[highflyer0Participant]

I must say, after watching the Kansas vs. Georgetown game, it is ridiculous that this site has him as the 22nd pick right now.  He has freakish athleticism, strength that few NBA players can match, terrific quickness, willpower that none of us can even begin to understand, and he is even developing a nice little jumper.  I would be shocked if hes not a lottery pick, or even a top 10 pick come next June.

[xavier328Participant]

I have him in my top 5 i believe…he  might not go that high because question about his size…and true position…

[JaeEvolutionParticipant]

Deja vu…was just commenting on your Jeremy Lamb post 24 hours ago lol.

Anyways he is absolutely a beast and I think with time he will start to quickly move up draft boards. After watching the game today I see he doesn’t have a post game, which is scary not because he lacks it but because he still dominates without one. His body is more toned and built than some NBA players which is why he is such a monster in games, guys just can’t handle his strength.

I don’t know if he’ll be a lottery pick, but he deserves to be and no team can go wrong if they need a NBA ready big guy who in time WILL get a lot better with good coaching and hard work.

[JoeJoParticipant]

 I had the opposite reaction after watching him against Georgetown in that I came away largely meh about him.  He can dunk on an open rim as well as finish off an alley-oop ferociously but he clanked all the outside jumpers I saw and he doesn’t have a skilled post game.  He’s not going to be able to just dunk his way to stardom because there aren’t guys like Lubick he can beast in the NBA.  

If he can improve his jumper, I think he could develop into a Brandon Bass type player.  

[FritzParticipant]

I dont think hes top 5 but I think he is definately a lottery talent and will keep improving as the year goes on. His body reminds me of a 2 inches shorter Al Horford, and in terms of what I think he will be in the NBA although I think he lacks some of the skills and instincts of Horford I think his career outlook will end up being a weakmans Al Horford which I believe deserves worthy of a 10-14 pick in this loaded draft.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

1st you say Lamb should be the number 1 pick..Now you’re saying Thomas Robinson should go top 5..

Let me guess and say you guys are teens and just started following basketball…So its understandable when yall see a guy put up good stats..And yall get carried away..

Next year draft can possibly be so full of stars..That a guy like Sullinger,who could’ve went top 3 last year,might fall into the 6 to 9 range next year….So i don’t expect Robinson to go top 10 at all..He’s not 1 of those elite players..He’s a role player in the Brandon Bass mold..But i see him being a little better than Bass….I can see him going in the 13 to 20 range..

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Thomas Robinson will be a lottery pick as well.  I think he’ll be in the 9-16 range, and I have no idea where he gets the reputation of being a tweener.  He’s 6’9” 240 with very little body fat and a 7’1” wingspan, and he have the game of a small forward at all.

He is not going to wow you with his low post moves, but he’s much improved.  He’s got better range on his jumper and has 10 footers in each of his games.  He has really good footwork around the rim and his strength around the rim will translate to the next level.  No, he won’t look like Shaq dunking everything in sight like he did last night agaisnt Georgetwon, but he’s very strong and stronger than a number of NBA power forwards already.  This is going to be a guy in the combine repping 185 more than 20 times.  He didn’t have a great game against Kentucky, but Terrance Jones couldn’t move him and he’s 250 lbs.

I don’t think Thomas Robinson is going to be a superstar at the next level, but I feel he’ll be a more dynamic NBA player than Brandon Bass.  He’s going to be a guy who can grab 10 rebounds per game in the NBA very soon. I think early careeer Al Horford is a good comparison for him, production wise, they have different games but I think Robinson can be a 8-10 point 9-11 rebound player pretty much from the get go, given 25-30 minutes per game.  If he he goes to a team where he’s coming off the bench then he’s the type of guy who can grab 7 rebounds in 20 minutes because his strength, length and rebounding instincts will translate at the next level.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 I haven’t caught T Robinson yet, but Al Horford is a tough comparison as that guy has a legit jumper all the way out to the college three range. You can win games off of Al Horford’s jumper, which doesn’t sound like T.R. If TR could be the next Al Horford, he should go in the top five. 

[JoeWolf1]

 As I stated, I don’t think Thomas Robinson’s game is that similar to Horford, but I feel his production could be very similar as a first or 2nd year player.  Robinson, like Horford, is a player ready to rebound at an NBA level, much like Horford. 

Robinson is a pretty good ball handler, although a little erradic with decision making right now, but he’ll most likely settle down as he learns to be the main player for KU.  No, he doesn’t have the jumper of Horford, but I was hard pressed to think of a young player coming in and getting around 10 and 10 so I mentioned Horford, but only from a production standpoint.

[FritzParticipant]

My comparison was mainly just on body type and production, I think they are very different players. He will eventually get that mid range falling but that will never be a strength of his game. His post work I believe will eventually be serviceable in the NBA, but I think his success is going to be being a great garbage man and hustler. Hes going to clean up the offensive glass and be a great oop target. I think thats a sure thing to translate in the NBA and thats why I think hes a 10-14 range player.                       

     But its not like I dont think he has a lot of potential. I think he has a great work ethic (just look at his body) and attitude. Man’s been through a lot in his life and I think he still has a lot of room for grooming by NBA coaches. Im not so sure hes going to turn out to be 6’9” though my bets on 6′ 8” which isnt that undersized, but in a leage of John Henson wing spans Thomas Robinson I dont think has a big one which will limit him a little in the NBA.

 

 

[JNixonParticipant]

 Robinson is similar to Brandon Bass, but he’s quicker and a better ball-handler. I think he’ll make a solid PF in the NBA, not a star but either a decent starter or a strong rotational mismatch ploy at PF. He’s very quick and athletic and he can be tough to defend because he’s stronger than most tweeners and quicker than most of the bigger PF’s. He should look to improve his defense and he’s never going to be known for his moves down low, but he will definitely be serviceable. I think he goes no later than 20th

[highflyer0Participant]

Just to clarify, guys I did NOT say he was going to go top 5.  In fact, I said he could MAYBE be top 10.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

There are way too many players in the NBA and even draft eligible that are functionally equivalent to Thomas Robinson to get overly excited about him. Where he will get taken is as much about who else  is in there as anything else, but there is not one lottery team that is bad because they lack someone playing Robinson’s role. Just look at the rosters of the Bobcats, Timberwolves, Raptors, and Cavs. He doesn’t make them better. The number of try hard, athletic power forwards this year is going to be long. Just the senior class has Trevor Mbakwe, JaMychal Green, Herb Pope, Kevin Jones, Bernard James (though his true value would be if he is actually 6’10" and can play the 5), Draymond Green, Mike Scott, and Ricardo Ratliffe. I can always find energetic and athletic. They are not hard to find.

 

[JoeWolf1]

 I hear what you are saying BTPH, but do you honestly think Mbakwe, Green, Pope, Jones, James, Green, Scott and Ratliffe who you call functionally equivalent will have the same impact as Robinson in the NBA?  You rattled off a list of 2nd rounders, and probable undrafted players plus Mbakwe who will be 23 by the time the draft rolls around.

Do you honestly think Robinson brings nothing more to the table?  You’re right, a lot of the lottery is team dependant, but a guy who is a high volume rebounder and a hustle player with some upside is a type of guy a coach or an organization could get high on as well.  The Pistons missed their chance at a big man in drafting Knight, I think if they get a ping pong ball in the 10-14 range they could bite on Robinson.  This draft is stacked, and depending on who is in the feild he could fall to 20 or so, but Herb Pope?

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

 I also said Trevor Booker would give a team the same as Patrick Patterson. It doesn’t matter when a player goes, it is what they bring. What does Robinson bring to the court that separates him? Tyler Zeller is the only big man in this coming draft with a polished post game. That is unique. I see a lot of long, athletic, and energetic big men.

[JoeWolf1]

His nose for rebounding and strength, he’s not just a 215 lb pogo stick that will get thrown around by 30 year old men.  He is a great college rebounder and paired with his athleticism, that will transfer to the NBA.  

If you want a guy to provide offense down on the block, draft Zeller, but if your team is soft and gets knocked around on the glass draft Robinson.  He’s a good enough player that if your team needs that and you have a pick in the late lotto or mid 1st he’d be a very good option.  It’s not like you could just pass on Robinson, draft a shooting guard and pick up Herb Pope or Mike Scott as an undrafted free agent and get the same thing.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

His nose for the glass has him pulling down the same number of offensive rebounds as everyone else. He has 8 in 3 games, which is hardly otherworldly. Scott is at around 2.8 per, was at 3.8 per last year, and 2.3 the year before that. Ratliffe has 9 in 4 games though Mizzou hasn’t played anyone so he has only played 24 minutes per, but he pulled down 2.5 per last year. Draymond Green has 11 in 4 after 2.5 per last year. Mbakwe has 10 in 3 games after 3.1 per last year. James has 11 in 4 after 2.2 in 21 minutes per last year. JaMychal Green is at 2 per over 5 in 25 minutes after 3.1 per last year. Pope is at better than 4 per after 3.9 per last year. Jones is at an outlier number now (19 in 3 games), but he was at 3.3 per last year. None of those guys are lacking bulk, energy, or a "nose for the glass."

[JoeWolf1]

 So the fact that Thomas Robinson is pulling down 36.15 % of all available defensive rebounds so far this season doesn’t set him apart from those guys? That doesn’t indicate a "nose for the glass"? considering he’s only playing 29 minutes per game so far. Kenneth Faried pulled down 31.4% of defensive rebounds last season and he lead the NCAA in rebounding. 

Thomas Robinson averaged 2.25 offensive rebounds per game last season in 14.6 minutes per game.  If he played the same amount of minutes Mike Scott did last year that would translate to 4.65

If Thomas Robinson played the same amount of minutes as Ratliffe last year that translates to 3.76 offensive rpg

If Thomas Robinson played the same amount of minutes as Pope last year that translates to 4.16 offensive rpg

See a trend? Robinson is a better rebounder than ALL of them. 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

But Robinson would have been unable to play as many minutes as the others because of his propensity to foul. The imaginary rebounds he could have had also have to be weighed against the reason(s) -he did turn it over a lot for a minor player in the offense playing sparing minutes- he wasn’t out there.

Defensive rebounding a team function. Teams with more people going to the glass is a good thing. If one guy is handling that role, it doesn’t make him special it means the team doesn’t have anyone else. Kansas has allowed opponents to get 31 offensive rebounds off 91 missed field goals. That is not particularly good. Yes, Robinson is pulling in a ton, but isn’t it an indictment of the team that they haven’t done a great job? Neither of the Morris’ had big defensive rebounding number nor did Aldrich for that matter when he was there, but Kansas was one of the best rebounding teams in the NCAA.

[JoeWolf1]

 Robinson played 14.6 minutes per game because he was behind two lottery picks, not because he couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. He averaged 2.03 fouls per game last season in his 14.6 minutes while fouling out of 0 games.  I don’t know where you are getting the number in which would indicate he couldn’t play 27 or 33 minutes per game due to foul trouble.

He’s still only averaging 3.667 this year in 29 minutes per game.  Yes, he’s prone to a dumb foul every now and then, but he isn’t a hacker who can’t stay on the court.

Robinson pulled down 30% of the total defensive rebounds per game last year with both Morris twins in 14.6 minutes per game while only fouling two times!  What makes you think this year is some sort of fluke? Does he have as much help on the glass? no.  Will he be asked to do more? yes. He has produced so far, and as he gets more comfortable with a bigger role I see no reason for him to slow down.  

It’s cool if you don’t think Robinson will be an NBA all-star, but Herb Pope?  He’s lotto-mid to mid 1st.

[omphalosParticipant]

I don’t see the hype about Robinson, he needs to develop some consistency and learn to defend without fouling before I’ll get too excited about him. He’s not a freshman, he should have developed some sort of post-moves by now. Too many athletic players get by on their athleticism instead of developing a post game, when they should be using their athleticism to improve their post abilities. Too often these traits are mutually exclusive, you’re either a polished post player or you’re athletic.

I don’t see him as a lottery pick in this draft, as BTPH said, the PF position is very deep right now and a lot of the lower ranked teams are set at that position. Certainly a first-rounder, but not a lottery pick in my opinion.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Specialty guys are specialty guys no matter the hype. What made the Morris twins lottery picks in my eyes is that they played hard, rebounded, were able to score from the post to the arc, defended (weren’t they the leaders in charges the past couple years and Markieff has good length), and were capable passers. I like their odds far more than that of Kenneth Faried whose only function is to go as hard as he can and rebound. That is a bench guy at best, especially at his size. I can get the rebounding from the Morris’ plus far more. In my opinion, Robinson has to show more diversity to his game. Otherwise, when he gets to the NBA, he is going to be in the same limited role as guys who go much later than him.

[JoeWolf1]

I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree.  First of all, I don’t think Thomas Robinson will translate to an NBA player because of his hype.  I’m very familiar with him as a player( including last year) and I know his rebounding will translate.  At his size? 6’9” 7’1” wingspan 237lbs of solid muscle, that is NBA power forward size.

That is fine if you prefer more versitile players to specialty guys, but I’m telling you there are really good specialty guys that are worth taking in the late lotto to mid-1st.  Some specialty players are better than others too, thats why Dennis Rodman is in the HOF and Michael Ruffin is…well, Michael Ruffin when both of their main function was to provide rebounding and defense.  If your team needs rebounding and you have a pick in the mid 1st, I don’t know what would stop you from taking him.  The Bulls drafted James Johnson, a versitle player in 2009 at 16 and then Taj Gibson, a specialty shot blocker/rebounder, at 23.  Taj Gibson is the player who stuck, he’s the guy playing meaningful minutes for a 60 win team.  That same year the Knicks drafted Jordan Hill at 8, more upside and more versitile, and the Suns took Earl Clark at 14.  All 3 upside, versitle picks who provide more than just rebounding didn’t stick with their teams.  You think they wouldn’t pick Taj Gibson, the specialty guy now?

You are right, he does need to expand his game, and he has.  I don’t see any reason to think he has stopped improving.  He’s shown a 10 foot baseline jumper, he’s shown great footwork and quick athletic spin moves on the block.  He’s shown the ability to get good position through fundaments and pass in the high low offense.  He’s also shown he’s worked on his free throws upping his average ( so far ) to 62% from 51%.  He’s a work in progress on offense, he’s also shown he doesn’t have college 3 point range, he can’t shoot a fadeaway, and he struggles with decision making as a #1 option ( which he won’t be in the NBA) but he’s put in the work over the off season and I see no reason why he can’t or won’t improve.  

 

 

[lalailaParticipant]

Morris is not even close rebounder like TRob..and he is too athletic quick strong active not to be at least ok offensively..i think he is worth late lottery 

[joecheck88Participant]

I don’t even see why there is an argument here. For what TRob provides he could realistically end up in the 14-22 range in this draft depending on who enters and how he does during the ENTIRE year. I don’t think anyone is doubting that. For what he provides to a team he is worth a pick in that range. I think he will be an excellent NBA player. The fact is people are overrating post moves. There are very few guys with good moves and it has been proven that you don’t need one to be a successful NBA player. Amare Stoudemire hardly ever makes post moves. He will post up, get the ball and face the rim. With his speed and quickness along with his jumper he can do many things which make him an excellent scorer. Why can’t TRob do something similar? I am not saying he will be Amare or even close but its my example.

My point is, that at the very least we know that TRob will be active, hustle, rebound, and use his large frame for picks and things of that nature. He should be at the least a useful rotational big man in the mold of a Taj Gibson or Brandon Bass. Potentially, he could add a decent midrange jumper and the ability to take 4s off the dribble and be a scoring threat. With what we know he can be and his potential, IMO, he should be a mid 1st round pick like has been said.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Taj Gibson is viewed the way he is because Derrick Rose allows it to happen. Because Rose can go 1 on 3 and create in that special way he can, he makes guys like Gibson and Noah look vastly better than they are. Put Taj Gibson on the Raptors or Wizards, and they are still just as bad. Ben Wallace got really old really quickly when Billups, Hamilton, Prince, and Rasheed became Hinrich, Deng, Nocioni, and Ben Gordon. Tyson Chandler on a team with D.J. Augustin and Gerald Wallace looked horrible and was holding one of the worst contracts in basketball. When on a team with Dirk, JET, Kidd, Marion, et al, he looked like someone who will get another big contract when the lockout ends. Serge Ibaka, despite getting worked over by Z-Bo and Dirk in the playoffs, is held in incredibly high regard with the Thunder. Take him away from Kevin Durant, and he is just another long, athletic, foul prone shot blocker who can’t hit an open jumper consistently on Real Madrid. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh made Joel Anthony look vastly more important than he is. The list can go on and on and on. It is not just big men, Kobe, Shaq, and LeBron got overpriced deals for shooters, defenders, points, and Mark Madsen. If I am building a team in the lottery, I am not overly excited about investing a valuable pick in someone who needs superstars around him to look good. They won’t make a bad team good. If I am a team that doesn’t want to pay Serge Ibaka or Taj Gibson long term, I’d be thrilled to come away with Thomas Robinson or Trevor Mbakwe. That is the NBA. Get the talent, and fill in the holes later. You don’t fill holes and wait for true talent. That kind of thinking is part of the reason why teams can spend a decade plus in the lottery.  Who is the lottery team that gets better drafting Thomas Robinson? I don’t see it.

[joecheck88Participant]

There aren’t any lottery teams that would be much better with Robinson as a rookie but who do you pick over him at say pick 12 and on? It depends on who comes out this year and team needs. If a team like Philly has the 12th pick, they have Jrue Holiday at PG, Evan Turner at SG, AI at 3 and just drafted a C. Is there a player left on the board that would be better for that situation? There are no stars left at that point in the draft. Why not take Robinson who will give yo all these intangibles like hustle and rebounding? Plus, I believe he has some potential as a scorer(maybe 15ppg iin a good year)if he works on his midrange jumper and handle a little.

It does seem like athletic 4s grow on trees now but he comes in stronger than most other rookies, a good rebounder and some offensive potential. Plus, where i have him(late lotto to 20) there aren’t any better options. Again, where he goes depends on the team.

[JoeWolf1]

Agree to disagree, I see nothing wrong will filling holes in the late lottery to mid 1st round.  I think you pick any top teir talent that has slipped and after that you fill holes.  You have an aging power forward or a guy who’s going to be a free agent next year you draft Robinson and he does make your team better. 

From what I’ve seen, I think he has potential to get better on offense.  

Do you really see Thomas Robinson as a 2nd round to undrafted talent like Herb Pope and Mike Scott or are you just trying to be difficult?  I can tell you really don’t know much about him outside of a scouting report, and that you’ve maybe seen him play once or twice last year and caught a Maui game.  

It’s okay to doubt the hype, don’t believe everything you hear.  It’s just that I’m not buying it, I’ve seen him play a lot and can see noticable improvement from last season.  Bring up more stats, let me negate them again, who cares, you know basketball, but so do I.  We have different opinions, lets just call it good and see what happens next year if they can ever figure out this lockout.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

No way should we be looking at a Player like Robinson unless we are sold he has some "Star" potential…The Sixers are a poor example as they need Scoring from the Perimeter and a True Franchise Pf or C…I as a Sixer’s fan don’t want a role player from the 12th pick in a Stacked Draft…Not when moving up a few spots could be done very easily(you’d have us Drafting 12th, why not trade Lou Will and the 12th pick and move closer to the top 7)…

I like Robinson as a player, I see some Tyrus Thomas in him and think he’ll be way better than Tyrus Thomas in a few years…

Buttttttttt I’d rather trade Up to get Anthony Davis or Perry Jones then draft Thomas Robinson and be done with with My Roster…BTPH is right, unless TR has soem hidden ability in his game he doesn’t make any Lottery Team Better, and he’s right, Teams drafting that High don’t draft role players and expect to get any better the next year(Look at Golden State drafting Udoh over players that could have made a bigger Impact)…right now Robinson is a role player at best, which is what most players that get Drafted become, to openly acknowledge Robinson has no star potential and then procclaim him a Lottery pick is kinda dumb…If a guy has no real star Potential why draft him that high…The Sixers have drafted Starters in that Range Joe Check(Lou Williams is a 6th man and he was a 2nd round pick) Holiday, Iguadola,Young and Speights were all taken in the Lottery, all of those guys had more Star potential than Robinson and Turner was just taken 2nd, we also just Drafted a legit C with a similar offensive game to Brooke Lopez coming out of Stanford…I’d like My Team to aim a little higher than the Potential Robinson brings to the Team…we need a flat out Star, something Davis, Jones and Drummond can become…I don’t want the Anti Speights/Hustler Robinson will likely be in the NBA…

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"Agree to disagree, I see nothing wrong will filling holes in the late lottery to mid 1st round. I think you pick any top teir talent that has slipped and after that you fill holes. You have an aging power forward or a guy who’s going to be a free agent next year you draft Robinson and he does make your team better."

It depends on who is in the draft and the specific situation of the team as to whether he would make sense. If the NBA goes to 20 years old minimum or 2 years, then in as much as I disagree with the sentiment of him being a franchise altering player the pick in the late lottery to middle of the 1st can be justified. Sometimes it is okay to take a single or double with a pick. It doesn’t change the fact that I think a rebounder off the bench can be found cheaply and without great investment. I don’t think he is as polished a defender as Mbakwe or James, though it seems clear that the fact that James will be a 27 year old rookie is in play. Still, if I want a rebounder and defender with an NBA body, I’m jumping on Bernard James in the 2nd round and giving him minimal money for four years and not worrying about what happens when he is 31 and a RFA. I also think Mike Scott is a good player. His age and height might work against his draft stock, but if I am thinking about filling a team from roster slots 8-15 I don’t blink about him as an energetic backup power forward for the minimum. To be fair, I can say that about a lot of guys, which is why hype matters. If nothing else, hype creates opportunity. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there eventual role will be much greater than those taken much later or if they fit with a bad team as well as they would with a team with a more built infrastructure.

[kobyzParticipant]

remind me as a player a lot Nene Hilario, especially with his body type and the way he’s dunking the ball but also with some other attributes – ability the handle and pass a little…

[uknationParticipant]

I like him. Very strong and athletic and has some skill, still has a little ways to go though. Didn’t like the fact that he allowed Mason and Kelly to score on him so much this past game. also noticed he’s much more like 6’7 and a half or 6’8 when seeing him stand next to Mason, i wonder how long hsi arms are

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

i can see robinson def. going in the lottery this yr or next yr

but people overrate him as a scorer… 

he oozes with talent, but is erratic with the ball sometimes and needs to still work on his back to the basket game

he’ll be a good pro… better than brandon bass

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

 also… his defense isnt very good 

[llperez]

i watched thomas robinson vs ucla and while he is a very good player, the post about "being considered the 22nd pick is ridiculous, strength that few nba players can match, willpower that none of us can even begin to understand" is just full of nut gobbling hyperbole. Fricking reeves nelson forced him into 3 of his 5 turnovers in straight up one on one defense with no help. And i would love to see how he dominates the nba with his power. ANd you have no idea how much willpower i can imagine in my head.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

I imagine Will Power to be the grandson of former MLBer Vic Power.

[Author]

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