I’ll correctly assume that you didn’t watch many Raptors games in the mid and late 90’s. Stoudamire was a mediorce point guard on an expansion team, and they basically put the ball in his hands for 40 minutes a game. Like any NBA-caliber point guard, if you take a guy and put it in his hands for 40 minutes a game he’s going to post numbers. Good point guards also post wins, and there were 67 of them in Stoudamire’s three years with the Raptors. That’s not to say he’s terrible, because they were an expansion team. But he certainly wasn’t good. Nor is there any reason for a cuss word for emphasis before “good.”

And maybe I’ve gone mad, but I think a top 10 pick should land you a guy who’s going to contribute to your franchise for more than half a season. There was no point in Toronto burning a pick on an 18-year-old who wasn’t going to see the court for a couple seasons. So yeah, that one worked out really well for them.

And by the way: three former all-stars? T. McGrady, Tracy M., and T-Mac? Help me out on that one.

So yeah, Marcus Camby second overall and Channing Frye. That’s Isiah’s claim to being a great drafter.

Why’d I type all this. No one’s reading this post anymore.

You have to beat the guy to his spot. You have to get up into him without fouling him. You have to be able to poke balls away frequently so your man isn’t comfortable putting the ball on the floor. And you have to know when to go “straight up” so you can defend without either fouling or getting run around. I’m sure you know this stuff.

After watching Thomas for years he seems particularly adept at this stuff. But that’s just an opinion, which is like a buttho’ in that we all have one and they usually stink!

Best,

He threw away a pick on Tracy McGrady 8th overall when there was zero chance he was staying in Toronto past his rookie deal.”

I know you can dig into the archives and bring up better Isiah picks then that. Naming 3 former all-stars, one of which won the ROY award (Stoudamire, who if anybody remembers was a pretty damned good point guard before he went to Portland and started hittin’ the bong hard) isn’t really helping your argument. Camby’s injury prone, but he’s one of the best defensive and rebounding big men in the NBA. And I suggest you go back and check the ‘97 draft results, since you seem to be implying Thomas should’ve drafted somebody else since “the was zero chance [McGrady] was staying in Toronto past his rookie deal.” But you’re right; he could’ve had Kelvin Cato, Derek Anderson, Maurice Taylor, Scot Pollard, or even Jacque Vaughn. That’s right! Jacque Vaughn could’ve been had with that #9 pick in the ‘97 Draft.

And the whole weak-side v strong-side debate is tough because flashy plays/stats result from helping in the weak side (Mourning). But corralling guys into your teammates/weak side is a big part of playing (good) defense.

Regardless, I think most of the guys mentioned above are absolutely better defenders in the post; straight-up, strong-side, weak-side, West-side, (*chirp* WHERE YOU AT?) than Kurt Thomas. And I absolutely have a bias ’cause back in the day at the rec. center, I could poke one away with the best. The BEST.

Thomas has a unique combination of strength and quickness that allows him to play up in a guy in the post without fouling out. And no one slaps down at a ball or pokes one away any better–he’s got that down.