What are the Cavs going to do at C?

[JAY1977]

I think to much emphasis is put on the CAVS to aquire a elite scoring C and the truth of the matter is that the postion has evolved into more of a defensive stopper/ rebounder more than anything with some exceptions ( there are exceptions to every rule ).
Maybe TnT can play both PF and C like Verajo does and if he provides the defensive anchor I hope he can be than that should suffice. ( Big if here I know )
Look at it this way a elite rebounder has to establish inside position that puts him out of position to recieve a pass into the post. So called "garbage points" ( offensive rebound and put back ) are more crucial to any team than a C who can hit jumpers and thus be out of postion to rebound the ball for taking the jumpshot in the first place.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

... Why on earth are we automatically putting Tristan into this mold of a strictly defensive player with no offensive skills? Sure, he shot poorly from the FT line and had a limited game outside 5 or 6 feet from the rim. He also is 20 years old and coming off a one-and-done season in college. This means his entire career, he's been bigger, stronger, faster, and more athletic than 95% of the players he's facing. Why develop your jumpshot when you can just out-jump someone or blow by them for a rebound or dunk?

I don't know -- ask Derrick Williams. Or any number of NBA prospects who all tend to be bigger, stronger, and faster than non-NBA prospects, but work on and develop a shot nevertheless.

It's not like TT was scoring 35 pts a game by blowing by people on every possession with dunks. Having a good jumpshot would have made him a much more valuable offensive player, and actually hitting his throws when he drew fouls so effectively would have been huge. Don't you agree?

Also, if we are going to assume great attitude/work ethic (which I won't dispute), how is a great attitude/work ethic consistent with "I don't need to work on shooting or even FT's because the rest of my game is so good?" It's not like he's Allen Iverson or anything....

The point is, there is no way in hell we can place these types of limitations on him before we actually give him the time to develop an NBA game.

Obviously, you're correct that we cannot say that TT won't develop a decent jumper and FT. But then, you could make the exact same "anything's possible" argument about anyone you draft: "Hey, how do we know he won't get better at X/Y?" So the "anything's possible" standard is really useless when evaluating the draft. Because the real question isn't what is possible, but rather what is reasonably possible or likely given specific identifiable factors.

When a guy is a horrible shot and can't hit 50% of his throws, it is a lot less likely that he is going to develop into even an average shooter than other guys coming into the league. Those other guys are starting off as better shooters who are just trying to refine their shot, not build one from scratch, and those guys are all going to be working on their games as well.

So sure, it's possible that TT will develop into at least an average shooter, but it's certainly not something we should anticipate is probable.

 

[MYoung23]

I think to much emphasis is put on the CAVS to aquire a elite scoring C and the truth of the matter is that the postion has evolved into more of a defensive stopper/ rebounder more than anything with some exceptions ( there are exceptions to every rule ).
Maybe TnT can play both PF and C like Verajo does and if he provides the defensive anchor I hope he can be than that should suffice. ( Big if here I know )
Look at it this way a elite rebounder has to establish inside position that puts him out of position to recieve a pass into the post. So called "garbage points" ( offensive rebound and put back ) are more crucial to any team than a C who can hit jumpers and thus be out of postion to rebound the ball for taking the jumpshot in the first place.

Like Bill Laimbeer? Patrick Ewing? Robert Parish? Those guys couldnt rebound at all.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

A C who can step out and hit the jumpshot -- Laimbeer is a great example -- may lose an offensive rebound or two because of his loss of position, though that's only going to be a factor when that's the play called. But he's also drawing the opposing center out of position both to rebound defensively and to guard the paint against penetration. That makes it much more difficult for the defense to block out other offensive players from crashing the boards themselves.

 

[Jon]

So sure, it's possible that TT will develop into at least an average shooter, but it's certainly not something we should anticipate is probable.

In a vacuum, you're 100% correct, and that's where we are ... but the scouts who've actually had the opportunity to break down his free-throws and jump shot may have cause for optimism. Again, an appeal to the unknown doesn't help, but until Chris Grant addresses these issues and why they didn't dissuade him from taking Thompson - that's all we're left with.

-----------------

• Texas power forward Tristan Thompson is working with former Cavs coach John Lucas in Houston. The question on Thompson is whether he can make a perimeter shot on a consistent basis. TNT analysts were talking about him during the draft lottery. They said he was taking 1,000 shots a day.

 

[Bux42]

We dont need him shooting mid range jumpers to be honest with you. If he can become a solid short range shooter from the post, with hook shots and roll shots 5-8 ft from the rim, then that's more than enough. Shooting mid range shots puts him in bad position for rebounds, plus it could turn him into Josh Smith...who currently thinks he's Michael Jordan with the amount of outside shots he takes, but he misses 70% of them.

 

[Jon]

As long as his head is screwed on straight, I wouldn't begrudge him a jumper or even a 3pt shot. I'd have no complaints if he became the next Robert Horry rather than the next Tyrone Hill.

But given his propensity at drawing fouls and getting to the line, you do want him to his bury free-throws.

 

[JAY1977]

Ben Wallace does not get enough credit for helping the CAVS get to the finals in 07. It is no coincidence that one of the best playoff runs in the CAVS history was with a DEFENSIVE C even with his limited ( none ) offensive skill. Shoring up the paint is not glamerous and often gets overlooked as people care more about how many points per game some one has. The reason the CAVS did not make the finals in 08 and 09 is that the team sacrifficed D by getting offensive players.

Finding the 7 foot plus Center who can dominate both sides of the floor is like finding big foot nowadays. Most Centers are "undersized" and none of us want to see a plodding, injury prone big man. This seems to be a real problem for players of great height.

For the current time frame it looks like it will be covered by commitee unless a miracle happens and Erden comes out of nowhere to suprise us all.

 

[Jon]

Heh, Ben's only contribution to us getting to the finals was the fact that he took the money and ran off to Chicago and wasn't on the Piston's team we beat that year.

 

[Sir Charles Barkley]

Ben Wallace does not get enough credit for helping the CAVS get to the finals in 07. It is no coincidence that one of the best playoff runs in the CAVS history was with a DEFENSIVE C even with his limited ( none ) offensive skill. Shoring up the paint is not glamerous and often gets overlooked as people care more about how many points per game some one has. The reason the CAVS did not make the finals in 08 and 09 is that the team sacrifficed D by getting offensive players.

Finding the 7 foot plus Center who can dominate both sides of the floor is like finding big foot nowadays. Most Centers are "undersized" and none of us want to see a plodding, injury prone big man. This seems to be a real problem for players of great height.

For the current time frame it looks like it will be covered by commitee unless a miracle happens and Erden comes out of nowhere to suprise us all.

We didn't trade for Wallace til 08...We got to the finals with Z, Andy, Gooden, and Donyell marshall.

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

Plus Wallace didn't really play C for us. He started at PF with Z. Than we had Andy and Joe Smith off the bench. I enjoyed Ben's time here. He wasn't the game changer he used to beL but was steady. I remember the Cavs started the 08 season 1-2. The team looked sluggish and the fans were frustrated. We go into Dallas for the next game and just whip their ass. I remember Ben completely shutting down Dirk and us winning by double digits. It was the jumpstart we needed for that amazing 08-09 regular season. I will always remember that.

 

[Douglar]

Ben Wallace does not get enough credit for helping the CAVS get to the finals in 07. .

Maybe he means that since Ben signed with Chicago, it made it possible for the Cavs to beat Detroit?

That's how I felt when Chicago signed Ben Wallace.

 

[Jon]

Maybe he means that since Ben signed with Chicago, it made it possible for the Cavs to beat Detroit?

That's how I felt when Chicago signed Ben Wallace.

Flip Saunders was a big help too!

 

[Pavlovic3Ball]

Saunders not trapping Lebron has to be one of the dumbest moves by a coach ever. Even if it leaves one of our shooters open, odds are they ice cold from standing around and watching Lebron all 4th quarter and 2 overtimes.

 

[Jon]

Saunders not trapping Lebron has to be one of the dumbest moves by a coach ever. Even if it leaves one of our shooters open, odds are they ice cold from standing around and watching Lebron all 4th quarter and 2 overtimes.

His lack of adjustments was ridiculous, but the Piston's lost their defensive edge on his watch.