Tristan Thompson

[Spencer Hawes]

The few players you pull up are exceptions, the vast majority of NBA players peak in their mid-to-late 20's. Tristan hasn't flashed early and failed to live up to previous levels, he's gradually improved his game every year he's been here. He's proven to be extremely durable, he's got a consecutive games started streak of 173 games. I'm not worried about his progression being filled with the ups and downs of an injury-prone player.



It'd be completely impossible if he wasn't already ambidextrous. Switching shoots hands really is no small feat, it's never been done before at the NBA level.

The fact that it has happened before and the fact that there are so many NBA busts shows that there are many players that get into the league and have not improve their production after their first 3 years. THAT IS NOT AN EXCEPTION. An exception is a rarity. Something like 1 or 2 out of a sample size of 100.

It's great that he switched hand. It's a great personal accomplishment. But let me ask you, how does that help the team again? Is he even an AVERAGE jump shooter? So you give him all these accolades for switching hands. The first in the NBA to do it....like on the level of scoring 100 points in a game since it's only been done once right? So by him switching hands and got you blinded by it, do we now assume that he's going to eventually be able to space the floor? How many summers are we gonna give him to make his jump shot AVERAGE? Don't we have someone in the wings named Anthony Bennett who, even though he didn't switch hands, who have shown that he is capable of being at least average?

 

[ajz20]

He is the "average" PF. Nothing more, nothing less until he realizes he can't just bulldoze his way into the paint vs. taller players.

 

[Derek]

Seriously DWreck, you're wrong. Admit it so we can move on, because you're talking out of your ass about their ages. DD entered the league at 22 and played 53 games of his 64 played that year as a 22-year-old rookie. His breakout came the following season as a 23-year-old second year player.

That's basically the entire part I don't agree with. You just stated TT's worst case scenario is if he's a finished product right now. In a previous post you've assumed the best you see TT doing in starters' minutes (his current role) is averaging 10-12 points and 9-10 rebounds. News flash, that's what's he's averaging right now. Even if you didn't mean to say it, you've implied TT has reached his ceiling through the context of your previous posts. And that's something I don't strongly disagree with, considering he literally just turned 23.

I don't think it's a bad thing he's handling so many minutes at this age, most young bigs can't handle playing 30+ minutes a night. Contrary to your belief, I think Tristan's going to play more minutes as he enters his prime. I see him averaging 35-36 minutes in coming seasons, be that with the Cavs or not.

Yes you've given Tristan the credit to develop into something, and that's a "valuable 25 minute a night big on a contender." Not really saying much. I just showed the bigs playing 25 minutes on over 10+ playoff teams, that's not much of a role. If you're truly right, the Cavs aren't going to keep TT around to fill that. I still see him as the power forward of the future, and a core piece of this team. AB only has a chance to unseat him if he shows up in great shape and ready to go for next year's training camp, but I'm not comfortable declaring that a certainty by any means.

[video=youtube;Cg_8knBHEyw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg_8knBHEyw[/video]

I have not implied that Tristan has reached his ceiling. He's putting up 12 and 10, yes, but he could do it much more efficiently, and with much better defense. That is where I expect him to improve. I have listed the players that best fit what I hope Tristan can be, Varejao, Haslem, Davis, etc, those other names are meaningless in this discussion because they aren't who I'm talking about. Also, there aren't many guys playing 36 mpg in this league so you might want to temper your expectations for Tristan's playing time.

I will admit that I am wrong about the age thing, I misread what I was looking at. But, as I also added before, it doesn't matter in the scheme of the argument. I'm pretty sure we are each being equally stubborn here :chuckles:

 

[Nathan S]

Wow, that was a shockingly bad game for TT. He turned back the clock and that's not a good thing for a 23 year old. Looked like a rookie who should've stayed in school.

 

[MD13]

Absolutely horrendous. He just got flat out punked by Griffin and Jordan today, he wanted nothing to do with em.

 

[DatDudeZ3]

TT with a whopping minus 31 in 20 minutes tonight.

 

[CornerThree]

BUT HE CHANGED HIS SHOOTING HAND! NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE!

 

[CavRunner]

Tristan racked up 2 points and 1 rebound.

 

[EdMonix11]

......and Mike Brown wouldn't give Bennett any minutes over this guy?

 

[Fuggles]

......and Mike Brown wouldn't give Bennett any minutes over this guy?

Before Bennett went down wasn't TT on his best stretch of the season?

You need to learn how to pick your battles better.

 

[CosmoKramer]

I'm pretty sure we are each being equally stubborn here :chuckles:

Agreed.

Boy TT looked like dog shit tonight. Gotta love when our tenacious rebounding double-double machine finishes with a single board. I might have heard incorrectly, but was Tristan on a minutes restriction for his ankle? The LA announcers also said Dion shot 40% from 3 last year and that Kyrie wouldn't be here past his rookie deal, so I'm not entirely sure what to believe here.

 

[mAo_mAo]

TT is just not a starting caliber big. The moment we realize that the better so we can address it by plugging in Bennett ASAP.

 

[ajz20]

Been saying all year, he is just a not above average. Nothing special, he is just a role player.

 

[cavfanintexas]

He is the "average" PF. Nothing more, nothing less until he realizes he can't just bulldoze his way into the paint vs. taller players.

Nothing wrong at be a average PF, I think the problems that he is have now is that the PF are guarding Hawes and the center is guarding TT. This is part MB problem he should have Hawes and AV starting and bring TT and Zeller off the bench together, much better fit but MB is slow to change.

 

[rabman_gold]

Nothing wrong at be a average PF, I think the problems that he is have now is that the PF are guarding Hawes and the center is guarding TT. This is part MB problem he should have Hawes and AV starting and bring TT and Zeller off the bench together, much better fit but MB is slow to change.

He probably would if Anderson wasn't such an injury prone player. At this point they'relimiting his minutes and Tristan has been a contributor for the most part the whole season. There's not enough time to make a big change.