re: Marcus Thornton pro prospects?

quote:

---

I don't think he can create his own shot in the NBA. He'll just be a shooter and a 6'4" pure shooter in the NBA isn't really worth a shite.

---

just about every European NBA player disagrees. It's an advantage for sure creating your own shot but you don't HAVE to do that to be successful. It's part of the reason he's considered a early-mid 2nd rounder right now. That being said if he can turn and shoot and he shoots over 40% doing that from 3 then he doesn't have a whole lot to worry about. He's great at making hand in face 3 pointers.

quote:

---

Ever heard of Stephan Curry, IMO the best scorer in the nation. Plays point now but is a true 2 guard and can score at will. Yes, he's small but he'll make his mark in the NBA. Trust me, Marcus couldn't do for Davidson as Curry does.

---

I think Curry is going to have to make it as a PG in the NBA. He's about 6'2 which definitely becomes a problem for a 2-guard in the NBA. Not to mention he's maybe about 180 pounds.

The thing people don't understand is the intangibles players have. It doesn't always matter about size, yes Curry is small and might get taken advantage of on the defensive side but he's gonna get his shots on offense.
Another thing, that's why they have coaches to put their players in the best possible position and you could always switch Curry onto a smaller player etc. You people act like yall are scouts and know everything it takes to be a pro athlete but have no idea. (i.e. Mike Singletary/Zach Thomas were told they were too small)

It's called intagibles, things that you cannot teach but that some people just have.

Enough with Curry, I feel that if Marcus continues to hustle on D as he's doing now, he'll make an excellent two guard in the NBA. Also, I think Marcus is a better scorer (not shooter) than a lot of two guards in the NBA now. He'll have many years to perfect his shooting touch. The main problem I think Marcus has is he tends to get a little wild (street ballish) on the court. Has definitely improved from last year though.

quote:

---

Another thing, that's why they have coaches to put their players in the best possible position and you could always switch Curry onto a smaller player etc.

---

So who does the PG cover then? PG's are usually pretty small...

The biggest thing for Marcus is finding the right fit. I think he has the talent to be a solid player in the league. He can stroke it with the best of them and his defense is getting better. I can see him being a role player in the league for a few years coming off the bench, which is not a bad gig if you can get it. Eddie House comes to mind and others in that mold.(Not saying he is Eddie)

The thing is for him to get into an organization that actually has a clue. At least 10 coaches have been fired and there is a lot of instability in the league. He is still fairly raw from a fundamental standpoint and has to learn the pro game, which is different and more complicated than one may think. A solid coach can put him in the right position and bring him along in the process.

David Wesley hung around for years as a 6-1 SG. It can be done and i'd venture to say Marcus is better than David Wesley

quote:

---

What do yall think?

---

Thanks for asking. No one's asked me anything since I was adamant that Glen Davis had no shot at the pros. Bearing in mind my earlier mistake, I think Marcus has a legitimate shot.

quote:

---

The average height of a starting NBA shooting guard is 6'-6". Most players under that average have phenomenal skills. His height will hurt him.

---

There are over 40 guards on NBA rosters who play the "two" all or part of the time who are listed @ 6'4" or shorter FWIW. Thornton appears to be much stronger and a much better rebounder than a lot of "2" guards in the league. Compared to J.R. Smith as a rookie for instance, who was a first round pick of the Hornets, I would gauge MT to be a better player upon entrance into the league. He certainly has NBA range on his jumper and the ability to elevate over taller defenders with one of the quickest releases I've seen lately. As for as where he gets drafted it depends on how many teams feel the need for a shooting guard. He's some where in the top 10 two guards coming out depending on whos ranking you are using. If more than a half-dozen "2's" are taken in the first round MT has a shot at the late first round IMHO.