Cleveland Cavaliers big Tristan Thompson is clearly out to prove something in the 2019-20 season.
Cleveland Cavaliers veteran big Tristan Thompson has gotten off to a tremendous start in the 2019-20 season.
There’s been only a three-game sample size, but Thompson has led the Cavaliers in scoring with 19.3 points per game on 60.0% shooting, and he’s had 12.3 rebounds per contest, too (per NBA.com).
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Thompson has been much more willing than in previous seasons to take his primary defenders off-the-bounce, which has been quite a pleasant surprise.
It’s resulted in him getting quality looks inside for jump-hooks, and he’s gotten to his spots in short rolls resulting in plenty of high percentage chances, often due to his strength.
Thompson has taken on more of a role as a passer as well, and with the separation he creates for teammates with his screens, both on and off the ball, that bit of secondary playmaking is an added plus in head coach John Beilein‘s motion offense where bigs are often key passers.
That’s even more so a plus with the way TT has had 4.0 offensive rebounds per contest, too.
Though it is just the beginning of the season, it’s clear that Thompson, who is on an expiring contract, is out to prove something in 2019-20.
TT, when healthy, has been a quality defender for Cleveland in prior years, but with the way Thompson has been banged up the last two seasons, he hasn’t been nearly the defender he’s really capable of, at least on the interior.
In the 2017-18 season, Thompson “missed 29 games” due to a combination of calf injuries and an ankle sprain, as the News-Herald‘s David S. Glasier previously noted.
Additionally, Thompson had a foot sprain last year, and mostly due to reported soreness in regards to that throughout last season, TT would miss 39 games in 2018-19 (per Basketball Reference), too.
Now, though, with Thompson seemingly fully healthy, his defense has been more up to his standards.
He even has quite an individual goal for the 2019-20 season, as was detailed by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, who highlighted how Thompson volunteered to be the primary defender when he was on the floor against Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Cleveland lost to Milwaukee 129-112, but Thompson was very effective against Antetokounmpo. Here’s more on Thompson’s goal, per Fedor.
"“For me this year, it’s taking that challenge. I want to guard the best wings and bigs on every team. I want to make their night tough to gain that respect defensively around the league. Goal of mine is to make first team All-Defense. The way you do that is guarding the best players. It starts with the MVP of the league.”"
Thompson did about as well as anyone could’ve individually against the hard-charging Antetokounmpo as a scorer, which was what the Cavs wanted from TT.
Although Milwaukee, who is one of the best perimeter shooting teams in the NBA, did knock in 17 three-pointers, Thompson was able to stymie Giannis due to the veteran Cavs big’s strength and great defensive IQ, which is nearly impossible for most primary defenders against him.
Here was more on Thompson’s success in defending Antetokounmpo, per Fedor, and it’s again evident that TT is out to prove he can still be a key contributor this year, and likely be more of an all-around big.
"“The result: Antetokounmpo, who entered the night averaging 29.5 points, finished with 14 on 5-of-15 from the field.The points are the lowest Antetokounmpo has scored in a regular season game since Jan. 15. His field goal percentage hasn’t been that poor since Dec. 22, 2018.The Giannis Plan was effective. Thompson did his part.”"
Fedor would go on to highlight how Thompson previously did a terrific job against both of the talented Indiana Pacers’ starting bigs in Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner in primary defensive matchups, and Fedor hit on how TT contested the most shots of Cleveland’s player against Orlando.
Anyhow, it seems pretty unrealistic for Thompson to be considered one of the five best defenders in the NBA this season.
Nonetheless, the 28-year-old wanting to take on the opposition’s best offensive threats every game, and I’d assume bigs, really, further shows that he’s undoubtedly one of the Cavs’ primary leaders.
Along with that, with Thompson showcasing that he can bring more the table offensively, at least to begin this campaign, it again demonstrates that TT is out to prove something in the 2019-20 season.
Thompson seems like a different animal this year, and him being fully healthy has absolutely played into that.
Hopefully TT can keep it rolling for Beilein and the Cavaliers.
Plus, perhaps if he keeps playing really well on both ends, it can improve Thompson’s potential trade value for Cleveland to further help their rebuild, if they choose to go that route. The Cavs do already have Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. as bigs that are locked up for the long haul and both are seemingly two of the Cavs’ key veteran leaders (Love, especially), anyway.