Season in Review: Tristan Thompson

thetrapman · Post #1 » by **thetrapman** » Mon Jul 9, 2012 10:40 pm

Season Overview: For Tristan Thompson’s impressive rookie season to be almost completely overshadowed by another Cavalier freshman illuminates just how bright the Wine and Gold’s future actually is.

A perfect microcosm of that future took place in Orlando last February, where Thompson and rookie classmate Kyrie Irving took part in All-Star Weekend’s BVAA Rising Stars Challenge. In that Friday night affair, Thompson led his squad with 20 points, going 10-for-11 from the floor, dunking everything in sight. The game’s MVP, however, was Irving – who went 8-of-8 from long distance and finished with 34 points.

That exhibition was the first time the two Cavalier teammates faced off against one another since they were high school rivals in New Jersey. A few weeks after the Break, fans got a glimpse of what they could do on the same team – coincidentally in New Jersey – when Thompson scored 27 points to Irving’s 26 in a 105-100 win over the Nets. (Thompson also grabbed 12 boards.)

Just over a year ago, the pick of Thompson at No. 4 stunned pundits. But the high-flying forward from Texas proved his detractors wrong all season long and had worked his way into the starting lineup just after the midway point. A natural power forward, Thompson manned the center spot in the final 25 games, concluding his season-long baptism-by-fire.

On the year, Thompson averaged 8.2 points and 6.5 boards in 23.7 minutes per contest. As a starter, he improved to 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds (3.8 offensive) per contest. Thompson finished 12th in scoring among all rookies; third overall in blocks. But on the boards, he was the freshman class’s top dog.

His 3.1 offensive rebounds and 6.5 total rebounds each rank first among all qualifying rookies. His offensive rebound mark was good for 12th in the NBA; his nine double-doubles was third among all first-year players.

Free throw shooting was a big concern for the Toronto native coming into the league, but the Cavs coaching staff worked with him – having him eliminate an extra dribble at the stripe – and the results were tangible. Before his 21st birthday, Thompson shot an even 50 percent from the line. He shot 65 percent for the remainder of the season.

The affable Thompson established himself as one of the squad’s hardest workers and has been diligent at Cleveland Clinic Courts since the season wrapped up. After entering the league as a 20-year-old, Thompson had no Summer League, an abbreviated Training Camp and a condensed season that saw him play well, albeit out of position.

Thompson accepted all challenges and surpassed expectations as a rookie with Cleveland. Irving may be the club’s young superstar, but the guy picked three spots after him may have the biggest upside of the 2011 Class.

Highlight: Thompson’s 27-point, 12-rebound outburst against New Jersey was part of a solid set of games immediately after the former Longhorn was inserted into the starting lineup. Tristan put together two more strong outings and in a three-game span 18.3 points and 9.3 boards per game as the Cavs new starting center.

Lowlight: Thompson didn’t struggle much during his first year with the Cavs. He notched double-figures in three of his first five games, but didn’t have a double-digit rebound game until mid-February. (He had 11 double-digit board games from that point on, however.)

Odds and Ends: … The ambidextrous Thompson bowls, throws a football, plays tennis, kicks a soccer ball and hammers a nail right-handed. He eats and changes channels with a remote control left-handed. He can dunk and shoot a basketball, arm-wrestle, swing a baseball bat and sign an autograph with either hand.

By the Numbers: 21.0, 13.5 … Thompson’s scoring and rebounding averages against the Nets in his old high school stomping grounds of New Jersey.

Looking forward: The sky is the limit for Thompson, who will return to his natural position and have an entire offseason to work on it. It should be fun to see what he and Anderson Varejao (not to mention Tyler Zeller and Samardo Samuels) can do on the court together.

Quotable: Thompson, on his post-Draft detractors …

“I always feel like I have something to prove. A lot of people questioned the Cavs’ decision on picking me No. 4. What I have to say to critics is that they weren’t in the workouts and didn’t see what I had done. Seeing what I’ve been able to do this season so far, they can bite their tongue. And I’m smiling.”

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/feature/re ... 20709.html

tidho · Post #2 » by **tidho** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 4:28 pm

Looked at this after reading all the references to Thompson in the Waiters was a reach discussion on the General Board....

Thompson played in 60 games last season. Here are the splits....
1st 20 - 18min, 6.75ppg, 42.4%fg, 5.25reb, 0.15ast, 1.20blk
2nd 20 - 26min, 8.45ppg, 43.8%fg, 6.85reb, 0.65ast, 1.00blk
3rd 20 - 27min, 9.50ppg, 45.2%fg, 7.35reb, 0.55ast, 0.90blk

Much of the improvement from Ist 20 to 2nd 20 is minutes related, but efficiency increased throughout and he survived the rookie wall pretty well.

I'd expect he'll be looked to for about 32min per this season....maybe 13ppg @47% and 9reb?

Nirvana · Post #3 » by **Nirvana** » Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:26 pm

That's quite an upbeat summary. Tristan has a long way to go, but I am excited to see how he grows this season. I want to see more control when he has the ball in his hands and all around better composure on both ends of the floor. The good news is that he's got a great motor and already has shown some top notch abilities shot blocking and offensive rebounding. He's got the physical tools to do the job, he's just got to put the pieces together, especially on offense, to be a really great player.

gflem · Post #4 » by **gflem** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:47 am

And Brandon Weeden will throw for 4,000 yards and 30 tds. Thank God that Kyrie was sooo good that we all didnt notice that TT dominated a rookie scrimmage. For the record I am looking forward to seeing the results of whatever work TT did this offseason, and I think he can be a good player, but i dont seem to be drinking the same kool aid as you in regards to him.

BossHoggin · Post #5 » by **BossHoggin** » Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:13 am

I can understand not thinking he is worth a 4th pick, but in the 2011 draft, he was a top pick.

Vesely, Knight, Walker, Biyombo, Jimmer, Williams were not impressive.

orangeparka · Post #6 » by **orangeparka** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:05 am

Solid pick IMO.

Roger Murdock · Post #7 » by **Roger Murdock** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:52 am

It was a solid pick. Valancinius is the guy everyone says we should have taken but he hasn't even played a game, so its kind of a cop out. He might suck. I'd take Thompson over anyone else in the lotto although Burks, Leonard, and Biyombo are intriguing.

thetrapman · Post #8 » by **thetrapman** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:01 am

I think Leonard's success is environmental.

TwentyOne920 · Post #9 » by **TwentyOne920** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:26 am

thetrapman wrote:I think Leonard's success is environmental.

I say all prospects are as much a product of their environment as they are of their raw talent. Look at Sacramento, all those talent but with no direction.

OTOH the Cavs have a coach who worked magic with two HOF-worthy point guards.

tidho · Post #10 » by **tidho** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:44 pm

Just dropping some troll-guard in the thread....
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Argentina
...nothing further.

BossHoggin · Post #11 » by **BossHoggin** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:37 pm

He's playing good players like Scola, so it is expected. He's going to disappoint some fans this year but he'll be good in the long run.

Post #12 » by **B Mac** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 3:18 am

I just hope that all of the Thompson and Val comparisons go away. How about we compare Kyrie to Derrick Williams who I remember a lot of national pundits repeatedly writing that we should have taken.

Niko23 · Post #13 » by **Niko23** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 8:05 pm

tidho wrote:Just dropping some troll-guard in the thread....
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Argentina
...nothing further.

Fart is probably crying in a corner somewhere after reading this

BossHoggin · Post #14 » by **BossHoggin** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 8:18 pm

Fart if Waiters has a good season:

fart · Post #15 » by **fart** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 11:06 pm

B Mac wrote:I just hope that all of the Thompson and Val comparisons go away. How about we compare Kyrie to Derrick Williams who I remember a lot of national pundits repeatedly writing that we should have taken.

Show me one mock Draft that had Derrick Williams going first to us.

fart · Post #16 » by **fart** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 11:12 pm

Niko23 wrote:
tidho wrote:Just dropping some troll-guard in the thread....
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Argentina
...nothing further.

Fart is probably crying in a corner somewhere after reading this

No, I truly believe he will be the 2nd best player from the 2011 draft, I guess we will see if Grant was right or wrong to pass him up when this season gets going.

BossHoggin wrote:Fart if Waiters has a good season:

No, I would be very happy if I am proven wrong and he turns out to be a legit NBA SG that is the 4th best player out of this draft. I just have not seen anything from him that indicates he will be a good/great NBA starting SG. I've made this comparison many times before, I think he will be a delonte west type player. Not bad, but a waste of a #4 pick.

mcfly1204 · Post #17 » by **mcfly1204** » Thu Aug 2, 2012 1:01 pm

Delonte West plus a couple of inches and 30+lbs. would be a beast.

fart · Post #18 » by **fart** » Thu Aug 2, 2012 7:16 pm

mcfly1204 wrote:Delonte West plus a couple of inches and 30+lbs. would be a beast.

Waiters is listed as an inch taller than delonte (I doubt it's even a full inch), and +30lb would make him fat and slow.

mcfly1204 · Post #19 » by **mcfly1204** » Thu Aug 2, 2012 7:50 pm

fart wrote:
mcfly1204 wrote:Delonte West plus a couple of inches and 30+lbs. would be a beast.

Waiters is listed as an inch taller than delonte (I doubt it's even a full inch), and +30lb would make him fat and slow.

My bad, I forgot that you really do not know what you are talking about.

fart · Post #20 » by **fart** » Thu Aug 2, 2012 8:55 pm

mcfly1204 wrote:
fart wrote:
mcfly1204 wrote:Delonte West plus a couple of inches and 30+lbs. would be a beast.

Waiters is listed as an inch taller than delonte (I doubt it's even a full inch), and +30lb would make him fat and slow.

My bad, I forgot that you really do not know what you are talking about.

Yea, bringing up the FACT that Delonte is listed as an inch shorter on NBA.com means I don't know what I'm talking about. :-?