he'd be a great one alongside a dominant post guy. That's why we traded for him.

 

[Yuma]

Hot Rod Williams anybody?

Luc Longley, more like it so far...

 

[Yuma]

The role that I think we all want Thomas to play isn't the right one for him. He's not gonna dominate the post, he's a complimentary player, and he'd be a great one alongside a dominant post guy. That's why we traded for him.

He's a complimentary player we all expected to average 8, 9, 10 rebounds a game and hit a few jumpers and clog the lane. So far I have yet to see KT report except for the first half of game 1.

 

[keric]

Yes, I agree KT has been less than impressive. I understand that his offense will gradually improve but so far I'm disappointed with his defense or lack there of.


Let us not forget that he was added to help Amare not take over his role.

*He was also traded for Q and if you don't already know, look at what Q is doing in New York. (Looks like we still got the better of that trade) even minus N. Robinson.

 

[F-Dog]

At least he hit some of his jumpshots tonight. He's getting called for fouls on defense whenever he tries to play physical (which he probably didn't get called for in NY because they were known as a tough team).

Actually, Kurt Thomas has almost certainly committed more fouls over the last five years than any player in the NBA. I know he led the league in fouls at least two of those years.

In fact, if it turned out that KT was the career leader in fouls among active players, it wouldn't surprise me a bit.



I've been disappointed in KT's offense so far, specifically his shot and his inability to catch and handle passes. The rest of his game has been about what I expected.

It's tougher to get defensive rebounds at C than it is at PF, because centers are often out of position when the shot goes up. That's especially true for KT, because he's a position rebounder; he probably misses Amare as much as anybody on the team except for Nash.

 

[sly fly]

Crazy Eyes needs to get it going.

That kind of average basketball only flies in New York.

That being said, it won't be long before he has some help. Just a feeling.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Not impressed, he has hit a few more shots, but he is not a presence defensively or rebounding, two areas where we are extremely deficient. What's worse is all this talk in the offseason about the new focus on defense, and how Bell and Thomas are such stoppers; frankly I'm not seeing it. Whenever this team needs a stop in a critical situation, invariably they almost always fail. Two games that really stuck out to me were the Detroit game and the game last night. Memphis was hot, but they were also getting wide open shots due to our pathetic doubling. I don't know what to say about Bell. He looks just average these days. Hopefully Amare will bring everyone up a notch, but we've gone from a team with a bunch of stars and no depth, to a team with nobody making the big shots, and no real defined roles. The amazing transforming Suns, they're a new team every year!

 

[Billythekid]

I fail to see how Thomas has ever been viewed as a really good defender. He has long arms and is physical. That helps you on Defense but only gets you so far. In New York it was Marcus Camby that was the anchor on the defensive end because he could block shots and was very mobile. That was when the Knick were seen as a half decent defensive unit. The last few seasons the Knicks have played D... like... ummm... us

Both our bigs in Grant and Thomas can't even jump. There in lies a huge problem! Ely would be a super pickup.

Also, we don't have the killer edge we had last season. Q and JJ hit ALOT of big shots at critical times of games and weren't afraid to hoist up shots that usually extended leads and killed the other teams spirit. We basically overwhelmed a lot of teams last season, but now they are ready and we are exposed far easier, especially with Nash on D. It seems every PG he plays on has a big scoring night.

Bell needs to shoot more IMO and JJax defiantly needs more playing time!

GO SUNS!

 

[phillycard]

Kurt Thomas is a bum in my book. I never liked dude when he was in NY, and I think he'll barely contribute long term in PHX. He's a clown.

 

[Chaplin]

Kurt Thomas is a bum in my book. I never liked dude when he was in NY, and I think he'll barely contribute long term in PHX. He's a clown.

I can understand that, since you so eloquently list out the reasons for your dislike.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i think we need to cool our jets on kt until he gets the opp to play alongside amare. he's a complimentary player. he's SUPPOSED to be a complimentary player. but when there is no one to compliment what the hell is he supposed to do?

 

[Errntknght]

A lot of posters here had far too high expectations of KT, on both ends of the floor. Yeah, he's got some toughness but he's only 6'9-10, can't jump and isn't particularly quick. Actually, he's blocking more shots than he has historically but I think that is because our other defenders are letting their men get into the paint and KT is helping - since they are often smaller fry he's able to block some shots. And, not surprisingly, his rebounding is falling off because he's helping so much.

It doesn't help that our coaches have no idea how to organize a defense. BC should have stepped in and hired an assistant for D'Antoni who actually understands that half of the game. In his latest remarks to the press D'A did say that they were going to stop double teaming so much, and that ought to be a step in the right direction but they still need to have a scheme for other kinds of help so people know when to expect help and where it's coming from. Marion mentioned that they were not communicating on defense (on the floor), which should be something the coaches detail as part of the defensive scheme.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet but the guys are switching too readily on defense - last year they could get away with it much more because JJ, Q, and Shawn were reasonably close to interchangeable while Leandro, Bell and Shawn or Bell, Jones and Shawn are not. This is part of what drags KT into having to help so much - and it also leads to (necessary) double teams.

I'm not too unhappy with KT on the offensive end - I think his jumper will continue to come around and I didn't expect the pick & pop to work too well with Nash. (As I've said a couple of times, I think it would work better with Diaw - it seems to have the few times they've tried.) Kurt is learning how to roll instead of pop with Nash and that's a small plus which I expect to grow.

KT could be of more value as a screen setter on offense with a coach that appreciated such things and organized the offense to take advantage of them. I'm seeing some improvement it that regard - Shawn seems to be looking for them at times now and Bell has curled off screens, a la Rip, a few times of late. They're still doing nothing along the baseline and KT can be very effective setting screens there - and popping out for a jumper when the defense doesn't play it well.