Tristan Thompson

[KingDelonte13]

Improvement in what.

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.

[pr26]

I have not seen any improvement offensively, at all. I will say he has greatly improved his defensive rebounding.

[Lumthemad]

It was nice to hear Byron come out and say what he wants and needs for Tristan to do on the air. It might allow fans to cool it a bit about expectations offensively for the kid.

I've said it before and i'll say it again. When you don't get plays ran for you, it tends to interupt your offensive flow. He doesn't deserve plays ran for him, mind you...but if we wanted him to have a better feel for that side of the ball, we should involve him more on that side. The biggest improvement i've seen out of his game this season is the willingness to move the ball when he's passing the ball up top.

[Goldin Brown]

The kid was an absolute black hole on offense last year, just would not pass the ball. He understands his role better this year. As others have said he is moving the ball when he should and functioning a bit better in the offense. Last season, if he had the ball he was faking one way, going the other and getting stuffed at the rim. This year he is playing much more under control, you don't see him forcing as much. He still pretty much sucks at finishing in traffic, but I think he is getting a better feel for what types of shot he needs to be taking. He's making baby steps, but at least he is making steps.

[B3team]

The kid was an absolute black hole on offense last year, just would not pass the ball. He understands his role better this year. As others have said he is moving the ball when he should and functioning a bit better in the offense. Last season, if he had the ball he was faking one way, going the other and getting stuffed at the rim. This year he is playing much more under control, you don't see him forcing as much. He still pretty much sucks at finishing in traffic, but I think he is getting a better feel for what types of shot he needs to be taking. He's making baby steps, but at least he is making steps.

TT shot too much last year, this year he doesn't shoot enough. It is good that at least he is able to change his game from one season to the next, even if he isn't better this year.

[buzzdog]

When TT was drafted it seems to me the consensus among people who know basketball was that he'd be a 3,4 or even 5 year project before he would mature as a player and come into his own.

Now I come here and see people crucifying him because he hasn't gotten to that maturity level in a little over a year.

People need to chill and learn some patience.

[rabman_gold]

When TT was drafted it seems to me the consensus among people who know basketball was that he'd be a 3,4 or even 5 year project before he would mature as a player and come into his own.

Now I come here and see people crucifying him because he hasn't gotten to that maturity level in a little over a year.

People need to chill and learn some patience.

I think some of it is because we don't want to be disappointed by high picks not turning into at least above average players. And if they don't LOOK good out there, nor have any impressive stats, that's as far as they look. I guess people are fixated on getting a team of good players over getting a double-cross super star, but let's face it. This is the path Grant chose, and whether or not Thompson stays with us, he at least going to have a better career than the other half of this current roster.

But we still are missing a future big man and a future starting swingman. You can't observe every game under a stethoscope for Thompson, or you'll only see byte-sized pieces of promise. I can guarantee even if he never looks natural, he will have a spot in this league, because he is the hard-working type.

[Scholar]

I have not seen any improvement offensively, at all. I will say he has greatly improved his defensive rebounding.

Actually, I think his passing has improved from last year. Course, it had no where to go but up.

[CleveRocks]

I think some of it is because we don't want to be disappointed by high picks not turning into at least above average players. And if they don't LOOK good out there, nor have any impressive stats, that's as far as they look. I guess people are fixated on getting a team of good players over getting a double-cross super star, but let's face it. This is the path Grant chose, and whether or not Thompson stays with us, he at least going to have a better career than the other half of this current roster.

But we still are missing a future big man and a future starting swingman. You can't observe every game under a stethoscope for Thompson, or you'll only see byte-sized pieces of promise. I can guarantee even if he never looks natural, he will have a spot in this league, because he is the hard-working type.

Which is to say he is not going to be a Diop or Wagner level bust. In fact, in all probability he will be better than Hickson. If he sucks when he gets to be Zellers age, we can talk about bust, until then he is a work in progress.

[JiggleIt]

Funny he mentioned Diop. He hit two jumpers for the Bobcats last night.

[Pioneer10]

What was Prove It's old username?

[JiggleIt]

What was Prove It's old username?

Fake It.

[Pioneer10]

Fake It.

Nevermind had avatar's turned off so I couldn't figure it out.

[bbaes]

When TT was drafted it seems to me the consensus among people who know basketball was that he'd be a 3,4 or even 5 year project before he would mature as a player and come into his own.

Now I come here and see people crucifying him because he hasn't gotten to that maturity level in a little over a year.

People need to chill and learn some patience.

There is no such thing as a 5-year project in the NBA. By that point, you either have it or you don't.

That being said, I somewhat agree with your post in that I'd give him 3 seasons to develop. If a 4th overall draft pick hasn't made dramatic improvement by then, he's not fulfilling his potential.

[Jon]

And that's the goal that forms the basis of any of these discussions, right... a Title in Cleveland.

After 40 years of failure, not making our eyes bleed would be a nice start.