Which big man would you rather have?

[NYgiantsfan5689]

tyler does

[browntown653]

I guess I should remake my point about Thabeet: out of this group I think he's definitely the worst college player...but potential wise I think he could be the best NBA player.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

ok, THAT makes sense. I took the question as RIGHT NOW, aka in college, who would you rather have. guys with size always have an advantage going into the NBA, and thabeet definitely has that

[ljshorty89]

Simple question, who would you rather have on your NBA team or if you don't really have an NBA team, who do you think is the better pick for an NBA team?

There's your answer GF. Anyway, Thabeet may be the worst of the three in college, but to be worse than Harangody and Hansbrough in college is not necessarily a bad thing. Thabeet has the most NBA potential in my mind.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

My bad for not reading the actual post accurately

[Kingdom]

Again, the reason Blake Griffin, or the dude on Ohio State or Austin Daye or etc. etc. etc. are not on the list is that I was merely going by one of Thabeet's interviews in him belittling Harangody and Hansbrough. It's not a sexy poll but it does ask the question, would you rather have a guy with a mystery ceiling or a guy that you know what you get.

Of course, it might matter who your team is. I don't know.


I didn't choose Thabeet because I see Keith Closs, all the 7 footers Seattle/Ok City have taken over the years/David Harrison/etc. Sure, some of those guys have a niche in the NBA, I mean Desagana Diop is made for life money wise. [shrug]

[ljshorty89]

Fair argument, but I mean, I'd always rather my team gamble on a guy with the insanely high ceiling, as opposed to playing it safe with a decent role player.

[nyjunc]

I completely disagree. His being relentless and tenacious and hard working OVERRATE his skill. People think he's amazing when it's just that he works harder than everyone else. Hansbrough does not have NEARLY the raw talent of half the players in the NBA, and despite his hard work and energy, he will not be more than a 6th or 7th man. Thabeet, with training, can be a dominant NBA center. That's much more potential than Hansbrough has.

Although, I can't say I'm shocked that you picked Hansbrough.

It underrates his skill b/c people just pay atention to his how hard he works and don't realize how talented he actuallyu is. Hard work takes you only so far, you need skill to back that up and he has it.

Thabeet isn't even a dominating college player, people get impressed w/ his raw talent but 3 years into a college career and all he can still do is block shots. He'll be a shot blocker in the NBA as well. There are a million big, athletic guys who people think will develop and never do. Thabeet has talent and maybe someday can turn into a good NBA player(dominating is stretching it) but I doubt it.

I mean, if he's watched Oklahoma at least once this season, which I'm assuming he has...it's not that hard to figure out...



I agree with the first part of your statement - I think Hansbrough has a definite spot in the NBA - but I don't understand how you can say Thabeet is mediocre...especially in college! Watch UConn play...the man is 3rd in the country in blocks...and that's despite opponents working away from the paint because they know what a force he is. I think he has the highest ceiling without any question at all of this group.



I agree that Thabeet has more potential but I think you're a bit off on Hansbrough here...his tenacity, intensity, and the fact that he works as hard as anyone in the game is going to make sure he has a place on a team...now he may be no more than a 6th or 7th man, but I do think his skills are overlooked a bit because his tenacity is his best aspect...not a bad thing at all though.

All Thabeet does is block shots though, he has no offensive game. he's a good help defender blocking shots. He's been a mediocre overall college player.

I can go all the way back to...UConn's last game for this one. Thabeet had 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks at Notre Dame, in the Irish's first home loss in 46 games. Luke Harangody had 24 points...while taking 23 shots. That's getting dominated?

9 pts and 11 boards are good #s? A guy like that should never be scoring in single digits and let's look at some other lines from Thabeet:

In UConn's only loss against GU: 4 pts, 7 rebs
vs. Villanova: 10 pts, 3 rebs
at gonzaga: 9 pts, 2 rebs

Thabeet hasn't developed the way everyone expected.

That's what they said about Michael Beasley, though.

You can't compare Beasley's talent to these 3 players. Beasely was a shoo-in for a top 5 pick.

That's my point. I'm not saying Hansbrough won't be a good role player, I think he'll be a pretty good 6th or 7th man, my point is that Thabeet has the potential to be a star, something Hansbrough doesn't (in my opinion).

Thabeet has a higher ceiling but star is pushing it.

I guess I should remake my point about Thabeet: out of this group I think he's definitely the worst college player...but potential wise I think he could be the best NBA player.

I agree w/ this statement.

[ljshorty89]

That's not how I feel. I think people ignore how hard Hansbrough works and think it's all talent when it's not. People seem to think he's just the most incredible player, when it's in reality largely based in his work ethic. Therefore, people think he is more talented than he is due to his work ethic and effort.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

LJ, you make it sound like an incredible work ethic is a bad thing...

[ljshorty89]

I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that his incredible work ethic makes him seem (slightly) more talented than he actually is. The problem is that a lot of the time, the less talented(but high work ethic) players don't do as well in the NBA as they do in college...

[nyjunc]

Did you guys see Tyler guarding FSU G Tony Douglas on switches the last 2 possessions the other night? That was damn impressive that he was able to keep douglas in front of him w/ the game on the line against a guy much smaller and quicker and a guy who had torched the Heels all night.

[realmofotalk]

When the strengths of a big man like Thabeet are athleticism, size, wingspan, and potential, but his weaknesses are man-to-man defense, rebounding, footwork, post moves, and basketball IQ, those aren't good signs.

[nick]

Truthfully, they're all turds, and I'm glad the Bulls won't be up there to blow a pick on one of them.

But if I had to choose one... probably Hansbrough. White big men are in (Troy Murphy, David Lee, etc.), get one while they're hot.

[realmofotalk]

According to John Hollinger, Hansbrough has the early lead over Thabeet in PER, 15.75 to 15.10, although I think Thabeet's rebound rate is exaggerated just because he grabs 3 rebounds in the nearly 9 minutes he plays.