Tristan Thompson

[jwalker1399]

I agree Zeller and TT are better off being reserves where they would play more limited minutes. That would maximize their effectiveness.

I also fall into the camp that thinks Dion would make a great 6th man combo guard if we were really looking at where he would be most effective.

That all being said, at what point do we start drafting guys like Kyrie that are the clear starters and not better off as bench players on a contending team?

Heading into year 3 of a rebuild it is borderline criminal to consider that out of 4 lottery picks we only have 1 player who we can clearly look at and see that on a championship caliber team they would be a clear starter.

Usually the bench is filled in toward the end of a rebuild, yet it seems we are drafting guys better suited to being depth on a contender than front line starters.

Yeah, Thompson has proven himself to ineffective during this stretch without Andy....

What did you smoke tonight? Do you have any left?

RealCavsFans motto: If you're not a superstar the moment you step thru the door, you're worthless....

[SRStark20]

Didn't I just make a post like a week ago saying Thompson would be fine?

Good God. He's starting to actually look like he might be that 14/10 guy I wanted him to be. Now we just have to iron out Dion's shot choices and Zeller's everything and the four young core members are a success.

[Lottery God]

HAHAHA

The kid is 21 years old, getting his first significant stretch of big minutes and averaging 12.8 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 49% FG, 69% FT.

The kid just might end up to be elite after all........

Just remember, he's 21 years old and only scratching the surface of his potential.

Lol, I like the enthusiasm. 6 games or so means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but Tristan's been very consistent these past few games, having averaged almost the same numbers as Varejao (probably closer to last year's Varejao, which is still great). TT looks like he's adjusting to a new body weight with the way he's been maneuvering. He needs to lose about 10 lbs of fat and put 10 lbs of muscle back on, and then I think he'll be perfect body size-wise. Then he needs to work on his explosiveness because he has seemingly lost some of it even though he seems to be doing fine without it.

[wuck]

Regardless of whether you think Thompson's ceiling is backup PF, 3rd rotation big, starting PF, or All-Star PF, the fact that he has been improving during the season has to be encouraging. We are seeing some things from him that we haven't seen before, like that nice pass to Kyrie cutting down the lane, a greater willingness to pass out to open 3-pt-shooters, some solid defense (at least against players his size), good movement defending the P+R. He still has plenty of issues, and getting the ball blocked near the rim is always frustrating. We'll see if he can remain consistent and also what happens when Varejao gets back.

Even those posters who project Thompson as having a low ceiling, or being a difficult fit without the "right" center, should be happy that he's showing signs of progress, toward whatever it will be. In the long term, if Thompson ends up being an effective 6th man, or if Thompson gets moved because he doesn't fit with other talent (and becomes a trade asset), every step he makes toward being a better player is a good step for him and for the Cavs. And the sooner he improves, the better.

Seems to me that, of all the players on the Cavs roster this year, Thompson has actually shown the most signs of growth after Varejao. I would say he has been one of our least disappointing players (and the Cavs have had plenty of disappointments this year-Leuer, Casspi, Samuels, Sloan, and others). Yet he's getting bashed and he's holding the Cavs back from putting together a championship roster?

If you want to criticize how the roster is being put together, that should go in a Grant thread. Thompson had no control over who drafted him, or who Grant drafted next. He only has control over trying to become a better player, and being a good citizen off the court. It's hard to fault him on those counts.

(And, yes, I wanted Jonas, though he is now in the midst of a very rocky rookie season. And, yes, I wanted Drummond above Waiters, even though I am intrigued by Waiters' potential. None of that takes away from the fact that Thompson getting better is nothing but a very good thing for the Cavs, no matter how things turns out in the future).

[Lottery God]

Regardless of whether you think Thompson's ceiling is backup PF, 3rd rotation big, starting PF, or All-Star PF, the fact that he has been improving during the season has to be encouraging. We are seeing some things from him that we haven't seen before, like that nice pass to Kyrie cutting down the lane, a greater willingness to pass out to open 3-pt-shooters, some solid defense (at least against players his size), good movement defending the P+R. He still has plenty of issues, and getting the ball blocked near the rim is always frustrating. We'll see if he can remain consistent and also what happens when Varejao gets back.

Even for those posters who project Thompson as having a low ceiling, or being a difficult fit with the "right" center, should be happy that he's showing signs of progress, toward whatever it will be. In the long term, if Thompson ends up being an effective 6th man, or if Thompson gets moved because he doesn't fit with other talent (and becomes a trade asset), every step he makes toward being a better player is a good step for him and for the Cavs. And the sooner he improves, the better.

Seems to me that, of all the players on the Cavs roster this year, Thompson has actually shown the most signs of growth after Varejao. I would say he has been one of our least disappointing players (and the Cavs have plenty of disappointments this year). Yet he's getting bashed?

I feel like Thompson's recent performance is going to be more normal rather than an exception (as long as Varjeao's out) because I feel that Varejao's presence on the court was affecting the was that Tristan was playing in one way or another. With Tristan looking like a stronger version of Varejao (but not quite there yet on his shot), I think this makes Varejao all the more expendable. I wouldn't be surprised if TT is in the top 5 for rebounding from the first game Varejao was out until the end of the season. I'd love to see TT become a 15 pts/15 rbs/2 blk guy.

TT's confidence must be through the roof right now with him playing his best stretch of pro basketball yet these past 5 games. Despite a lot of his post moves going in, he looked surprisingly comfortable and fluid on them as though he looked like he should be taking those shots. It's just a matter of practice and time before he gets those to go in with more consistency. That, and Tristan needs to learn what a layup is and how to use his body to avoid getting blocked.

Tristan's free throw shooting also looked like it was fucking Waiters shooting them! TT's shot was infinitely less rigid and much more fluent, higher arcing, and soft.

Something's definitely clicking.

[theSTEREO.]

Regardless of whether you think Thompson's ceiling is backup PF, 3rd rotation big, starting PF, or All-Star PF, the fact that he has been improving during the season has to be encouraging. We are seeing some things from him that we haven't seen before, like that nice pass to Kyrie cutting down the lane, a greater willingness to pass out to open 3-pt-shooters, some solid defense (at least against players his size), good movement defending the P+R. He still has plenty of issues, and getting the ball blocked near the rim is always frustrating. We'll see if he can remain consistent and also what happens when Varejao gets back.

Even for those posters who project Thompson as having a low ceiling, or being a difficult fit without the "right" center, should be happy that he's showing signs of progress, toward whatever it will be. In the long term, if Thompson ends up being an effective 6th man, or if Thompson gets moved because he doesn't fit with other talent (and becomes a trade asset), every step he makes toward being a better player is a good step for him and for the Cavs. And the sooner he improves, the better.

Seems to me that, of all the players on the Cavs roster this year, Thompson has actually shown the most signs of growth after Varejao. I would say he has been one of our least disappointing players (and the Cavs have had plenty of disappointments this year-Leuer, Casspi, Samuels, Sloan, and others). Yet he's getting bashed and he's holding the Cavs back from putting together a championship roster?

If you want to criticize how the roster is being put together, that should go in a Grant thread. Thompson had no control over who drafted him, or who Grant drafted next. He only has control over trying to become a better player, and being a good citizen off the court. It's hard to fault him on those counts.

(And, yes, I wanted Jonas, though he is now in the midst of a very rocky rookie season. And, yes, I wanted Drummond above Waiters, even though I am intrigued by Waiters' potential. None of that takes away from the fact that Thompson getting better is nothing but a very good thing for the Cavs, no matter how things turns out in the future).

GTFO with that even-handed, reasonable bullsheeeit.

[HMC]

I've been most impressed with Tristan's improved passing.

[Layne Staley]

It seems like he gained a confidence boost now that Andy is out and he's the main man in the middle

[Jon]

Tristan can (and will) also give us minutes at Center.

Anyway, it's our GM and coach who will determine the future composition of our lineup - not Tristan Thompson.

[Lottery God]

On a good note, Tristan's PER is FINALLY above last year's, having been pushed up to 13.4 from last night's game.

[Tecumseh]

@cavsdan: It's been great seeing @realtristan13 take his game to a new level these past two weeks. TT works hard and is just getting going.....@cavs

[SkaakS]

Went to my first game of the year vs Atlanta, and I was definitely impressed with Tristan's lateral quickness on defense. There were a number of times when he switched off a pick onto a smaller, quicker player, but he always managed to keep the player in front of him. I think his help defense still has a ways to go, but I was very surprised to see just how effective he was on D.

[The Human Q-Tip]

I feel like Thompson's recent performance is going to be more normal rather than an exception (as long as Varjeao's out) because I feel that Varejao's presence on the court was affecting the was that Tristan was playing in one way or another.

I'm too lazy to do it, but I'd be interested in seeing if there are stats comparing AV rebounding rate with TT on/off the floor. Whether it is because of his defense, boxing out, or whatever, TT's play seems to have freed up Andy to be more aggressive on the boards.

[Jack Brickman]

I remember saying a while before the season started and also during the first few weeks that, because Tristan has a lot of the same skills as AV, Varejao's presence with him the starting line-up was limiting his effectiveness. I also remember being scoffed at when I said it. Further, I said that Thompson and Zeller should start with Varejao coming off the bench to limit his minutes next to Thompson.

I'll accept apologies now.

[Hydroponic3385]

I remember saying a while before the season started and also during the first few weeks that, because Tristan has a lot of the same skills as AV, Varejao's presence with him the starting line-up was limiting his effectiveness. I also remember being scoffed at when I said it. Further, I said that Thompson and Zeller should start with Varejao coming off the bench to limit his minutes next to Thompson.

I'll accept apologies now.

Nothing wrong with playing side-by-side with Andy - it's probably the best way for guys like TT and Zeller to learn on the job. A lot of things are coming together for TT, not just Andy's absence (although that certainly has an influence). And Andy's trade value would be best starting for us and pumping up his stats. We don't need to worry about TT or Zeller's stats, just their development.