Issa Thiam Thread

RU-Choppin-Ohio

Heisman
Jul 31, 2011
32,979
37,756
113
The most un-freshmen like freshmen I can recall in a long time at Rutgers.

Plays calm and under Control. Endless motor and is always moving on offense and defense.

I love his pass fakes on the perimeter. They will lead to some nice back door plays in the future.

I think he has answered a lot of questions about whether he can be a good perimeter defender as a 6'9 SG. Today he showed the lateral quickness to stay with a 5'10" PG.

The next thing he has to show is a willingness and ability to drive and finish in the paint. I want to see some pull up jumpers in the lane soon.
 

4theknights

Senior
Mar 9, 2012
727
751
73
The most un-freshmen like freshmen I can recall in a long time at Rutgers.

Plays calm and under Control. Endless motor and is always moving on offense and defense.

I love his pass fakes on the perimeter. They will lead to some nice back door plays in the future.

I think he has answered a lot of questions about whether he can be a good perimeter defender as a 6'9 SG. Today he showed the lateral quickness to stay with a 5'10" PG.

The next thing he has to show is a willingness and ability to drive and finish in the paint. I want to see some pull up jumpers in the lane soon.
You are spot on..Thiam has me so pumped. He makes few mistakes and seems confident. And the three ball.. nice to add this weapon this year.
 

NJDOVES

All-Conference
Dec 21, 2005
2,719
1,626
113
The most un-freshmen like freshmen I can recall in a long time at Rutgers.

Plays calm and under Control. Endless motor and is always moving on offense and defense.

I love his pass fakes on the perimeter. They will lead to some nice back door plays in the future.

I think he has answered a lot of questions about whether he can be a good perimeter defender as a 6'9 SG. Today he showed the lateral quickness to stay with a 5'10" PG.

The next thing he has to show is a willingness and ability to drive and finish in the paint. I want to see some pull up jumpers in the lane soon.

Totally agree. Speaking of freshman, is Bullock hurt or red shirting?
 
Dec 4, 2010
5,866
5,256
0
Needs to work on his handle and his first step. He HAS to become a threat to go to the hole. With that comes the pull up jumper, which could be unstoppable at this level.
 
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GSGS

Heisman
Aug 2, 2001
28,474
22,283
113
Question on Thiam - he seems to have a low release on his jumper. Any way that can be adjusted to be higher w/o losing accuracy?

BBall team has me very excited. They have a ways to go, but have both talent and basketball IQ, and give great effort, what an amazing turnaround in 1 year, major kudos to Pikiell and company. Most excitingly, they will continue to improve as the season goes on.
 

ouchmyknee

All-American
Nov 10, 2006
3,853
6,329
91
After only 4 games it's pretty apparent that Thiam's basketball IQ is quite high. In fact all the new guys seem to have higher basketball IQs than the players we've had in the past.
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Still need to see more.

POSITIVES
1. He is smart and/or well coached. He is in the right space off the ball on defense. As OP noticed he is good with ball fakes which is especially helpful vs. zones
2. He has held his own staying in front of guards 10 inches smaller than him.
3. He has confidence shooting the ball
4. Pikiell has named him a starter which means he earned it in practice
5. 8-19 from 3, small sample but that is 42%

NEGATIVES
1. Haven't seen him take his man off the dribble
2. Haven't seen him really do much of anything in the paint offensively
3. He has already had 2 3 pointers blocked...more than most get blocked in a year....
4. Release to low and he takes forever...HAS TO BE FIXED
5. Has only 7 rebounds and 2 foul shots and 1 block and 0 steals
6. In 2 games with big leads when we are shortening the game he has taken bad shots early in the shot clock
 

Rokodesh

Heisman
Aug 30, 2007
15,998
13,097
73
His shot looks so effortless, it just floats its way into the basket. I really like watching him play
 

bowlgoal

Heisman
Jul 20, 2004
12,182
11,386
93
That's one unique player. If he works on every aspect of his game he could be one of the better players in the Big 10. I would say you want him to gain some weight but his shot is so sweet that he's really not an inside player so I don't know?

Looking forward to watching him develop. He's a key player that's for sure.
 
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Knight Ed_rivals

All-Conference
Jan 28, 2004
3,971
1,596
0
I thought his release looked low? Can any more knowledgeable basketball fans chime in on this? I'm more of a football guy and can't pick up the finer points.
 

80RU

All-American
Jan 31, 2011
6,594
5,277
113
Do you also think that his release needs to be quicker?
It seems to me that a big man who moves his feet so well on defense should be able to use his quick feet to set and get the shot off a little bit quicker.
 

MadRU

Heisman
Jul 26, 2001
38,178
19,502
98
Do you also think that his release needs to be quicker?

Not sure on that, will have to pay better attention. He has had a couple 3s blocked. I was thinking maybe because of his lower release.
 

AshCatchEm

Heisman
Jan 8, 2016
13,888
19,927
113
Him and Bullock are the first players who will have 4 years of teaching from pikiell...one day, they will be the rugged seniors on a youngish team. And I'm excited for what thiam can become.. Brand new world
 

Arizona Knight

All-American
Jun 25, 2001
16,675
9,931
56
what if it limits his attempts?
he has already had 2 attempts blocked

he has to get it fixed.

Those two blocks are part of his 40%+ shooting and one of them led to him driving to the basket and getting fouled while shooting. Again, not on my list of concerns. Wait till April to start screwing with his shot, if you really need to.
 

scarlet4life

Junior
Oct 7, 2005
306
344
0
I wouldn't mess with his release point. Just get the shot off faster. He just has to adjust to the speed of the game which will come.

I was thinking just the opposite. Try and raise his release point a little (after this season), but don't mess with the rhythm of his shot. Rushing will hurt his shooting %.
 

RickB113

All-Conference
Nov 4, 2005
2,271
1,383
0
I guess I am the opposite. I was a shooter and if you messed with my form release point it would have royally messed me up. Speed things up a little was a much easier adjustment.
 

RickB113

All-Conference
Nov 4, 2005
2,271
1,383
0
Plus even with a low release point at 6'9 he is probably still releasing the ball higher than 90% of your three point shooters. He is getting it blocked because he is taking too long to shoot IMO.
 

Rutgers Rah

Senior
Jan 20, 2015
391
452
0
It may not come this year but if Thiam can put the ball on the floor and even be a threat from mid-range then I think it changes the entire team. I'm salivating over the idea of him as a Senior. Has first-team all conference written all over him.
 
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Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
Those two blocks are part of his 40%+ shooting and one of them led to him driving to the basket and getting fouled while shooting. Again, not on my list of concerns. Wait till April to start screwing with his shot, if you really need to.

It needs to get fixed in April. Not now.