Thompson is actually growing on me but I can't fault Brown at all for tonights rotation.
This offense is desperate to get going and have some success so these kids get back to buying into Brown. Tonight, I saw them running the equivalent of a flex offense. And it is dangerous and potent when you have a big who can score from his place in the high post or further out. Lanes are open for wings who are passing and cutting when that other defensive big has to follow his man outside of the paint area.
Starting the season, Thompson was shooting it from there (15-18ft) and then starting that first Charlotte game, he just seemngly stopped and went back to second guessing his ability from there for whatever reason. With Bynum in there, Tristan doesn't hinder the offense as much, but with Andy, Brown has identified that his reluctance to trust his right from that range has clogged lanes, and he is right.
You could put him in the high post while Andy is in, but Andy is the better passer and shooter, though even then still not dangerous to a defense. So... Tristan had better hope Bynum continues to hold up and warrant more minutes for now. Because Clark spaces the floor and helps the lanes open up next to Andy much more while ALSO providing the prototypical length you want from a 4 (same for Dion not showing enough to make MB feel better about not having his length advantage at the 2)
Defensive coaches prefer length and quickness. The exception is a player so talented on offense that you just learn to mask his less than ideal length/quick on D. Tristan is not that kind of guy, so until we get humming on offense, he'll pay for being so offensively limited (shrugs)
Imagine Bennett in Clarks role in another year with about 10x as much offensive talent and you will be ok with TT being used as he is.