Just asking.

Not good enough

Yes. Much like the "Thurmanator".

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

Yes. In Europe.

calumnus said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

Yes. In Europe.

---

Or Asia. Or South America. Or, or, or, basketball is played all over the world, he can play somewhere.

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

Does he speak a foreign language?

sluggo said:

---

calumnus said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

Yes. In Europe.

---

Or Asia. Or South America. Or, or, or, basketball is played all over the world, he can play somewhere.

---

But European teams limit the number of non-European players, so unlike Americans, he has an advantage (and his greatest value) is in Europe.

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

And make a really nice living.

SFCityBear said:

---

Just asking.

---

Before I answer, what is his best stat in the Mikan Drill?

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

Oakbear said:

---

Big C said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

He could probably play pro overseas if he keeps improving

---

Does he speak a foreign language?

---

yes he does English LOL

---

Ha, you got me!

bearister said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Just asking.

---

Before I answer, what is his best stat in the Mikan Drill?

---

What's a Mikan Drill? Sounds like a new-fangled dentist's tool.

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

The Suns or Jazz May give him a look because of the beliefs of the citizenry there.

bearister said:

---

The Suns or Jazz May give him a look because of the beliefs of the citizenry there.

---

This one is over my head, like the last one. I just can't keep up with you young whippersnappers.

bearister said:

---

The Suns or Jazz May give him a look because of the beliefs of the citizenry there.

---

What beliefs?

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

SFCityBear said:

---

bearister said:

---

The Suns or Jazz May give him a look because of the beliefs of the citizenry there.

---

This one is over my head, like the last one. I just can't keep up with you young whippersnappers.

---

I really only watch NBA playoff and Finals games so my comment is stale. 30 years ago it wasn't a very well kept secret that the White fan bases of franchises like Boston and Utah liked to see a few players on the roster that looked like them. Now that the league is about 17% White, there are not enough White players around to cater to that preference. Pardon me for suggesting that there are areas of this country that are more racist than others. I am an Oakland boy so I have a different perspective than many.

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

KoreAmBear said:

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

On the money. Absolutely!!

NVBear78 said:

---

bearister said:

---

The Suns or Jazz May give him a look because of the beliefs of the citizenry there.

---

What beliefs?

---

He's white.

SFCityBear said:

---

bearister said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Just asking.

---

Before I answer, what is his best stat in the Mikan Drill?

---

What's a Mikan Drill? Sounds like a new-fangled dentist's tool.

---

This is the (George) Mikan drill.
And this guy is bringing the ball down too low, though showing how it's done. Just keep going and going. Build shoulder muscles, improve hand touch, footwork, and muscle memory for big men to not drop the ball low on rebounds so it can't be swiped away by shorter players.

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

I was going to say he already was much better than the Thurmanator, but their stats are quite similar. RT averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes as a senior. LT averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 minutes as a junior. RT had the advantage of being on a good team. LT did come on somewhat towards the end of the year.

I think LT could average 8 and 5 in twenty minutes this coming season.

I take efficiency ratings with a whole salt shaker worth of salt. It is easy to be high efficiency with low usage, like a big guy who just dunks. Kelly was a very good player because he was high efficiency and high usage. An LT and Kelly pairing would not pass well and be very slow defensively. It could be tried and then plus/minus computed. If Kelly was around.

sluggo said:

---

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

I was going to say he already was much better than the Thurmanator, but their stats are quite similar. RT averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes as a senior. LT averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 minutes as a junior. RT had the advantage of being on a good team. LT did come on somewhat towards the end of the year.

I think LT could average 8 and 5 in twenty minutes this coming season.

I take efficiency ratings with a whole salt shaker worth of salt. It is easy to be high efficiency with low usage, like a big guy who just dunks. Kelly was a very good player because he was high efficiency and high usage. An LT and Kelly pairing would not pass well and be very slow defensively. It could be tried and then plus/minus computed. If Kelly was around.

---

Was going to say the same thing, but with my gut feeling, not the specific data that made a case the other way.

Anyway, everybody remembers Thurman by that one last (or almost last) game, when he was 5-6 with five oops-forgot-to-guard-him dunks.

Let's revisit the comparison after Lars finishes his Cal career.

sluggo said:

---

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

I was going to say he already was much better than the Thurmanator, but their stats are quite similar. RT averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes as a senior. LT averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 minutes as a junior. RT had the advantage of being on a good team. LT did come on somewhat towards the end of the year.

I think LT could average 8 and 5 in twenty minutes this coming season.

I take efficiency ratings with a whole salt shaker worth of salt. It is easy to be high efficiency with low usage, like a big guy who just dunks. Kelly was a very good player because he was high efficiency and high usage. An LT and Kelly pairing would not pass well and be very slow defensively. It could be tried and then plus/minus computed. If Kelly was around.

---

The stats I am looking at say Thurman averaged 11.2 mpg as a junior and 16.9 (with two starts) as a senior.
Yes, he mostly dunked, with a .602 FG% on his Cal career, but on a team with Crabbe, Cobbs, Solomon, Kravish and Wallace, we had plenty of scoring, Thurman kept the defense honest. If they tried to double on Crabbe or Cobbs and left him open under the basket, he could catch and dunk. He filled the roll of the third big man coming off the bench that we needed behind Solomon and Kravish. He was more athletic and skilled than that just a dunker and demonstrated that in practice and warm ups, but it games he filled the limited role the team needed very efficiently.

Lars was relatively new to the game and was not as good (or confident) as Thurman his first two years, but took a big step up last year. Improving his scoring, rebounding, blocks and overall defense. Importantly, he went from being a .487 FT shooter as a freshman to a more respectable .755 FT shooter last year.

As a freshmen and soph I thought Thurman was never going to be a good college player because he was extremely slow-footed

but by his junior and especially senior year his improved athletism and strength enabled him to play at the high D1 level

But Monty had a specific role for him, and after the season he said he was not allowed to play his game

I also remember a game vs USC where we were beaten, but Thurman took over and shot a bunch of baseline 10 and 14 foot shots to win the game

It was Thurmantor unleased

then he had a successful overseas pro career, so I do wonder if Monty held him back a little too much

Robert has a social media account featuring California Views Pretty good... check it out:

https://www.tiktok.com/@californian.views

calumnus said:

---

sluggo said:

---

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

concordtom said:

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Can our Lars make it to the NBA?
Just asking.

---

Wait.
You're the guy who schooled me several years ago about how incredible Russell and Wilt would still be in today's NBA, and you're asking us THAT?
Your credibilit for the old stars just took a major hit.

But to be fair, I'm the guy who hasn't watched pac12 hoops in just as long (thanks to Larry Scott), so don't know, but I was gonna to ask, "Can our Lars make it to the Pac12?"

Still love you, keep posting!

---

I can see you've learned very little in your years of hiding out from us over on the Off Topic board.

I only asked a question. Don't read too much into it. I have no opinion on the subject. Based on the replies, it seems to have gone from contempt to guarded acceptance, but not quite much respect, yet. Respect has to be earned. He needs a productive senior year to do that, and the team really needs him to have it.

.

My only opinion of Lars is the one I gave 3 years ago, that he would improve, albeit slowly, because most big men do not mature as fast as smaller players. Usually not until the 3rd year, the 4th year, or later. I wanted to find out what the general opinion of Lars is now, among our small section of the fan base. Fox said something about him maybe playing or wanting to play the 4 a little bit, and I think he also said that Lars shot a three recently and it looked good.

---

Lars HAS improved considerably since his freshman year. According to the advanced stats he was our 10th most effective player per minute as a freshman, but was our second most effective last year (second only to Kelly). Thus, he is our most effective returning player.

However, his freshman year, despite being our 10th most effective player, Fox actually started Lars the most (18 games) and played him the most minutes of his three year Cal career thus far. Definitely thought he should have played Kelly more.

I was hoping last year we would see more of Lars and Kelly on the floor together, which would allow one of them to play more away from the basket, though that might require playing zone, which Fox doesn't like.

---

He still has a ways to go to just even be the Thurmanator. I would take it!

---

I was going to say he already was much better than the Thurmanator, but their stats are quite similar. RT averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes as a senior. LT averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 minutes as a junior. RT had the advantage of being on a good team. LT did come on somewhat towards the end of the year.

I think LT could average 8 and 5 in twenty minutes this coming season.

I take efficiency ratings with a whole salt shaker worth of salt. It is easy to be high efficiency with low usage, like a big guy who just dunks. Kelly was a very good player because he was high efficiency and high usage. An LT and Kelly pairing would not pass well and be very slow defensively. It could be tried and then plus/minus computed. If Kelly was around.

---

The stats I am looking at say Thurman averaged 11.2 mpg as a junior and 16.9 (with two starts) as a senior.
Yes, he mostly dunked, with a .602 FG% on his Cal career, but on a team with Crabbe, Cobbs, Solomon, Kravish and Wallace, we had plenty of scoring, Thurman kept the defense honest. If they tried to double on Crabbe or Cobbs and left him open under the basket, he could catch and dunk. He filled the roll of the third big man coming off the bench that we needed behind Solomon and Kravish. He was more athletic and skilled than that just a dunker and demonstrated that in practice and warm ups, but it games he filled the limited role the team needed very efficiently.

Lars was relatively new to the game and was not as good (or confident) as Thurman his first two years, but took a big step up last year. Improving his scoring, rebounding, blocks and overall defense. Importantly, he went from being a .487 FT shooter as a freshman to a more respectable .755 FT shooter last year.

---

You are right, I transcribed Thurman's minutes wrong, it was 17 (rounded), not 14. But still numbers are remarkably similar. I think LT is already more skilled, I think his numbers will improve.