Has Tristan Thompson Grown As An NBA Player?

[NoTitleTown]

Really smart men have been befuddled on the hardwood. Handling NBA speed isn't an iq thing.

Well then he doesn't have the "other" non-IQ thing either.

[Nathan S]

Where Tristan has undeniably improved is on the defensive end. Between the added bulk and experience, he's quickly gone from a JaVale McGee "I'm long and athletic but really have no idea what i'm doing" kind of guy to an arguably above-average post defender. The offense...is a work in progress at this point, to put it nicely. He's simply hopeless going against any sort of shot-blocking presence.

[Mr. Blonde]

He needs to call up D Wade and get some of that HGH.

I signed in just to thank this post. He is a few years away from being a dominant physical prescence if he starts hardcore steroid abuse.

Get on it TT

[Lumthemad]

I like TT, but I truly wonder how intelligent he is.

I mean seriously, he just seems kinda dumb. I hope I'm wrong, and I hope he becomes a stud. But you can't fix stupid.

He's an intelligent kid. Perhaps not basketball smart but he's a well spoken guy who doesn't come across as dumb at all. As i've said before, it's going to be babysteps with him and his offensive development. It will come.

[JSS2306]

Not a black hole when he catches the ball. You aren't completely afraid this season like you were last season when you figured that everytime he touched the ball he was going to slop up some awful shot.

Yes, yes I am.

I like Tristan as a person but he doesn't have a mind for the game. He shuffles his feet around not because he's lazy but because the game is too fast for him. I know this because his timing on the defensive end is horrible. His timing on the offensive end shows no improvements.

I'm worried about the kid because he shows no qualities that Andy obtains even though he's been working closely with him. He has a very hard time getting into position for a rebound. I think he had 8 last night but they were all just being at the right place at the right time for the most part. If you know you're not a skilled offensive threat in any way then you better make a living out of hustling your ass off. Andy does just that.

I'm a little disappointed because Tristan doesn't have a motor. There's a glimpse here and there but for the most part he shuffles his feet around because his IQ hasn't matched his athleticism. His pump fakes (if you want to call them that) are embarrassing. I guess I figured he would have caught on to not just NBA fundamentals but fundamentals of basketball a lot quicker. He hasn't.

I think I can give him 2 more years before I give up on him but I already know he will be nothing more than a role player. How important of a role player is for him to decide.