This guy is 6' 10" with a smaller guy guarding him every time how is not able to get off a jumper!! He has just disappeared in Big play
Thiam
- Thread starter richthedentist
- Start date
He took the ball strong to the hoop early and then has disappeared on offense the rest of the night.
Thiam just isn't an aggressive, confident or hungry player. He should be much better than he is. Over the off season he needs to get stuck on a summer league team with zero other offensive options so he learns he HAS to be an offensive player. So frustrating to watch him just run around the outside doing not much at all. And Pikiel pulled him repetedly for Harper as Harper looks to make things happen.
I've said from day one that if he can't elevate the release on his shot, he's a 6'2" player in a 6'10" body, on offense at least. Was a great drive early on and then no more of that. Not sure why.
It really is puzzling. Everyone knows he’s a versitle scorer except for himself it seems.
I really thought we were going to see him make a big jump offensively this year. It ain’t over but boy does he have to get a lot more aggressive.
I really thought we were going to see him make a big jump offensively this year. It ain’t over but boy does he have to get a lot more aggressive.
Royally frustrating especially after that first drive.
It’s not his release point. He is just not that good. He is killing us. We could make the NCAAs next season if pike can find a grad transfer replacement for him.
made a shot early and totally disappeared...as an upperclassmen he is the one true disappointment this year, maybe its just him adjusting to his new role with less minutes but he will get even less minutes if he does not start to play his role. Cannot disappear like that.
Harper is already a better player than Thiam but Thiam is a better defender right now. He might be better off the bench.
I still like Thiam, his effort and defense, but his minutes will continue to diminish if he refuses to shoot. One attempt tonight is just not getting it done!
It’s all in his head. If he wants to make an impact he can. Otherwise he’ll just play solid D and disappear on Offense.
I’m a Thiam supporter but he needs to at least give 8-10 points a game otherwise the emerging freshman need to keep getting some his minutes.
I’m a Thiam supporter but he needs to at least give 8-10 points a game otherwise the emerging freshman need to keep getting some his minutes.
Agree. He needs to become a bigger part of the offense for the team to be successful.
I think it’s a lot more than release point with Issa, unfortunately. I don’t think he really knows how to play the game and I don’t think he has the aggressive mentality to make himself into much more than what he is now. Could be a 20mins on a good night guy.
I hate being right on this one, but we will be better as team over 35 plus games when others earn his minutes over him
He just doesn’t get enough points in the minutes he plays
He just doesn’t get enough points in the minutes he plays
May be a better team offensively but will the gains on offense outweigh the points that will be given up with Thiam out of the lineup?
I don’t think so in B1G play, with Harper not a serious threat from 3p.
Agreed. Still no change to discuss IMHO unless Harper starts knocking down more shots from the outside.
I'm going to withhold the comments because he did play strong defense at Miami and hit the 2 FTs we needed to make this 3 game stretch an overall positive....
And agree with the initial runner early, almost surprised me with the willingness to go early in the shot clock.
I've also seen a few instances where he made his mind up and the shot wasn't close or off rhythm.
It sounds crazy but his starting as the SG as a frosh was probably the best place for him. It keeps him moving and looking for spot up opportunities. Asking him to take turnaround jumpers along the baseline or floaters in the lane that he should take, requires a play or two.
I would keep playing him and letting him provide problems for Myles Powell or the other shooters we will face all year.
The old Chicago Bulls used to run plays for Bill Cartwright at the start of games and 3rd quarters just to get the player somewhat in a routine of expecting him to get touches and scoring opportunities. When he's playing with a Jordan Pippen etc, you have to find shot attempts within his 20 or so minutes per night.
I would like to see Thiam take the first 4 minutes of each half as a challenge to not force up a shot, but make a move to score and draw a foul...even if he's not shooting, you start the foul count for that half.
And agree with the initial runner early, almost surprised me with the willingness to go early in the shot clock.
I've also seen a few instances where he made his mind up and the shot wasn't close or off rhythm.
It sounds crazy but his starting as the SG as a frosh was probably the best place for him. It keeps him moving and looking for spot up opportunities. Asking him to take turnaround jumpers along the baseline or floaters in the lane that he should take, requires a play or two.
I would keep playing him and letting him provide problems for Myles Powell or the other shooters we will face all year.
The old Chicago Bulls used to run plays for Bill Cartwright at the start of games and 3rd quarters just to get the player somewhat in a routine of expecting him to get touches and scoring opportunities. When he's playing with a Jordan Pippen etc, you have to find shot attempts within his 20 or so minutes per night.
I would like to see Thiam take the first 4 minutes of each half as a challenge to not force up a shot, but make a move to score and draw a foul...even if he's not shooting, you start the foul count for that half.
What good is a shooting coach if the Thiam can’t get open for shots or just doesn’t look to shoot. He made his one and only shot in the first minute of the game and then played 20 more minutes and took no shots. I don’t care how good of a defender he is that just won’t cut it unless the other four players on the court are all superstars. He has really regressed so far this season and until Pike sees otherwise, he really should be coming off the bench, or be getting a lot less time unless he can find some type of offensive game going forward.
Bac - Not sure I know what you mean by “ Thiam is adjusting to his new role with less minutes.” Every player has to know that their overall play and production on O and D during the game is defining what their role is on this team. Right now. It’s happening right in front of us.
I believe that Issa is very good on D. But he needs to break through this mostly mental barrier on offense and produce more or his role and his playing time will be adjusted for him, because Issa has teammates that are improving on both sides of the ball.
Last edited:
Thiam dribbles east to west outside the three almost every time he gets it. Never looks to drive or penetrate, but could be such a weapon if he did. Really needs to study KD and see how he gets to the rim. Over the offseason he needs to work on his handles the most so he feels confident pulling up of the dribble and taking on a guy one on one.
I really think its his legs, he is very weak in the lower body, he does not have a strong base. Case in point, how many times has he played tough defense on someone, only to have the player make a jab step to drive then step back and have room to get off a good shot?
His legs go with his momentum backwards for the drive fake and he takes time to recover back to the shooter. He then challenges the shot too late.
I will compare it to a boxer who gets hit early and loses his legs, his punches are just not the same because he does not have the strong base.
Its the same with Thiam's offense, even if he gets a quick opening, his base just takes time to gather and by then he lost his opportunity to shoot.
His legs go with his momentum backwards for the drive fake and he takes time to recover back to the shooter. He then challenges the shot too late.
I will compare it to a boxer who gets hit early and loses his legs, his punches are just not the same because he does not have the strong base.
Its the same with Thiam's offense, even if he gets a quick opening, his base just takes time to gather and by then he lost his opportunity to shoot.
These threads calling out individual players are infuriating. First McConnell wasn't good enough and never would be, then Carter was a bust, Doucoure stinks, now Thiam can't shoot and is too skinny? grrrrr Not every player on every team is going to have a stellar performance every night. Quit finding flaws in everyone and enjoy the improvements! Pikiell is doing an INCREDIBLE job and obviously knows what he's doing with subs and minutes. Just enjoy the damn progress.
his lack of shooting/scoring could be the exact difference last 2 games. I thought he as over that end of last season. That's Pike's job to tell him play both ends or get off the court. He's a unique weapon we need but not if he can't find the trigger.
I've been a big supporter of Thiam, but his biggest problem is between his ears. At this point, we might start seeing giant milk cartons with his face on the side appearing in the student section.
When he's aggressive, he scores. Unfortunately, he seems content to let everyone else do the heavy lifting. Last year he deferred to Sanders and Freeman. This year, he seems to defer to everyone, as they all seem to want to take the shot more than he does. "The perfect is the enemy of the good" - and I think he's giving up good looks in search of perfect ones.
When he's aggressive, he scores. Unfortunately, he seems content to let everyone else do the heavy lifting. Last year he deferred to Sanders and Freeman. This year, he seems to defer to everyone, as they all seem to want to take the shot more than he does. "The perfect is the enemy of the good" - and I think he's giving up good looks in search of perfect ones.
As far as criticism threads go this one is quite tame. No over the top personal attacks and most people want him to succeed
I’ve seen harsher criticisms from parents to their kids at my 9 year olds soccer games
Just for comparison sake, here are the shots taken per 40 min played so far:
16.9 - Omoruyi
15.0 - Baker
14.2 - Mathis
13.2 - Harper
13.0 - Kiss
12.5 - Carter*
10.0 - Doucoure*
9.8 - Thiam
9.8 - McConnell*
7.5 - Johnson
4.4 - Doorson
*limited minutes (McConnell 57, Doucoure/Carter 32)
Couple things here....
1. For one of our best shooters, Thiam is definitely not taking enough shots
2. We clearly aren't getting our bigs involved enough, with Johnson and Doorson lagging behind everyone else in shot attempts per minute played.
16.9 - Omoruyi
15.0 - Baker
14.2 - Mathis
13.2 - Harper
13.0 - Kiss
12.5 - Carter*
10.0 - Doucoure*
9.8 - Thiam
9.8 - McConnell*
7.5 - Johnson
4.4 - Doorson
*limited minutes (McConnell 57, Doucoure/Carter 32)
Couple things here....
1. For one of our best shooters, Thiam is definitely not taking enough shots
2. We clearly aren't getting our bigs involved enough, with Johnson and Doorson lagging behind everyone else in shot attempts per minute played.