• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Tristan Thompson

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
You can be a starter and a terrible offensive player, but you need to be an elite rebounder and defender. 2 things which Tristan has not been.
 
Tristan has really struggled in March, I can't argue with that. The schedule turned into a meat grinder and TT is getting flummoxed by the tougher defenses we've been facing. 6 of the 9 teams we've played so far in this month have ranked in the top 10 in opponent FG%, that's an absolute brutal stretch. His per game numbers in March reflect his recent poor play-

28.5 minutes, 8.3 points (41.7 FG%, 67.9 FT%), 6.3 rebounds, .3 assists

You don't have to go back very far to see a completely different TT though. His last 9 games in February show a wildly more effective player, when he was posting borderline All-Star numbers.

32.8 minutes, 15.0 points (57.6 FG%, 70.7 FT%), 11.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists

All these numbers should be taken in together, focusing on 2 week stretches of play doesn't paint an accurate portrayal of many young players. People are overreacting when they say he can't be a starter on a playoff team, just look across the league. Amir Johnson, Josh McRoberts, and Trevor Booker all say hello!
 
Tristan has really struggled in March, I can't argue with that. The schedule turned into a meat grinder and TT is getting flummoxed by the tougher defenses we've been facing. 6 of the 9 teams we've played so far in this month have ranked in the top 10 in opponent FG%, that's an absolute brutal stretch. His per game numbers in March reflect his recent poor play-

28.5 minutes, 8.3 points (41.7 FG%, 67.9 FT%), 6.3 rebounds, .3 assists

You don't have to go back very far to see a completely different TT though. His last 9 games in February show a wildly more effective player, when he was posting borderline All-Star numbers.

32.8 minutes, 15.0 points (57.6 FG%, 70.7 FT%), 11.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists

All these numbers should be taken in together, focusing on 2 week stretches of play doesn't paint an accurate portrayal of many young players. People are overreacting when they say he can't be a starter on a playoff team, just look across the league. Amir Johnson, Josh McRoberts, and Trevor Booker all say hello!

These stats sort of reflect how I feel about Thompson. Against weaker defensively and smaller front lines he can be a very good player. But when you throw him out against the big boys, he will struggle.

Obviously he is still young, but without a jumper or some crazy post moves, he will will struggle against top front lines.

It isn't hating on him personally. Just tough for me to see a long-term starter given current skills and development over the years.
 
These stats sort of reflect how I feel about Thompson. Against weaker defensively and smaller front lines he can be a very good player. But when you throw him out against the big boys, he will struggle.

Obviously he is still young, but without a jumper or some crazy post moves, he will will struggle against top front lines.

It isn't hating on him personally. Just tough for me to see a long-term starter given current skills and development over the years.

I just don't follow this train of thought when looking at TT. He's a durable young big that holds his own on defense and rebounding, that has long-term starter written all over it. He's already proven he can withstand the rigors of starting an 82 game season at this point in his career, which is pretty impressive for a big as physical as TT. Let's not forget, he's got the 6th longest consecutive games started streak going in the entire league.

IMO, the biggest reason Tristan isn't viewed as a long term starter moving forward isn't anything of his doing, it's the presence of AB looming behind him. It's very rare that a team is sitting on two young, talented PFs like we are. It's a good situation to be in, (you can never have enough talented front court players), but it's highly unlikely both these players are on the team going into the 15/16 season. They've both got too much talent to be bench players in their primes.
 
There's no such thing as a good match up for TT with his style of play and intelligence.....

He literally cannot fit next to ANY center and that's just dumbfounding to me. I always knew his scoring numbers were artificial but it seems like his rebounding was too.....


Yeah he's kind of fucked us with his ineptitude. He's not a good enough "garbage man" to start next to a "Hawes" yet if he's next to a more traditional in the paint 5 the lane is too clogged for Kyrie and Dion.

I don't know what to do.
 
I just don't follow this train of thought when looking at TT. He's a durable young big that holds his own on defense and rebounding, that has long-term starter written all over it. He's already proven he can withstand the rigors of starting an 82 game season at this point in his career, which is pretty impressive for a big as physical as TT. Let's not forget, he's got the 6th longest consecutive games started streak going in the entire league.

IMO, the biggest reason Tristan isn't viewed as a long term starter moving forward isn't anything of his doing, it's the presence of AB looming behind him. It's very rare that a team is sitting on two young, talented PFs like we are. It's a good situation to be in, (you can never have enough talented front court players), but it's highly unlikely both these players are on the team going into the 15/16 season. They've both got too much talent to be bench players in their primes.

No. TT's lack of development, lack of any semblance of offense, lack of rebounding (which was supposed to be his strength), lack of fit next to any type of center, and lack of basic basketball sense are reasons why nobody see him as a future starter. He's getting eaten alive right now and it's not hard to see. He's also literally terrified of contact. I don't know how anyone would want him as a starter based on hows he's played next to a viable offensive big, he's literally disappeared. He's a PF that can't score anywhere on the court except within 10 feet but even then it seems like he shoots about 20% from within 10 feet. He doesn't cut to the basket, he doesn't roll to the basket, he doesn't go up strong. He now looks like the same player that came to Cleveland from Texas.....
 
No. TT's lack of development, lack of any semblance of offense, lack of rebounding (which was supposed to be his strength), lack of fit next to any type of center, and lack of basic basketball sense are reasons why nobody see him as a future starter. He's getting eaten alive right now and it's not hard to see. He's also literally terrified of contact. I don't know how anyone would want him as a starter based on hows he's played next to a viable offensive big, he's literally disappeared. He's a PF that can't score anywhere on the court except within 10 feet but even then it seems like he shoots about 20% from within 10 feet. He doesn't cut to the basket, he doesn't roll to the basket, he doesn't go up strong. He now looks like the same player that came to Cleveland from Texas.....

Wow, your post had a clear lack of knowledge, but you sure filled it to the brim with your personal biases.

Lack of development? He's vastly improved from his rookie year, to say otherwise is just bullshit. He's developed a push shot, his free throw percentage has gone up every year, and he's actually capable of passing the ball out of the post (he was a black hole as a rook.)

No semblance of offense? You're making him out to be Eric Snow/Ben Wallace bad. He's at 47% from the field for his career, and he's averaged double-digits in points the past two seasons.

I shouldn't even have to bring up rebounding, he's 16th in the entire league right now. Are you high? He leads all power forwards in total offensive rebounds! Let me say that again. He's the league leading offensive rebounder for power forwards. Yet he's lacking there for EdMonix everybody! You've got some pretty high standards.

Lack of fit next to any center? Hawes is having a career year playing next to TT, they've played well in a lot of games together. When him and Andy share the floor our rebounding and defense is great. The fits aren't perfect but each pairing brings its own strengths and weaknesses.

Afraid of contact? Seriously? Tell that to ZBo, he threw an elbow that floored Randolph earlier this season. No one has ever used the word finesse with TT, he's a physical big that likes to do the dirty work. Guards regularly gain separation after he sets picks for them, he's a bruising presence on the court. You're blindly ignoring his physical play if you think he avoids contact.

Yeah, he's shooting 20% around the rim Ed. Great detective work there, ignorantly throwing out a random percentage even though those numbers are a click away.
 
Wow, your post had a clear lack of knowledge, but you sure filled it to the brim with your personal biases.

Lack of development? He's vastly improved from his rookie year, to say otherwise is just bullshit. He's developed a push shot, his free throw percentage has gone up every year, and he's actually capable of passing the ball out of the post (he was a black hole as a rook.)

No semblance of offense? You're making him out to be Eric Snow/Ben Wallace bad. He's at 47% from the field for his career, and he's averaged double-digits in points the past two seasons.

I shouldn't even have to bring up rebounding, he's 16th in the entire league right now. Are you high? He leads all power forwards in total offensive rebounds! Let me say that again. He's the league leading offensive rebounder for power forwards. Yet he's lacking there for EdMonix everybody! You've got some pretty high standards.

Lack of fit next to any center? Hawes is having a career year playing next to TT, they've played well in a lot of games together. When him and Andy share the floor our rebounding and defense is great. The fits aren't perfect but each pairing brings its own strengths and weaknesses.

Afraid of contact? Seriously? Tell that to ZBo, he threw an elbow that floored Randolph earlier this season. No one has ever used the word finesse with TT, he's a physical big that likes to do the dirty work. Guards regularly gain separation after he sets picks for them, he's a bruising presence on the court. You're blindly ignoring his physical play if you think he avoids contact.

Yeah, he's shooting 20% around the rim Ed. Great detective work there, ignorantly throwing out a random percentage even though those numbers are a click away.

Stats lie.

He was propped up by Kyrie Irving at the expense of the offensive flow and that's crystal clear now.

We now have another "big" option for scoring and rebounding and BOTH have dropped significantly for TT. Explain that, please.

No, he hasn't developed if he's regressed to his rookie-year self for an entire month. It's easy to put up numbers on a shitty team when you're essentially the featured big, which he was with the hobbled Varejao and Zeller. With prime Varejao and now Hawes, guys who are physically able to do the same things TT ONLY does, TT hasn't looked like a player that deserves to be on an NBA court. Why isn't that more concerning to you?

You're right, nobody has ever used the word 'finesse' to describe TT but that's not because he's a physical player, it's because he's as mechanical and skill-less as any basketball player I've ever seen. He's a bulldozer that can't bulldoze.

I don't care what he actually shoots at the rim, I'm sick of watching him miss 5 fucking shots a game from 3 feet away from the hoop that my 3-year old daughter could make. He does NOTHING else on offense other than clog the paint. He can't play on the perimeter so nobody guards him, he doesn't have a post game, he struggles to finish thru contact, he doesn't have court vision, so should we start him just because he has a 'push' shot? He needs to be able to do more on both sides of the ball to be a viable starter and up to this point, he's proven to be incapable.

We drafted a Ferrari at PF and let him rot on the bench in favor of a fuckin lawn mower.....
 
Stats lie.

He was propped up by Kyrie Irving at the expense of the offensive flow and that's crystal clear now.

We now have another "big" option for scoring and rebounding and BOTH have dropped significantly for TT. Explain that, please.

No, he hasn't developed if he's regressed to his rookie-year self for an entire month. It's easy to put up numbers on a shitty team when you're essentially the featured big, which he was with the hobbled Varejao and Zeller. With prime Varejao and now Hawes, guys who are physically able to do the same things TT ONLY does, TT hasn't looked like a player that deserves to be on an NBA court. Why isn't that more concerning to you?

You're right, nobody has ever used the word 'finesse' to describe TT but that's not because he's a physical player, it's because he's as mechanical and skill-less as any basketball player I've ever seen. He's a bulldozer that can't bulldoze.

I don't care what he actually shoots at the rim, I'm sick of watching him miss 5 fucking shots a game from 3 feet away from the hoop that my 3-year old daughter could make. He does NOTHING else on offense other than clog the paint. He can't play on the perimeter so nobody guards him, he doesn't have a post game, he struggles to finish thru contact, he doesn't have court vision, so should we start him just because he has a 'push' shot? He needs to be able to do more on both sides of the ball to be a viable starter and up to this point, he's proven to be incapable.

We drafted a Ferrari at PF and let him rot on the bench in favor of a fuckin lawn mower.....
Well over their 1st 6 games together TT averaged 14ppg on 60% from the field and 10.5rpg.

The most recent 8 games he is at 7.13ppg on 35% shooting and 6.13 rpg.

What's his average over all 14 games Hawes and TT have played together? 10.1 ppg on 48% shooting and 8 rpg.

What's TT's career averages? 10.7ppg on 47% shooting and 8.5rpg.

So maybe the only thing to explain is that TT is in a slump right now (basically all of March)? Ah, but that wouldn't fit the narrative.

And make no mistake, I think TT's play this month has been extremely disappointing and overall I do wish he were a more dynamic player, but your hyperbole is tiresome to read.
 
We drafted a Ferrari at PF and let him rot on the bench in favor of a fuckin lawn mower.....

4 points a game on 35% shooting.

Ferrari.

I mean it's one thing to be down on Tristan. I get that.

But then to say the shit you do about Bennett. This has got to be the best yet. But you've had some other gems like calling him a "mountain of a man" and what not. He's either your secret lover or a relative.
 
4 points a game on 35% shooting.

Ferrari.

I mean it's one thing to be down on Tristan. I get that.

But then to say the shit you do about Bennett. This has got to be the best yet. But you've had some other gems like calling him a "mountain of a man" and what not. He's either your secret lover or a relative.

Lmao, I need to find that post.
 
Well, since I'm Big Daddy Canada's secret lover, I doubt Ed is too.
 
People can have more than one secret lover. How many side pieces you think these politicians have?
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top