Jason Thompson: The New Carl Landry
In 50 starts this season, Jason Thompson average 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 32.4 minutes. In 12 bench appearances, he has averaged 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in 25.9 minutes.
So clearly, J.T. gives you about the same as a starter or reserve. But those 6-1/2 minutes matter -- Thompson is giving you just 1.5 less points and 1.1 fewer rebounds in 6-1/2 fewer minutes. This is why we use per-minute statistics: to give us apple-to-apples comparisons.
If you adjust Thompson's bench performance up to 32.4 minutes, Bench J.T. would produce 14.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. That's improved performance off the bench.
Why?
Watching the Milwaukee game (in which Thompson had just 9/3 in 28 minutes), it seemed as though having fewer offensive options on the court improved the flow of the game in which Thompson participated. Playing with Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih and Spencer Hawes, it almost looked as if Thompson had to shoot every time he received the ball in scoring range -- otherwise, he'd only get three FGAs a game. Off the bench, playing with Francisco Garcia and Ime Udoka and usually Sean May but sometimes Andres Nocioni ... there are shots, there are plays available for Thompson. And this isn't always necessarily a good thing -- he remains the least refined offensively of the rotation bigs. But it seems like it calms Thompson down, like he values the basketball and each possession more when he knows he'll get another chance, that he doesn't have to take the baseline jumper or pull a spin move out of thin air.
This theory could be worth nothing, and even the bench production data could be subject to sample size noise. But it seems like the bench is a better fit for Thompson, and I'm at a loss to find other potential reasons why.
***
If Thompson can keep it up, that's really great bench production, 11/7+ in 26 minutes. Landry averaged 16/5 off the bench this season in 27 minutes. For his career the excellent Udonis Haslem is 8/7 in 24 minutes off the bench. J.T. serves as a middle path of sorts -- a good rebounder like Haslem, a good scorer like Landry (though not as good at either as the respective skills). Thompson could end up as a really good third big man, whether Landry/Hawes works out or whether the Kings go and get another big man to add.
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Interesting..
So stats wise we are seeing him put up some pretty good numbers. And his game is improved and looking more like JT from early in the season…
I am just curious and I wonder if anybody knows what was up with what JT said in a recent interview. He said that there was some off the court stuff going on and now it is resolved. Basically, that this had hurt his game.
Anybody know what he was talking about?
the interview was on pre game to the Peachquel aka Kings v Bucks aka the TKO (Tyreke Knock Out) game
and I heard a bit of it, though not all. The portion you mention was JT discussing his missing a few games with the death of his cousin and his injured back. JT was unfamiliar with missing games, he said the last time he sat out of a game was in middle school.
How has the new and calmer JT done with his other foible – fouls ? The recent past had JT’s minutes limited due to his inability to stay on the floor. Always with a red line motor JT actually seems even more energetic on the floor these last few games, kind of a JT con gusto version.
We had a bit of discussion the other night about Sam Amick’s parting SacBee spot – he mentioned that the Kings FO did not feel that they had a playoff caliber frontcourt and will be looking to change. Do you all think this means 1) add only 2) subtract only – if so, whom? JT, Hawes, Landry by not renewing or extending a contract 3) trade ?
by betweentheeyes on Mar 21, 2010 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
Yep, that is the interview I was thinking of and I wondered about the death of his cousin. I thought he was struggling before that happened, but I could see that being what he meant.
I think with acquiring Landry it means we are going to lose either JT or Spencer. Probably depends on the draft and if we get a decent big. That said, I have thought that Spencer is gone this summer. He has had problems getting along and doesn’t seem to really be the answer that PW wants.
I think A+B really is the way it is going to go. It could be that they just add a defensive minded C and subtract by let go of a lot of other players. I would like to see them keep Spencer and just not re-sign a lot of the other players…
Spencer is a glaring example of hoping that the promise of tomorrow
is worth the wait of today.
Donté will be another. We know we should be patient but tire of losing. Spencer, (and Donté and Omri) show enough glints of promise to tease. Yes, they are 21 years old
Today takes so long when will tomorrow come?
by betweentheeyes on Mar 21, 2010 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Patience
We aren’t going to be ready to compete for a couple years so being patient is the best thing we can do at this point.
is anything harder than waiting? is it delaying disappointment or a building block to glory?
but yes 2 seasons at least. Thank goodness I am the patience preacher but following one’s own advice is more difficult than dispensing it.
by betweentheeyes on Mar 21, 2010 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
When you say compete do you mean compete for a championship
or just compete? We are competing now. I know our record doesn’t show it but we are a player or two away from winning a lot of those games imo. That said I think Spencer will be very good one day but I might not be upset if we didn’t wait for it & grabbed a good front court player now
I love beating dead horses.
Nice
I always thought JT (and Hawes) were already championship-quality 3rd big men.
It’s good to see JT’s production actually holds up in that role.
If one of those 2 can step up to a borderline-all star level (which I think Landry already is or on his way to), then this team may not need a superstar defensive big, and could make do with a role player or project type.
As is, with even minimum improvement and just a Dorsey or similar as the defensive 4th big, this is a trio good enough to contend.
But if I had to bet, one of those 3 will eventually be part of a move in bringing in the team’s next #1 big.
This is really confusing.
We now have a DesertFox and a Desert-Fox. Not good. Since you are the original DesertFox, I can only hope that the Desert-Fox will change his name to the “posterformallyknownasDesert-Fox” or “Desert-Squirrel” or maybe “TheUnoriginalBastard”.
The Sacramento Convergence concept offers Sacramento, the Central Valley, and the State a solution to feasibly construct a new multi-use Entertainment and Sports Complex.
Maybe the new Desert-Fox is really a female.
Maybe it is Kayte.
To be the best, you have to do your best. Otherwise, you are only second-rate.
Kayte's not that stupid.
Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order and Originator of the "Brock Ness Monster".
Imagine my surprise when I saw I had created a fanpost
and then wondering how drunk I must have been to have written something like that.
I like to think of Desert-Fox as my evil and less good-looking twin.
Note the lack of a hyphen.
Soon to be adopted father of (insert obscure prospect unlikely to reach AA)
Perfect trifecta if there ever was one.
EvilCowtownInc: Screwin Suckaz over since 1985......
No mistakes in the tango, Donna. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
That's a terrific observation
Hopefully this makes JT’s minutes more valuable and gives him more confidence because he was a mess in the middle portion of the season.
Bench players likely face weaker defenders
because they’re playing against the other team’s second line. This is an alternate explanation for these data to keep in mind.

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