[tuck243Participant]

I know I’ve said this before but I don’t remember creating a post about it…  So, whatev here we go again…

Thomas Robinson…  Let’s talk about what I like about him…  His motor, his desire, the chip on his shoulder because he’s really been thru a lot in his life, and his 15 foot shot…

Now, as much as I want to see him succeed I have to be real when it comes to my predictions of players…  I’ve seen too many players come before Thomas Robinson with the identical skill set and some even better than him, they only average out to be role players…  Everytime I watch him play I come away thinking he’s going to be Taj Gibson 2.0…  He’s not a fluent athlete, his post moves are very mechnical, although he can get up it’s not very elite explosiveness that people seem to think on here… He’s closer to 6’8 than 6’9…  

Putting him Top 5 in this year’s draft is overrating him IMO…  Top 5 players are players you think will be 1-3 options on your team…  At best I see him as a solid 4 like Haslem type or some one off the bench and contribute more like Shady or Taj… 

If you think I’m tripping name the players with a similar skill set as Thomas Robinson but is an All-Star caliber big man??? Or 1-3 option on a team…  I just don’t see it…

[shipargosParticipant]

 Has a lot of heart, but he is not polished offensively in order to compete with taller PFs and doesnt have perimeter oriented skills, nor specially gifted athleticaly in order to be a Danny Granger.(similar size)

 

Best Case: Kris Humpries-Udonis Haslem (without the Kim fisco ;))

most probable case: U. Haslem

Worst Case: Shelden Williams

[IknoBall12Participant]

but cant he be compared to boozer? i mean booze wasnt very athletic, post moves werent great, but he was somewhat of a beast in his time and take away the 15 foot jumper and i think we are looking at the same player. i think he can grow into a legit #2 option someday if he gets on the right team

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

That kind of energy can change a team’s culture.  I think that actually makes Robinson and MKG and Davis a bit underrated in that a losing/disfunctional team, think Washington, can be infected by their work ethic.

[JoeWolf1]

 He’s a consistant jumper away from being a 3rd option for an NBA team.  He’s improved, but it’s not good enough for him to be a legit pick and pop option.  He’s good on the roll because because he’s a good ball handler and good without the ball, but he has layed the foundation for becoming a good jump shooter, it’s just up to him to continue the progression.

I think he’s capable of 13 and 8 or 9 in the NBA right now if given the minutes.

[Future_Scout]

J smith

[cabbycabParticipant]

 Agree with OP.  At 6-8, 240 lbs you are already at a disadvantage against the big boys in the L.

As far as Boozer comparison, I don’t see it.  Boozer was a much more polished post player at Duke at this stage. Plus Boozer was always built like a tank.  

Robinson is athletic, but not a freak like Griffin.  Taj 2.0 is pretty accurate.  

[Da1potParticipant]

 He has the same skill set Darrell Arthur did when he was coming out of Kansas, only Arthur didn’t put up nearly as good stats as Robinson because their team was obviously much better……

[elliotmcadooParticipant]

I know im a Kansas fan but THomas Robinson has good nba size for the 4 besides the tall skinny guys hes stronger than the kid is stronghas a good motor rebounds like crazy should start for a NBA team right away could average a double double his rookie year if in the right system. Hes going to be the National player of the year which will boost his stock and hes going to go fa in the touney with Kansas with him Withey Tyshawn Taylor Releford and the jump shooter Conner Tehan. His stock in my opinion will be so high he can start for which ever team drafts him in the top 5 and he will how out with his athleticsm jump shot and solid post moves

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 Josh Smith? GTFO

[Future_Scout]

josh smith without the ball handling. tell me why not?

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

i like robinson but hes not the athletic freak smith is…i donno his exact vertical leap but he doesnt have a shot like smith has, doesnt have the passing, ball-handling, or defense…

i like the Darrell Arthur comparison

[Future_Scout]

 true, robinson wont be able to keep up with faster sf’s defensively like smith and the passing ability is decreased because of the ball handling skills but robinson moves the ball very well, is a freakish athlete, he can get hi up there and quick. and their shot are actually very similar 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 First off Thomas Robinson is 6’10.  He’s measured in at 6’10 with a 7’1" at the Amare Stoudemire Skills Camp so he is far from undersized.  In fact he is perect size.

Darrell Authur whom I was never a fan of until last year and the Sixers came so close to drafting him over Thad Young, Philly wanted either Darrell Authur, Julian Wright, or Al Thornton to be the pick while I was trying to tell everybody if Thad Young falls to us thank God because he might have more potential then anybody in the draft not named Durant or Oden.  

Well Authur measured 6’8.5" in sneakers with a 6’11 wingspan and a terribly disspointing 30" max vert.  Robinsons has got to be closer to a 35" vert.  And Authur is nowhere near the rebounder that Robinson in.  Authur might have a better mid range jumper and a few more moves in the post but he can’t use them as effectively as Robinson who is much bigger, stronger, a quicker.

Josh Smith is actually a good comparison in playing styles and athleticism except Josh is more skilled.  Josh Smith is a way better passer and shot blocker then Robinson ever will be.

Early in the year I called Robinson a taller Kenneth Faried.  His stats look exactly like Faried’s and he plays the game like him too with a relentless motor, a chiseled frame that he loves to bang into dudes for position (pause)…and they both know how to use their hops to exploit taller defender. 

But Robinson is a little more overall skilled then Faried on offense plus he got Faried by a good 2 inches.  Robinson under the tutelege of Danny Manning has turned himself into a super athletic and super versatile skilled combo forward.  He hit the mid range shots.  He can take his man off 2 dribbles and use his speed to blow by him to the rim, once at the rim his hops and power are unstoppable in college.  He’s also a very good facilitating type passer.  If a guy is open Robinson will and can make that extra pass so he gets the ball.

Look at the lottery there are a few teams that Robinson can go to and put up numbers right away with.  He has the ability to flirt with averaging a triple double as a rookie in the right system.  One is Washington.  He’s better then Vesselly and Blatche needs to leave.  You start TROb on the Wiz next year and he get 14 and 9 easy.  The Hornets could use him and he could get possibly 15 and 10 on a depleted Hornets team.  

Robinson has a high floor but a low celing in my eyes.  I think he can make an instant impact but won’t elevate his game to Blake Griffin levels.  One thing holding him back is that he’s not a great shot blocker.  If he was a good shot blocker he would remind me of what we thought Derrick Favors would be like

For comparison and stats sake he reminds me of a more athletic Paul Millsap.  Or a taller better rebounding Thad Young.

 Or for all that he reminds me of David Lee.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 I meant to say that Thomas Robinson can flirt around and average a double double as a rookie not a triple double.  If he flirted around and got trip dubs he’d be a full blown pimp wit Magic Johnson juice.

[tuck243Participant]

He’s not ANYWHERE near Josh Smith athleticism…  Fawk outta here…  J Smoove and Blake Griffin are 2 of the most athletic 4’s in the game…  He doesn’t have the same skill set as Thad Young, he’s not as polished as Paul Millsap coming out of college (or built the same), and Carlos Boozer creates so much space because he’s huge… There are a ton of players that match Thomas Robinson current skill set to INCLUDE hustle guys… I can name at least 10-15 guys that do the same ish he will give you… 

@Mr. 19134-

Everytime I come away reading ANY of your posts I always think to myself "He knows a lot of ish about nothing"… Because Thomas Robinson can make an extra pass he will flirt with a triple double???  You just said in your post Josh Smith is by far a better passer has he flirted with 10 assists games???  Make sense of all that ish you just said…  Shady Arthur is a great comparison for him… Actually Shady is a better ball handler than Thomas Robinson…  To be honest Taj Gibson is the perfect comparison more and more I think about it… Coming out of Kansas, Drew Gooden, Shady, and Nick Collinson had a bigger upside to me than Thomas Robinson…  The only thing that give’s him an advantage is his mentality…  I hope he does way better than I think he is but I only see a serviceable role player for him…

[Future_Scout]

LOL^, i knew you meant 2×2

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Sorry guys I just skimmed thru the post and noticed a few names thrown out their for comparisons and decided to put my input in without even reading most of what you guys said but I still stand by my outlook.

I like Thomas Robinsons story and love him as a person (no homo), he comes from poverty and his family really needs money thats why he was going to enter the draft last year but sacrificed it all and put his family on hold because Danny Manning promised he could turn him into the best forward in the country.

Manning had a ton to work with because Robinson is an exceptional athlete with a ton of raw skills.  I know he played SF a lot on AAU.  But it wasn’t until the summer camps that Robinson’s name began to be mentioned as a possible lotto pick as many draft pundits were claiming he was the most impressive player in camps.

Then he messed around and measured in at a legit 6’10 giving him perfect PF height.  Taj Gibson is a good comparison but Robinson spent a lot of time in the weight room and it has paid off.  He’s chiseled this year.  He must has 25 pounds on Taj Gibson.  T-Rob is also way more skilled then Gibson.  You can iso Robinson and he can get you a bucket trust me.  You can’t do that with Gibson.  Also Robinson got the type of body that’s built to take on the rigors of a starting PF in the league.

But somebody said Robinson can’t guard SF’s?  That is false.  Thomas Robinson is exceptionally fast for his height.  No SF’s can really keep up the likes of Lebron James and Andre Iguadola in a foot race.  

But I’d like to hear some names of SF’s that Thomas Robinson couldn’t guard (during an NBA game not a one on one or some other b.s.)  Because Robinson is a special athlete and is a hard worker.  I believe he can eventually even more to SF full time if for instance he was drafted by the Jazz and there was justn no way he was getting minutes at PF.  

Robinson is capable of putting up numbers like David Lee but athletically he’s more on par with Thad Young who I’ve witness in person guard 4 different positions for extended periods of time.

[tuck243Participant]

to how Thad Young play now in the NBA??? Because Thad Young in college played a total different game than he does now… They are playing him out of position…  He is more 3 than 4…  Thomas Robinson is strictly a 4…  He doesn’t even compare to Derrick Williams from last year (Who I thought was more 4 than 3 and also better athletically than Robinson)…  Go watch Jordan Hill, Shady, Drew Gooden, Taj Gibson, or JJ Hickson in college…  Same game…  Some were better scorers or more athletic but all the same game…

I’m not saying he suck or going to suck… I’m just saying I wouldn’t pick him Top 5 knowing at best I can see is 10-10…  And the notion that he can play the 3 and guard 3’s is laughable…  Be real…  Show me the tape of Thomas Robinson sitting down playing D…

[tuck243Participant]

and just summarized their scouting report… WTH???

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Do you not believe me he is 6’10?

dd

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 And the Sixers are not playing Thad Young out of position he is just an undersized 4 with the athleticism to play SF.  They play him at 4 for a reason, one he prefers to play PF, 2 he is more effective playing PF, and 3 the Sixers last 3 coaches all came to the same conclusion that Thad Young is more effective playing PF because he has more moves in the post then he does on the perimeter.  Before this year Thad had a very shaky outside shot but a nearly automatic hook shot in the post.  

And in terms of how Robinson is going to score in the leage I was using Thad as an example.  Thad likes to get the ball in the high post and either shoot or blow by his man off the dribble to the lane.  Thad also get’s a ton of buckets running the floor.  Thad is also great at sneaking back door for alley oops.  The main difference between him and Thad is that Thad has a ton of moves in the post it’s a shame he’s not 2 inches taller because he would be an All Star.

And I’ve saw all them players in college and they are not the same as Thomas Robinson.  Were any of them even in consideration to win NPOTY?  No because they didn’t dominate the way Thomas Robinson is doing.  Taj Gibson averaged 14 and 9 in college and got almost all his points off of dunks.  Plus Gibson is 210 pounds, 30 pounds less then Robinson.  But other then the fact Robinson is a hell of a lot stronger then Gibson they are comparable athletically and does Taj not guard 3 positions in the NBA?  Because he does.  In fact the Bulls had Gibson guarding Iggy during the Sixers Bulls game.

Hickson didn’t score or rebound at the rate Robinson does in college, plus Hickson is 6’9 and was pudgy in college.  He also played a lot more in the post.  But Hickson did have a nice jumper and could occassionally get by his man to the rim but his ball handling is nowhere near advanced as T-Rob.s  Tho they do share a lot of similitaries.

Jordan Hill is a good one but he’s more of a PF/C and he has nowhere near the lateral quickness Robinson has.  Hill put up numbers in college but he didn’t help his team or make clutch players neither did Gibson or Hickson.  None of they’re teams were ranked as high as Robinson’s is and none of them made clutch plays that kept they’re team ranked that high.

Drew Gooden is a great comparison tho.  He was drafted by Memphis to play SF and got traded to Orlando when they realized that didn’t work out.  Now he’s started C. for the Bucks.  But Gooden was a lot different too.  For starters Gooden was a better shooter who had range on his shot and was also very fast.  But he wasn’t as explosie as Robinson.

You can do this with every prospect in the draft I don’t see where it’s gonna get you.  You can pull up a bunch of scrubs or role players that play like everyone in this draft it doesn’t mean you can predict the future.  

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 Who went to draftexpress and summarized scouting reports?  Me?  WTF? LMAO.

Are you serious. I would of loved to have found an article to summarized what I wanted to say so I could of just cut, copied, and pasted it, then put it in parenthesis and called it day.  It would of make it a lot easier for me.

But for entertainment purposes what did I plagiarise from DX.  Cuz that’s what you’re excusing me of right plagiarism?  Go find an article that sounds like what I said…this should be fun….

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 While we’re waiting for you to fabricate some other falsified story because you lost you can watch this Thomas Robinson clip doing all the things you say he can’t do like be really athletic and make great passes.  

 

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[JoeWolf1]

 Shady Arthur is a bad comparison.  I’ve watched 20+ KU games every year for a decade and it’s just a case of grouping someone as a similar player because they went to the same school.  Arthur was a disappointing rebounder for someone of his size and athletic ability. Darrell Arthur had a pretty disappointing college career, he was the #2 PF out of high school behind some kid named Durant.  Robinson averages as many rebounds as Arthur did points his sophomore year.  Actually, Arthur reminds me, a little, of a smaller PJ3…

Arthur was a 6 rpg player in college and what Robinson does on the glass is amazing.  He’s doing what guys do in mid majors in a power 6 conference.  I don’t see Josh Smith, but I agree with Mr. 19134 on his athletic ability and the bigger Faried comparison.  6’8-6’10”, whatever he actually is…his 7’1” wingspan is legit because people don’t wear shoes on their hands, lol. He’s absolutely athletic too, he’s a two footed jumper and I’ve seen him dunk off two feet from 10 feet away from the rim…That’s at least a 35” max vert.

[JoeWolf1]

 I also think Robinson can guard 3’s.  He was praised last summer at the Lebron camp, by others and Lebron himself, for his defense on Lebron ( who wasn’t going all out ).  Still, when a guy who hadn’t, at the time, played more than 14 mpg in college can hold his own against the best player in the league going 1/2 – 3/4 speed shows that he does have the potential to be a good perimeter defender on NBA 3’s.  

It will take some work for him to transition into the NBA as a defender, both post and perimeter, I definately see the potential and the work ethic to get there.

Robinson doesn’t sit down and guard 3’s in college, well, because he’s the 2nd biggest guy on KU.  If Withey is in the game he’s matching up against the PF and if he’s not he’s usually guarding the C.  He could match up against just about any 3 in college, but Bill Self doesn’t want his best rebounder chasing his man around the perimeter and Travis Releford guarding a power forward.

If Lebron has confidence in Robinson being able to guard small forwards, then I’ll take that as an legit endorsement that he can.

 

[JNixonParticipant]

 I think Robinson is like David Lee when he was a younger player for the Knicks. I can agree with that comparison. Lee improved alot of things to be the player that got him that big contract though, and Im not quite sure Robinson has that kind of upside.

[jaybullsParticipant]

Post 1

Albeit my first post could be slightly bias as a Jayhawk fan – I’ve always been a bit confused as to why posters have felt that T-Rob doesn’t posess the upside to become a player similar to David Lee. When Robinson was recruited to Kansas everyone raved about his body and athleticism but his game, in the kindest word, was raw. He’s learned under arguably the best big man coach in the NCAA, sat behind 3 lottery picks, and turned his raw, energy filled game into POY status. 

I don’t feel Robinson is going to come into the league and average 14 and 9, as some have stated, but I don’t understand why people feel he doesn’t have the potential to turn himself into that type of player in 3 years. His jumper, undoubtedly, needs significant work to become a reliable 14pt. a night player, but he’s also playing in a system that doesn’t allow him to showcase it. He also plays in a system that teaches unselfishness and ball movement which, in today’s NBA, is invaluable as a role player. 

His offensive skill set is limited but his body is fully devloped, his motor is secone to none, and he is the best defensive rebounder in the country. He has turned his game from incredibly "raw" to solid enough that defenses are forced to respect his jump shot. He’s strong enough to body up a 4 and athletic enough to switch on a 3. He’s proven a relentless worker and has elevated his game beyond any one’s expectations.

It may be a gripe, but I’m looking for a legitimate argument as to why his "potential" isn’t high enough to become a starter and potential one-time/two-time all start in the league. 

My prediction for next year (team depending): 8 and 6. 16 min. a game. 

[Author]

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