Tristan Thompson

[Scholar]

So why couldn't Hickson be given that same chance then? You guys were so quick to shit on him but Tristan gets a pass?

Let me know when Mr Thompson plays 223 games in the NBA (the number JJ was given here to show his stuff). Take into account JJ's lack of motivation that led to confrontations with the coaching staff and time spent being benched. You'll be hard pressed to see that same lack of effort from Mr Thompson. You'll also find it difficult to find those same attitude issues. There is a reason he only got a one year contract. Plus, if we really wanted to, we could sign him as a free agent this off season as he'll have completed his second contract. Only, don't expect Grant to be in any rush to do so.

 

[Pioneer10]

Umm some of those comparison are interesting:
Darko Milicic has finally made it? Ugh count me hoping Tristan doesn't follow that career path: bust to overpaid roleplayer
Jermaine O'Neil was traded for Dale Davis in his prime because he was stuck behind a young Rasheed in Portalne: I have serious problem with the Tristan supporters if they think that Indiana would have pulled that trade for Tristan Thompson or that Tristan would have gotten minutes ahead of Rasheed..

 

[rabman_gold]

While it's true I support Thompson (it's not like he's embarrassed himself), you're comparing him to the wrong people.

Take a look at this, and maybe you'll find a guy you can compare him to (http://bkref.com/tiny/aQroJ). Surprisingly, he's kind of close to a Tyrone Hill type on there, but also close to Kenneth Faried. Or maybe a Popeye Jones? He may even become a Larry Nance (lol).

 

[buzzdog]

My hope would be that in year 3 he's a solid role player & contributor (much more than he is now). Years 4 & 5 he should be reaching his physical prime to go along with being a seasoned vet. Like everyone else I have no idea what that will look like with TT, but I assume he'll look like a completely different player by then. If not then I'd agree he's a bust. But not before he has at least 3-4 seasons under his belt.

I got to watch him in Denver last year and he was a hot mess- he looked lost out on the court, so I can understand the criticism. Good thing Kyrie and Jamison were there to get us the win. But I think a guy like TT could make a significant turn-around into something of value even if it'c as a rotational big. I don't see it coming this year but in the next 2 years, about the time the team starts making a move.

 

[ice cream man]

Read the bolded before interpreting my post. The point is, it might actually take him 4-5 years to reach his potential, whatever that potential may be. It's happened before.

I'd rather have him on the floor right now than Zeller, who doesn't give any effort on the boards and is just as lost offensively.

 

[MYoung23]

Well for one, he's getting rid of the ball when he should whereas last season if he got the ball he was going to take a shot come hell or high water.
His footwork around the basket has improved.
He has gotten stronger.
He reacting quicker instead of hesitating.


If you really are going to act like Tristan hasn't gotten better from last year you must not be paying attention. What did you really expect out of him offensively this year? The guy is raw and its going to take him some time to learn to have that touch around the basket. The cavs didn't draft him to be a low post scoring option, they drafted him for his rebounding and defense.

Sorry, this is Bullshit.

Not being a complete black hole is not much improvement.

His footwork stinks. Other than offensive rebounding everything he does on offense is bad. Footwork, face up, back to the basket, touch around, shooting, finishing, hook shots. Everything.

Getting stronger hasnt translated into anything. Damn near every rookie gets stronger with NBA training.

Reacting quicker? What?

Also, this whole "they didnt draft him for offense" is spin and damage control.

Why the fuck are you drafting a rebounder/defender role player with the 4th pick? I dont care how supposedly weak a draft is.

The Cavaliers, you, or anyone else cant talk about his "upside" (like the Cavaliers did when he was drafted) if he isnt supposed to score. That's the only reason you draft players like him that high. His upside to be what? Lastly, the Cavaliers cant spend all summer talking about how much he worked on this and that, calling him the most improved player on the team and then when he looks like a schlub starting spinning their asses off.

Like I said, Bullshit

 

[rabman_gold]

Sorry, this is Bullshit.

Not being a complete black hole is not much improvement.

His footwork stinks. Other than offensive rebounding everything he does on offense is bad. Footwork, face up, back to the basket, touch around, shooting, finishing, hook shots. Everything.

Getting stronger hasnt translated into anything. Damn near every rookie gets stronger with NBA training.

Reacting quicker? What?

Also, this whole "they didnt draft him for offense" is spin and damage control.

Why the fuck are you drafting a rebounder/defender role player with the 4th pick? I dont care how supposedly weak a draft is.

The Cavaliers, you, or anyone else cant talk about his "upside" (like the Cavaliers did when he was drafted) if he isnt supposed to score. That's the only reason you draft players like him that high. His upside to be what? Lastly, the Cavaliers cant spend all summer talking about how much he worked on this and that, calling him the most improved player on the team and then when he looks like a schlub starting spinning their asses off.

Like I said, Bullshit

Sometimes, a draft doesn't go the way you planned. Why don't we just give time a chance to let him grow into a role. While you expect a top-hit player at the fourth pick, you do remember that guys like Mike Miller and Emeka Okafor won rookie of the year before other peers surpassed them throughout the years. Besides, if we got an pre-Decision Andy 2.0 instead, that's not so bad (and if he was more of a 10-10 player, I don't see the harm either).

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

While it's true I support Thompson (it's not like he's embarrassed himself), you're comparing him to the wrong people.

Take a look at this, and maybe you'll find a guy you can compare him to (http://bkref.com/tiny/aQroJ). Surprisingly, he's kind of close to a Tyrone Hill type on there, but also close to Kenneth Faried.

I think that's quite a stretch, especially with respect to Faried. Just a few key stats from that chart:

......................PER.............................TR%..........................EFG%...............Win Share/48 (league avg .100)

Faried.............19.1............................19.0.........................536............................157

Tyrone Hill.......12.8............................17.2.........................522............................114

TT...................11.7...........................15.1.........................444.............................055

I didn't try to cherry-pick. I used two overall measures, and then what I thought were were the best measures of shooting and rebounding, though obviously you could go with TS% rather than EF%. And looking at those things, I'm both surprised and disappointed that TT compares as unfavorably as he does even with Tyrone Hill. I could live with an offensively-challenged 4 if he's a strong rebounder and defender, but TT's rebounding -- especially on the defensive end -- just ain't that good. The only two guys on that chart I saw with a lower rebounding % were Horace Grant and Larry Nance, but both were on teams that dominated on the glass period so their percentages were lower. The Cavs are essentially middle of the pack -- 13 out of 30, so there should be enough boards to go around even with Andy boarding the way he is.

http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable2.html?cnf=1&prd=1

At least to this point in his career, and compared to the other two year guys in your chart, his rebounding isn't close to compensating for his offense. I do agree with what others said that it appears to be a pretty weak draft at this point, so the "blame" that you might normally assign to the FO for a disappointing #4 overall is lessened. But in terms of building this team moving forward, we have to consider the reality of how he is actually developing even if it isn't his or the FO's "fault". At this point, I'd be thrilled if he ended up as another Tyrone Hill.

 

[Birdy89]

TT is actually kind of reminding me of a slightly smaller version of Tony Battie type of guy. Drafted high (5th overall), inept on offense, hung around the league a while playing good defense and occasionally blocking a shot. Never a real serious piece on a championship caliber team though.

Never managed to develop any real semblance of an offensive game though.

 

[ice cream man]

First time I've seen him finish under the hoop with one hand last night.

He's definitely not as athletic as we thought he was, in terms of his jumping ability, which is also hurting him on offense. His lateral quickness defensively though has been better than I expected.

 

[mhi]

TT is actually kind of reminding me of a slightly smaller version of Tony Battie type of guy.

Good comp.

 

[mds]

TT reminds me of a taller, stronger, more athletic, darker skinned version of me....except I can hit free throws.

 

[pr26]

I was hoping Tristan was adding that little hook shoot to his game, since he did it a few times in the beginning of the season with some success. Now I'm just chalking it up to an anomaly.

 

[staycoolbruh]

Watching reply of the game, how come Tristan didn't play much this game? He looked pretty good in the 1st quarter.

 

[wuck]

Seemed like the Knicks went smaller, and Byron decided to go in the same direction. Some of it had to do with Novak's outside shooting in the first half, which no one was ready to deal with. Gibson played major minutes, and Thompson/Zeller played relatively limited minutes.