(01-17-2020 08:09 AM)ColonelEbirt Wrote: Couldn’t agree more MrJ. I guarantee his teammates want him on the floor as much as possible. He has the best eyes on our team and gives us 5-10 points a night from assists that other guys can’t make. Also his deep range stretches the floor in a way probably only Andy (except for last night!) can rival. Yes there is the occasional bone-headed play, and I think his immaturity shines through at times, but we need Scott on the floor.
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I will defend Thornton,
a bit, on some of his turnovers, that
look terrible, but, if you go back and watch replays, you see that there was more involved than just a thoughtless pass.
It is often said, of the top point guards of all time, that they see the
entire floor, knowing where
every teammate is. It is also said the
elite point guards also see all the
defensive players, as well and their brain can figure where the best options are. Not saying Thornton is an elite point guard (yet), but he does have great court vision and, sometimes, he sees potential plays, that his teammates don't always see and that, sometimes, results in a play that looks worse than it really was.
An example: First half of the Northeastern game, Nate is at his usual favorite spot, top of the lane, right elbow. He has gotten his defender on his left hip and, if he pivots to his right, he has a clear lane to a dunk. Thornton sees this and, for whatever reason, he sees Nate twitch right or thinks he has made eye contact, he dumps a pass into the lane that Nate would be able to handle and control for the score. Unfortunately, Nate doesn't make the move and Thornton's soft pass goes to not one, but
two Huskies, fighting for the steal. It looked bad, but
could have been an "Oh, wow" play.
I think that Thornton will be a better point guard the longer he plays with his teammates and understands their tendencies. He clearly has great court vision, but also still has tendencies to get lazy with an occasional pass and a tendency to send one into Row 4 of the bleachers (although that aspect has definitely calmed down).
I think we need Scott
and Ayesa on the floor at the same time, in some situations, along with Luke, Nate and VV, because those two are clearly the most dangerous outside shooters and can open up the floor for the Twin Towers better than any of our other combinations. I would have liked that combo late in last night's game, when Delaware was making it's run.
So, overall, I'm in the let's be patient with him crowd.