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Tristan Thompson

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He's clearly a 4. Looks like MB has finally wised up and is playing Clark at the 3 instead of Bennett. It's all we have right now...

Hopefully AB becomes a guy who can pick and pop where if you don't close out on him well, you're in trouble. But he's not a ball handler/playmaker and he certainly can't guard most SF's. He's should be more than capable of handling most PF's.

On topic, if TT is always gonna start, I'd like to see Zeller with him.

he played to gams as a 4 the last 6. so he logged in minutes at the 4 but still is practicing as a three. he is a tweener and will be used in both positions.
 
God, we have to separate Andy and Tristan. They're killing each other just by standing on the same court. They provide the same hustle and have the same nose for the ball.

My preference is Bennett with Andy and Tristan with Zeller. Balances out the size and allows them to thrive in a similar role. The only problem that's left is getting Tristan confident in the jumper, because he'll always be shadowed unless Zeller or Andy hit theirs.

I feel Tristan has Andy 2.0 "I can start in this league" potential, but it's not unlocked. He needs more time and we need more patience. But otherwise, I'll be okay with him on the bench if Mike can get to it.
 
The spacing was atrocious with him and AV. None are outside threats which really kills the strength of the guards.
 
He can be solid I just dont think he will ever be THAT kind of big, and we shouldnt limit ourselves to long term committing to him being a power forward who cant shoot from 15 feet nor the type of game changing defender worthy of being out there without being able to spread the floor.
We are talking about a 22 year old big who changed his shooting hand over the summer. I'm actually surprised by how good his jumper has looked personally. Give him a few more off-seasons and it's entirely possible he can shoot from 15 with consistency, especially given his high work ethic.
 
Until he actually starts taking that spot up 15-footer, no defender is ever going to fall for his pump fake. The reason Andy gets defenses to bite is because he will actually take that shot. Tristan pump fakes a thousand times, then drives. Defenses know he's not going to take it, so they play the drive.

He NEEDS to start taking that shot, and it baffles me that he doesn't because he's SHOWN that he can make it. Why is he so damn hesitant?
 
Until he actually starts taking that spot up 15-footer, no defender is ever going to fall for his pump fake. The reason Andy gets defenses to bite is because he will actually take that shot. Tristan pump fakes a thousand times, then drives. Defenses know he's not going to take it, so they play the drive.

He NEEDS to start taking that shot, and it baffles me that he doesn't because he's SHOWN that he can make it. Why is he so damn hesitant?

He made 3 of them tonight, I hope that builds his confidence. He needs to stop thinking too much and just shoot it every time he is left wide open. I think it is just a lack of confidence, I mean he just switched his shooting hand in the offseason.
 
I liked when Tristan got the ball, found himself open, and just shot it. Unfortunately, he got the ball ten times where he found himself wide open, dribbled, surveyed, delayed, and finally passed or drove into trouble.

I agree with metalman that his jumper looks pretty good, and far better than I expected it to at this point of the season (before and after the hand switch), but he has got to trust it more over time. I don't think it's going to happen this season, but we're only 6 months in since he switched.
 
I think Tristan is a center at heart and he will never feel comfortable shooting that shot from 15+ because his instinct is to always crash glass and get the most efficient possession he possibly can.

I liked Zeller next to him, but honestly, that duo is a pretty solid 4-5 RESERVE combo. Not starting combo.

I remain pretty steadfast in wanting to see Bennett start even with the Bynum developments. I want to see him start even more because Andy is so much smarter/quicker rotating than Bynum and will REALLY help cover rotational gafs that Bennett might give us early on while he works out kinks.

That faceup jumper Tyler shot and nailed from 16 was so fluid that he would open the floor tremendously not only for Tristan to crash, but also for him to do his vast array of flip and unorthodox shots down low when he comes in as a reserve and Dion is dropping passes off to him while they attack tired starters and less talented reserves.

Those kicks he had on tonight were dope
 
I remain pretty steadfast in wanting to see Bennett start even with the Bynum developments. I want to see him start even more because Andy is so much smarter/quicker rotating than Bynum and will REALLY help cover rotational gafs that Bennett might give us early on while he works out kinks.

I agree that AV/Bennett and Thompson/Zeller would be better pairings on offense. Not sure which pair Brown would be more willing to insert in the starting lineup, though.
 
Bennett doesn't deserve to start. I just can't see why Thompson should be benched when he has worked so hard to develop a jumpshot no one ever thought he could develop in the first place, not to mention the fact that when he does decide to shoot it he is probably making it at a better clip than Bennett.
 
Bennett doesn't deserve to start. I just can't see why Thompson should be benched when he has worked so hard to develop a jumpshot no one ever thought he could develop in the first place, not to mention the fact that when he does decide to shoot it he is probably making it at a better clip than Bennett.

TT is so mechanical and unnatural, his ceiling is ultimately vastly limited compared to Bennett. TT should be commended for his improvement thus far, but in terms of development, what you see now is what we're probably always gonna get from TT and that's being a 3rd big....
 
Bennett doesn't deserve to start. I just can't see why Thompson should be benched when he has worked so hard to develop a jumpshot no one ever thought he could develop in the first place, not to mention the fact that when he does decide to shoot it he is probably making it at a better clip than Bennett.

A lot of valid arguments have already been made as to how pairing AV/Bennett as the starters and TT/Zeller as bench bigs could work basketball-wise. Bennett can continue to hone his game at the next level while learning from AV, while TT and Zeller compliment each other very well (as the undersized center and the tall power forward respectively). Its all about the combos that we can send out on the floor. AV and TT are too similar with the way they play, while Bennet and Zeller also share the same comfort spots on the floor.

Benching someone is not a punishment or a demotion (there is a stigma, sure), and in this case its all about trying/putting them in the best spots to succeed.
 
Bennett doesn't deserve to start. I just can't see why Thompson should be benched when he has worked so hard to develop a jumpshot no one ever thought he could develop in the first place, not to mention the fact that when he does decide to shoot it he is probably making it at a better clip than Bennett.

This isnt aimed at you... but for the love of flying shit, can we take the emotional attachment OUT of assessing this collection of young assets. I dont even want to say team yet because I dont think we really have one OR should consider the core assembled yet.

We have to be the MOST emotionally attached tormented/championship deprived sports area in history. I'm only 30 years old, and the last championships I remember were the Columbus Quest of the ABL back when I first got to High School and that Ohio State over Miami National Championship game (have it on DVD) right after I graduated.

Do you know how I felt the DAY after winning those championships?

I would have traded ANY player on those Quest teams without thinking twice if it meant another championship the next year. I loved Nikki McCray's sexy ass. She was my boo thing, but I would have traded her quicker than we just fired Rob Chudzinski. Just would have had to visit her in her new city for our hookups (shrugs)

Loved Doss but was happy as hell that he was graduating knowing he was a main reason Kellen Winslow dominated us in that title game and we were not scaring anyone with out secondary, wish Gamble had not been drafted or looked at like a great pro prospect and had to come back to school and helped us repeat. Had no emotional attachment what so ever the minute the season ended, was ready to do whatever it took and get restructure rosters however necessary to get a ring the next year.

Championships. Thats what I want. To hell with investing in the emotional narratives from here on out. Means to an end, championship production between the lines with the lights on. Whatever it takes to get it, thats what I want.
 
"TT changed his shooting hand so he deserved to start!" That is just so stupid. You're talking NBA here folks. The best of the best. I don't care if he can shoot with his foot. If that jump shot is not respected by the opponent and he's not pulling the trigger, then him changing his shooting hand is worthless.
 
TT is so mechanical and unnatural, his ceiling is ultimately vastly limited compared to Bennett. TT should be commended for his improvement thus far, but in terms of development, what you see now is what we're probably always gonna get from TT and that's being a 3rd big....

No...not from you? You wouldn't be, *gasp*, predicting the future?!?!?

The funny thing is this might be true. But you won't use this same "what you see now" approach on your boy. Because what you see now in Bennett is a guy who may or may not become a rotational player. This guaranteed star status thing, that shit is so far out the window at this point.
 

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