Sam Smith hacks up Tyrus Thomas yet again

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Oct 8, 2007 8:20 AM CDT in News Comment 21 comments

We all remember Sam's "Tyrus is basically a jerk" article from around last season's dunk contest. Now, he also doesn't work hard!

Though he's a rookie, Noah is older than Thomas and has played in more big games, having won two NCAA titles at Florida. He has had problems with his shoulder, but he's a relentless competitor and has been a willing learner thus far, unlike Thomas.

Noah fits the Bulls' profile of a hard worker who will practice more than he's asked to. Thomas remains the exception. Not surprisingly, he disappointed the Bulls this summer by not working out here.

Thomas has the kind of athletic talent no one else on the Bulls has. He can do things none of the others even dream about. But players with that kind of talent often take shortcuts, and Thomas does.

Noah can't afford to take a minute off, so he doesn't.

The 'not working out here' revelation does bring some light towards Skiles' skepticism over the jumpshots he was 'supposedly' taking.

This is (not surprisingly) just conjecture by Sam, and we've seen actual reports that have Tyrus as the frontrunner to start. So hopefully this is just Sam going after Thomas again because he plain doesn't like him, and it shares no sentiment with the Bulls. After his bizarre 'how can you turn down ten million?' column, maybe Smith just really was bothered by the 'free money' comment.

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Strange

Definitely a strange piece by Smith. Tyrus certainly has taken a hit when a rookie who didn't even play in the summer league is already being praised more highly. Crazy.
Even if Tyrus doesn't work out like Hinrich or Gordon, I would find it hard to believe that he's comparable to Curry or Tim Thomas.
I would find it equally shocking of Noah was the starter or got more minutes.
Another gem from Sam was his back-handed slap at the end of the piece. It appears his set aside his regular "Trade for Garnett" piece in favor of what I will newly mint the "Subtly bash McHale and Garnett" piece. I don't know if he's trying to save face or if these are plant pieces from the Bulls, but they were heavy (if buried) hits on Garnett and McHale. Without a doubt though, McHale went to great lengths to get Garnett over to Ainge. Dick.

"...Keeping 'SlowHand' alive since aught-five"

by CookDing on Oct 8, 2007 8:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sam "Don't Call Me Adam" Smith

by hscs on Oct 8, 2007 8:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sam Smith is an idiot. Big surprise!

Yeah, this Sam Smith piece really bothered me. It's like Mr. Sam "Fiction Writer" Smith is setting out to create a bad national image of Tyrus Thomas. He writes for those sorry ESPN clowns as well. Tyrus Thomas is just as much of a competitor as Noah is. What Sam Smith writes is absurd. Tyrus showed was major in BIG games. He made his mistakes, but remember he was a rookie. According to Scott Skiles, in an article in last weeks Chicago Tribune, Mr. Thomas is much improved. Tyrus will play major minutes this year.

Is it me or does Lebron walk like a duck?!

by GranvilleWaiters on Oct 8, 2007 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

While I don't necessarily like the tone

or the way he tears one guy down to build up another, how do we know it's all BS? Even so, Smith is certainly very crotchety lately.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Oct 8, 2007 11:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

for the most part I agree

I always said if he thinks Tyrus is a jerk, then that's his opinion.

And some of that work ethic talk may be true, but I wish there was more reporting involved.

Like I said though, I'm starting to connect the dots between 'how can you pass up money with all the sally stothers children starving?' attitude of Sam and the 'free money' attitude of Tyrus, and it makes me question Sam's biases. I try not to assume that kind of thing with reporters and columnists, and I generally like Sam's work, but now it's out there that Sam wants Noah to start just because he likes his attitude better (after only a couple weeks of camp).

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Oct 8, 2007 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

YourManSam's rep has taken a hit.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Oct 8, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe if Sam worked harder

during the offseason he wouldn't have started the year off with a couple of clunkers.

by hscs on Oct 8, 2007 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The rust is certainly showing

but this latest article finished pretty well after a bad start.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Oct 8, 2007 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Subjective Sam

I can agree with some things he says but when he flat out states that TT cut corners instead of working hard like other Bulls players is a pure assumption. Its funny how Smith states that TT gets by on pure athletic talent and puts no work into his game. I am sure thats exactly how he went from riding the pine to being a starter for LSU. I don't remember hearing any question about his work ethic when he was drafted.

"If you're not going to compete, then I'll dominate you." MJ

by Rankdog on Oct 9, 2007 2:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Sam

was being a little hard on TT in the article. It might be a Tribune thing since KC has said that TT will not talk to him. With Sam bashing TT last year TT probably isn't giving him much time and Noah being the outgoing person he is is very accessible to the media. I guess Sam will just have to get over it.

by sue369 on Oct 8, 2007 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why would you not talk to KC?

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Oct 8, 2007 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

KC is the

one TT told he was just going to do the dunk contest just for the money. KC gave TT and the organization several chances to change his attitude on the dunk contest but then told KC to go ahead and print what TT said. KC said on CTL one night that TT refuses to talk to him.

by sue369 on Oct 8, 2007 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so many athletes

haven't figured out they'd get better press if they'd just be a little open with reporters. But Sam seems to be taking TT's lack of communication a little too personally. Maybe too many years of covering tbe NBA.

Some sportwriter from Chicago who has covered all the teams at one time or another ( I forget who) said that the NBA by and large is much more fun to cover because playes are more co-operative. Maybe Sam's spoiled.

by KT on Oct 8, 2007 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Sam

thinks he is one funny guy. When he is on CTL he tries to come across as funny when he is not. My husband can't stand him.

by sue369 on Oct 8, 2007 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thomas work ethic

Wasn't the reason that thomas was picked "over" aldridge that he had a better work ethic and seemed to be more passionate about winning. I remember there being doubts about aldridge's work ethic and thomas being the hard worker. Aldrige was the better fit but thomas was the hard working potential superstar the bulls would go on to choose. Thomas did improve exponentially in the past 4 years. He didnt play organized basketball until he was 16 or something.

I think doubts about him starting have more to do with his understanding the bulls system of play and keeping his focus, executing the plays and playing within the organized system. Noah will probably be able to pick these things up a lot quicker. He's a more cerebral player and the Florida team was very disciplined.

All that being said, I think the starting Pf spot is Tyrus' job to lose.

by Sambossanova on Oct 8, 2007 2:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Aldridge

wasn't picked because he couldn't beat Skiles in a staring contest...
nuff said.

"...Keeping 'SlowHand' alive since aught-five"

by CookDing on Oct 8, 2007 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LeMarcus' work ethic

-I go the University of Texas and the coaches always raved about how hard LaMarcus worked when he was here. Basically, he was known as a gym rat at UT and developed discernably during his two years, even though he had a nasty hip injury his freshman year that cost him most of a season and off season of work. To me, LaMarcus was more fundamentally advanced than Tyrus when coming out of college, particularly evidenced by his victory in the McDonald's All-American two-ball event knocking down his midrange shots.
-Even though LaMarcus is reasonably athletic as a big man (he runs the floor extremely well), Tyrus obviously had the freakish ahtletic ability that made his potential level surpass Aldridge. I remember Paxson saying that his ability to get Victory Khyrapa by drafting Aldridge--whom the Blazers apparently coveted--was the difference in the deal.

by stevekerrsfloppyhair on Oct 8, 2007 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the argument

was athleticism, not work ethic.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Oct 8, 2007 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Come on guys

You act like Sam has gone out and wrote a book trashing arguably the best player in NBA history. Oh wait he did.

"If you're not going to compete, then I'll dominate you." MJ

by Rankdog on Oct 9, 2007 1:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What Sam and some people

seems to forget is that TT is young. He is one of the youngest guys on the roster. Even rookies like Noah are coming into the NBA older than TT (only a year in Noah's case). The Bulls knew when they drafted TT that he would take time to mature. When he was drafted over L. Aldrich it was thought it was because TT had/has a higher ceiling and more potential. Honestly I do not see Noah getting more mins TT this season for two reasons (baring injury).

TT knows the system better than Noah
Noah is still rehabing his shoulder. It has been stated in a number of articles that it will not be 100% for most of this season.

With that being said there may times when the duo is on the floor together with either Noah backing up Wallace at the 5 or when Deng slides over to 2 followed by TT at the 3 and Noah at the 4.

"If you're not going to compete, then I'll dominate you." MJ

by Rankdog on Oct 9, 2007 1:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs