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Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson should have a resurgent season

By Dan Gilinsky

INDEPENDENCE, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Cleveland Clinic Courts on September 25, 2017 in Independence, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
INDEPENDENCE, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Cleveland Clinic Courts on September 25, 2017 in Independence, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Tristan Thompson had a bit of a down year in 2016-17, but coming off the bench could really help his productivity next season.

Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers will not be starting Thompson. Kevin Love will be taking his place at center, and Jae Crowder will be manning the 4 position. Cleveland is looking to be more versatile defensively with their starting five, and Crowder gives them more spacing. That said, TT should provide quite a spark off the pine.

At first glance, last year was not bad for Thompson. He averaged 8.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and had a career-high 60.0 percent field goal rate. He led the Cavs in blocks as well with a mark of 1.1 per contest. Nonetheless, there was more to be desired from Cleveland’s full-time center.

After having arguably his best season in 2015-16, with a net rating of 7.9, Thompson was not nearly as effective with an increased workload. His net rating went back down to 2.9 last year, per nba.com, and he missed games for the first time since his rookie season in 2011-12.

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There are likely a few culprits for TT not being nearly as effective. One of those culprits was Thompson’s inability in the scoring department, as he had just 9.7 points per 36 minutes. That was the lowest total of his career, per Basketball-Reference.

Not getting as many lob looks from backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova could have cut his aggressiveness down a tad, and TT was not as confident going to the free throw line. Thompson regressed from there, as he shot a career-low 49.8 percent and had his least amount of free throw attempts per game.

I don’t expect him to have a big jump in usage this season, but I think with him playing fewer minutes, he’ll be more aggressive cutting to the rim in pick-and-roll, which helps create more spacing for the Cavs perimeter assassins in the long run.

The rebounding rate should go back up for him with lower minute totals, too.

Despite the Cavs losing a quality rebounder in Timofey Mozgov, Thompson’s rebounding totals decreased with more opportunity to clear the glass. His defensive rebounding percentage was the second-lowest of his six-year career, according to Basketball-Reference. I expect that number to increase with Thompson playing some more minutes this season without Love on the floor, and that will allow him to anchor the Cavs defense at times.

With Thompson on the floor with more competent defensive personnel around him, such as Crowder, he will be able to guard rim runners and focus more on blocking shots. King James Gospel’s own Quenton Albertie touched on how that is more of his strength defensively, as he’s a bit too undersized for tall, bulky fives, but he is more athletic than Love, so that brings the Cavs bench a different element.

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Overall, TT should be more effective with less onus on him on both ends this season. Coming off the bench, his role has less pressure and he’ll be much healthier for a long playoff run.