Comments on: Evaluating the ‘07-’08 76ers: Thaddeus Young

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:59:10 +0000

The key is going to be gettin Thad in more at 3 this season. Playing 4 sometimes in a small, quick lineup is okay to change things up. But he just does not play like a 4. I think Thad is going to be an absolute star.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:08:09 +0000

Hate to be splitting hairs here or picking a fight…but I really can’t stand Scottie Pippen comparisons for the most part. I personally think Scottie Pippen is one of the most criminally underrated players of all time. We are talking about a guy that:

-Could shut down, slow down, or contain pretty much any player in the league for a DECADE.
-Could run a team better as a point-forward then the majority of starting PG’s in the NBA.
-BBall IQ was off the !@#$ chart.
-One of the best passing forwards, if not the best passing forward, of his generation (late 80s – mid 90s)
-Could score under 10 ppg but still be the games MVP.
-If they kept stats on “hockey assists”…pass to the pass leading to a basket, he’d shatter most people’s records in this category.
-Was a great scoring threat on his own, and reliable for 18-22 ppg for his career.
-The one and a half years MJ was playing baseball, Pip played OUT OF HIS MIND and led that Bulls team to the conference finals, which is just an insane feat in my mind.
-When he was almost a 13-16 year vet and old as hell, joined Portland for four years, and again was one of the most underrated players in the L, one of the best cases I’ve ever seen of a veteran-savvy player truly lifting up an entire team’s play.

I know people aren’t saying Thad “is the next Scotty”…but I really think people make Pippen comparisons way too often. He was a special, special player. It would be like a hybrid of aspects of Kidd, KG and Bruce Bowen fused into one…Pip was truly a ridiculously talented guy.

Sorry, had to get that off my chest lol. As for my own thoughts, I’ll again say that none of us really know with Thad. He’s shown flashes of being a 7-8 time all star…flashes of being a nice 2nd or 3rd offensive option, and flashes of being a tweener that doesn’t really fit. The kid is 19 and raw as hell…I think we shouldn’t blow our load over him quite yet.

That said…his work ethic seems incredible, he hustles, by all accounts is a gentleman of a guy, seems very mature for his age…and once he adds some polish and smarts to his game, this kid will really start ballin.

By: How Good is the Philadelphia 76ers’ Core? — The Recliner GM Sports Blog

Mon, 26 May 2008 13:35:15 +0000

[...] is the question two readers, Sixerzguy and Bski, brought up in a few comments on the blog. I think it is a good one and worth a post all its own. I [...]

By: dre

dre — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:20:46 +0000

If we get 75% – 80% Pippen I’d be estatic. I live 10 minutes from Georgia Tech and was still surprised at his level of play in the NBA.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:16:40 +0000

dre – that is a hell of a comparison – I like it. At only 19 he is still a baby in terms of basketball development. He has so much time to grow and mold his game. If his work ethic is what we all think it is I don’t think Scottie Pippen type skill set is out of the range of possibility (except I don’t think he will grow into a point-forward like Scottie was).

By: dre

dre — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:13:09 +0000

Lets hope Thad develops into a Scottie Pippen type player. Pip came every year with a new skill mastered. Ball Handling, post move then a reliable three point shot to go along with excellent defense. I know he had MJ as Maverick to his Goose, but he worked hard each summer to develop into one of the top 50 players in NBA history.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:07:48 +0000

gba – thanks and welcome to the blog. I gotta be honest it completely boggles my mind how much lefties give NBA defenders so much trouble. Let me just say that I hate Manu Ginobili but respect how effective his one-hand bandit game is. But almost every time defenders force him right he turns the ball over or takes a bad shot. I can’t understand why ppl let him or any other one hand-reliant NBA player go to their strong hand.

I have very high hopes for Thad, not necessarily next season but 2-3 years from now when he is a 4 year vet at only 23 years-old.

By: bski

bski — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:33:17 +0000

DANNIE: Thanks, I’ll look forward to reading your post and having future discussions about the core.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:01:59 +0000

Bski – I think Sixerzguy’s and your question about the core is legit and well worth a post or open discussion all its own. I really had no rhyme or reason to the order of players I was evaluating individually but now that this question has come up I will go through the core guys first then do an interim post of some sort just on them as a whole so we can discuss this topic further. Will work on that over the next couple days for sure.

Just to give a quick thought on it. I am with you regarding the chemistry that developed among our current players. And moving too many guys does nothing to building upon that and will negate that effect.

By: gba

gba — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:26:49 +0000

I like your observations and suggestions re Young. He was particularly effective because defenders seemed to forget he was left handed. He has to improve his right hand around basket and mix it up. He gets shot off fast around rim and does well with his floater shot. I really enjoy watching him progress and expect a lot from him next season.