Now that Green is out, here's a reminder about Thabo ... which maybe was lost in China week. This is from Oct 4th ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Rockets notes: James Harden getting in playing shape Jonathan Feigen Oct. 4, 2019 https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sp...-James-Harden-getting-in-playing-14493907.php Power plan for Sefolosha Most of Thabo Sefolosha’s playing time in the Rockets’ second preseason game came at power forward. This was not an experiment. It is the plan. A 6-foot-7 small forward through most of his 13-year career, Sefolosha will likely work as a backup power forward behind P.J. Tucker and possibly Danuel House Jr., depending on House’s playing time at small forward. “He’ll play a four,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “If he plays, it will be (as) a four. We’ll have Danuel House and Gerald (Green). Three is pretty loaded with Eric (Gordon) and everybody else. That (power forward spot) will be Sefolosha’s spot. “Thabo looked good. Just his energy and smartness, he played really well.” Sefolosha, who made 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers the past two seasons with the Utah Jazz, took just one shot, a 3 that he missed. But he had four rebounds and a pair assists, including one on a nice pass to set up a Tyson Chandler dunk when he attacked a closeout. Sefolosha’s shooting range is no longer the novelty at the power forward spot it once was with the Rockets in particular keeping a shooter at the position at all times. But if that takes away some of the advantage that once came when power forwards had to defend at the 3-point line, it does make the transition easier. “It’s just a matter of learning to play a different position,” Sefolosha said. “As the camp is going along, I’m feeling more and more comfortable with everything we’re trying to do offensively and defensively. I’m pretty comfortable at this spot. “It seems like everybody knows that people can shoot. It’s four guys outside and one closer to the paint. I think I’m moving enough. I know teams like to switch. I’m picking my spots to offensive rebound, just take advantage of what the defense gives us.”
Love Thabo, but not exclusively at the four. This takes away some of the advantages he has against 2/3's....and leaves us wanting defensively and on the boards against certain matchups.I was afraid MDA might do this.We still need another 3/4/5 swingman. ( long w/defense&rebounding)
Why are we still surprised that we are playing one position down? That is our identity. That is our advantage.
Personally, it's not surprise, but dissapointment. Cause playing down in size might be an advantage in the regular season, or against 80% of teams, but it becomes a disadvantage against most of the better teams. Because they can either do the same with better players and/or also have the ability to play an actual power forward sized power forward, who is versatile enough to guard SFs. Playing down in size used to give you an advantage cause you had "bigs" that weren't good at guarding the perimeter. It became even more of an advantage as bigs further lost the ability to be big, and the three pointer became more important. But along the way, bigs learned how to guard the perimeter effectively "enough" - certainly enough to guard one position down - while also adjusting their offensive games to once again become effective offensively. Long-story short, a 6'7 power forward is just not going to be effective if the other team has a 6'10 power forward that can shoot, cut, dribble, move and defend as effectively as your 6'7 guy...
Come on man, stretch 5 with handles! Would drive opposing centers mad! I’m all for Thabo getting more minutes. Think he’s going to be important. Hope he’s able to play a little more than he has in recent memory.
The best basketball team that has ever graced the hardwood had a 6’6 center. Skill beats size every day of the week and the Rockets have more skill than any other team in the league.
When Thabo called for help when he was guarding the post during a preseason game, I left the chat. Luc, Harden, PJ, EG would never...
Why is this surprising? Why is everyone upset? Thabo has a wingspan of like 7’2”-7’3” and defended PF’s almost half the time he was on the court last year. He defends both SF and PF’s well and he isn’t a bad rebounder. His issue isn’t WHERE he plays on the court, but HOW much he plays. He is 35-36 years old and similar to Nene in that he needs to be played for 10-15 minutes a night. Much more and he isn’t as effective and has a high risk of breaking down. He should a 9th man on the Rockets getting a highly effective 15 minutes a night, but out of necessity, I fear they try to play him 20-25 minutes a night and he will break down.
It's sad that MDA will never be self-aware enough to win a championship. Playing this undersized just because you hope at some lucky point the 3s start falling to carry you to the promised land is an idiotic strategy. Rebounding gives you far more margin for error, which a lot of these stupid decisions eliminate.
Bill Russell 500 years ago in a league with like half a dozen teams... and Russell wasn’t as good as Wilt... but whatever.
