Comments on: Lithuanian coach not exactly singing Valanciunas’ praises

By: borderline1988

borderline1988 — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:22:12 +0000

Well, firstly Valuncianus is a 7 footer, whereas Thompson is 6″9. That makes a huge difference, particularily on the defensive end.

And you didn’t mention anything about each player’s ceiling.
The Lithuanian has way more natural coordination, which scouts take to mean that there’s a possibility he can develop a nice offensive game to go along with the defense. The guy can be a promising shooter, and also have a back to the basket game.

Honestly, from what I saw of Tristan Thompson, he likes to put the ball down once and drive to the basket and dunk. He is not that skilled…not much polish and coordination. He looks like another Tyrus Thomas – an athletic PF who just doesn’t have enough skill and polish to become an elite player. There are a lot of those type of players in the NBA (Hakeem Warrick comes to mind).
Tristan’s jump shot is terrible. Perhaps he can get better at it, but I don’t think he;ll ever become a dangerous scorer.

But certainly Thompson’s better today…Valanciunas has looked terrible in the Olympics.

By: easemypain2012

easemypain2012 — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:30:14 +0000

Darko? Please!
The words quoted here are hardly a bashing. The comparison to Thompson is interesting, but the comparison unfair. Thompson played less minutes per game than JV did overseas and Thompson is not even at the Olympics . Jv is doing fine. Fans need to be patient.

By: saint1997

saint1997 — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:59:06 +0000

That guy you drafted #4 last year to play alongside Kate Erving

By: lakerluver

lakerluver — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:21:09 +0000

Can you say: Darko.

By: ljl2

ljl2 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:32:55 +0000

so, basically, the scouting report on Thompson and Jonas reads the same…

-Big
-Athletic
-Good on D
-Rough offensive game

Oh, except Thompson is already playing in the NBA developing while Jonas has been “eh” in Euro league when faced against older players and downright awful in the Olympics…

By: rtfinch

rtfinch — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:31:07 +0000

He caught a knee in the groin and elbow in the throat, I don’t see how that has anything to do with his body, thats just bad luck.

By: rocketsbb

rocketsbb — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:50:33 +0000

Donatas motiejunas look waay better than this guy and I’m not saying that just because he’s on the raptors. This kid couldn’t even take a shot when Kobe drived to the basket. He doesn’t have an nba body

By: bernie19kosar

bernie19kosar — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:56:14 +0000

As a Cavs fan I ask, who is Tristan Thomas?

By: leeeroooyjeeenkiiins

leeeroooyjeeenkiiins — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:56:10 +0000

So what you’re saying is, he’s like almost every really young big man ever and has talent but needs to work on his footwork and technique? Gotcha.

By: pl4tinum514

pl4tinum514 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:35:18 +0000

It’s “Tristan Thompson.” At least you know what team he plays for.

Thompson will always be compared to Valanciunas, but it looks like for now at least, Thompson has the upper hand in the discussion. Thompson has had a 27 point NBA game already, and can do alot on the defensive end as well, has a heck of a work ethic, and now has a year of NBA experience under his belt. Give him this season, with an offseason program and a training camp, and we’ll see him much improved with any luck.