Tyrus Thomas Block Party

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BATON ROUGE -- If you want to nit-pick LSU freshman forward Tyrus Thomas' play, it's true that his offensive game isn't mature.

But there's nothing wrong with the way he blocks shots.

Thomas' ability to swat shots and intimidate opponents has been a key factor in LSU's ability to clamp down opposing offenses. Thomas blocked a combined eight shots against Duke and Texas, helping to hold each to field-goal percentages of 27.7 and 30.4.

"We get pumped up when he swats somebody's ball," said LSU freshman forward Tasmin Mitchell. "It gives us a spark like a dunk on offense. He keeps blocking them, and they get weaker and weaker."

Thomas isn't doing badly on the offensive end. He's averaging 12.6 points, though most of his production comes on dunks and putbacks. His outside jump shot, which was consistent before his ankle injury, hasn't fully returned. But he seems to be blocking shots with the same verve and ability as ever, compiling 96 on the season and averaging 3.1 per game.

Duke sharpshooter J.J. Redick alluded to the intimidation factor in his 3-for-18 shooting performance against LSU in the Sweet 16. When his 3-point attempts weren't falling, Redick drove inside but was wary of Thomas lurking.

"I can imagine other players looking around to see where he is," said Thomas' teammate, freshman Garrett Temple. "When DeMarcus Nelson missed that layup in the Duke game, I don't even know if Tyrus was in the game, but I'll bet he had Tyrus in the back of his mind."

Thomas said while the blocks energize his teammates and get the crowd going, it's just another part of his game.

"It takes some of the will out of the opponent, makes them hesitant when they come to the goal," he said. "But it doesn't energize me. I'm always energized."

Thomas putting on the block party isn't as simple as being 6 feet 9 with long arms and having great jumping ability. It takes timing and an intangible ingredient Collis Temple Jr. calls an "edge".

Temple, a former LSU basketball player who coached Thomas and other LSU players in AAU ball, said he could see those traits in a young Thomas.

"Some tall guys can defend and some have an edge," Temple said. "It's an aggressiveness. Bill Russell had an edge. Wilt Chamberlain was a great center, but he didn't block as many shots as Russell because Russell had that edge. (Former LSU standout) Stromile (Swift) didn't have that edge. If he did, instead of being a $20 million NBA guy, he'd be making $80 million."

"(Thomas has) got a warrior's mentality, 'I'm going defend my basket, defend my team, defend my country.' They go after you if you are on the court. He's going to refuse to let LSU lose around the basket."

The NBA might not wait for Thomas' offensive game to come around. He has been projected as a lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Thomas, though, has been mum on making a possibly leaving school early.

"If he does what he did against UConn and Duke and Texas, he'll be the first pick in the draft," said Collis Temple Jr. "That's not me saying he ought to go. I'd like to see him stay, but it's like taking a winning lottery ticket back and saying let me try again."

Thomas improvement has been dramatic. He spent his redshirt year as a as a 6-7 skinny player on the scout team, getting knocked around in practice. By the start of this season, his body had matured thanks to weightlifting and conditioning. He increased his weight from 195 pounds to 220. Throughout the season, his mental game also has grown.

"I just worked really hard," Thomas said. "Working a lot and sweating a lot, that's all it is. I got my mind set to work. It just takes a lot of dedication. The difference between ordinary people and extraordinary people is that extra work you put in. That work you put in when nobody is watching you and nobody is pushing you, that is how you get better." </div>

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I love his attitude and dedication to the game. He has the right approach to being successful and having a long career at the next level.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">If he wants to play in the NBA, he's going to have to gain at least 15-20 pounds.</div>

This won't be a problem for him. His agent will make sure he's in prime shape for his workouts. I keep reading Tyrus is a gym rat so 15-20lbs will be easy for him to add on his frame and still be effective.

I wonder if New Orleans will be able to use their two 1st round picks to move up and draft him. He'd be a huge acquisition for their franchise since he's a local star at LSU and would fit right in with Paul & Co.