Deshaun Thomas Has Another Gear to His Offensive Game
Posted by Deepak Jayanti on February 14th, 2012Ohio State fans are used to top-15 recruiting classes coming through Columbus every season.
Last season was no different as Thad Matta brought in a top-10 recruiting class featuring three dynamic players – Jared Sullinger, Lenzelle Smith Jr., and Deshaun Thomas.
Sullinger has not disappointed and continues to lead Thad Matta’s program towards a possible Final Four appearance. Senior guard, William Buford is extremely reliable on the perimeter and Aaron Craft is a defensive menace. But the main x-factor on this squad is Deshaun Thomas.
When Thomas shines on the offensive end, the Ohio State offense is unstoppable. Currently, Thomas averages 14.3 points per game despite playing only 28.7 minutes per game. He can score quickly, but a deeper look into his offensive game indicates that his moves can be one-dimensional. Despite having the essential tools to be an offensive force, Thomas still holds back. Consistency is an issue, especially during the big games. For instance, he shot 2-of-12 against Michigan State this weekend from the field and finished with a disappointing eight points.
Let’s review specific aspects of his current game and a few changes that could raise his game to the next level:
Deshaun Thomas can score with the best of them.
Predictable Scouting Report
More often than not, Thomas can be found hovering around the baseline during Ohio State’s offensive sets. He shoots a very effective 60% from mid-range, but he relies on the jumper too much. When the initial look at the basket is taken away, Thomas will take a dribble towards the basket, but still pull up for a shot rather than drive all the way.
Against Michigan State, his first four shot attempts of the game came from the corner. Thad Matta needs him to do more than just shoot, because he already has guards who provide that dimension to the offense – Buford and Smith Jr. Both of them shoot a reliable percentage from the field (45% in Buford’s case and 52% of Smith Jr.’s mid-range shots are successful).
The scouting report on Thomas is that his offensive moves are predictable and good defensive teams have begun to shut him down. Michigan State’s Draymond Green, who defended Thomas for most of the game, knew his tendencies very well. He took away Thomas’ jumper and that broke his rhythm because he doesn’t drive enough. The sophomore’s free throw rate is 25.6%, which is not shabby, but could be better.
Thomas has all the tools to be as effective as a player like Green, who has a great inside-outside game. Green uses his range as an advantage but primarily looks to score in the paint. Thomas can definitely raise his game to that level if he chose to take his game inside more often. Green’s effective free throw rate is 35.9%, which is something Thomas ought to emulate. Thomas can really pour it on his opponents when he can find his rhythm on his jumper. But, if that is taken away, he struggles, which usually results in a loss for Ohio State. Thomas scored in single digits in two of the Buckeyes’ four losses this season – eight against Michigan State and five against Indiana on the road.
Ball Movement
There are times during the game when the 6’7″ forward seems to make up his mind about shooting regardless of the tempo of the game. This was very obvious during the Michigan State game because when he had a semi-decent look at the basket, he put up the shot even if it was only a few seconds into the offensive set. His average assists per game (less than one per game) show that he has no interest in passing. Thomas doesn’t need to initiate plays but he should help move the ball around more to ensure offensive flow. The lack of ball movement is also related to his movement without the ball.
Very few players can make something out of the corner because there are only two potential moves – shoot the jumper or pump fake and take it to the hoop. As shown with his low free throw rate, he doesn’t necessarily drive to the hoop even when the defender buys his pump fake. Thomas needs to move to different spots of the floor because he is certainly versatile enough to shoot from anywhere. When he moves around the court without disturbing the offensive flow, the sky is the limit for his offensive production because there are very few players in the conference who can guard him.
Recognize Defensive Mismatches
Draymond Green is one of the few players in the conference who can match Thomas’ speed and power. Most of the Big Ten teams have one effective big guy, but few have two except for Michigan State. If each team uses their big guy to guard Jared Sullinger, it leads to a defensive mismatch on Thomas. But he needs to take advantage of such situations.
For instance, there were several occasions against Michigan State when Austin Thornton ended up on Thomas after a defensive switch. Instead of trying to post him up or muscle his way into the paint, Thomas pulled up for a shot. He needs to use his athleticism rather than waste it on meaningless jumpers. His awareness of the game needs to improve because there are very few forwards in the B1G that can match his game.
Let’s look at the power forwards of the top teams in the conference – Evan Smotrycz (Michigan), Mike Bruesewitz (Wisconsin) and Derek Elston (Indiana). None of these guys can guard Thomas in the paint or can match his speed in the lane. Once Thomas figures this out, Ohio State will be a force on the offensive end.
It is easy to forget that he is only a sophomore, so he has plenty of time to improve. Jared Sullinger will go pro after this season and William Buford will graduate. Thomas and Craft will spearhead next year’s team in Columbus. He is obviously not playing poorly this season but with a few tweaks, he can definitely become the best forward in the conference next season.
