Quietly, Cavs' Thompson adding another threat to arsenal
Tristan Thompson will never average 20 points per game, and probably not even anywhere close. But that's OK. The Cavaliers just want him to make the most of the shots he has.
That is what Thompson is doing, more than ever, through the first 11 games.
Thompson is a 6-foot-10 power forward who comes off the bench. His scoring is actually down a point from last season -- from 8.5 to 7.5 per game. Then again, when you consider the Cavs don't run plays for Thompson, 7.5 a night ain't too shabby.
More importantly, Thompson is shooting a career-high 62 percent from the field. More specifically, Thompson is averaging five shots per game, and making three. That's what matters most to Thompson and the Cavs.
This isn't to say he's about to step out and launch 15-footers on a regular basis. Nor is it to say his 52 percent shooting from the line is a-OK.
His most important role on offense will almost always be to sneak in and steal the ball off the glass after a teammate's missed shot. It's a role Thompson performs extremely well, probably better than anyone in the NBA.
Other than that, Thompson's offensive game is likely to consist mostly of finishing those alley-oop lob passes from reserve guard Matthew Dellavedova (Another role each often performs to perfection.)
But Thompson, now in his fifth NBA season, just looks more comfortable with the ball, and more comfortable shooting it, than at any other time in his career.
"It's getting much better," Thompson told FOX Sports Ohio. "I've been working on it in the off-season and during the season. I just can't stop, I just gotta keep working on it."
Again, Thompson's greatest strengths will always be his defense and rebounding. He finished with nine boards in Tuesday's 104-99 loss at Detroit, and is averaging 9.1 for the season.
He also grabbed a career-high 10.8 rebounds per game in the Cavs' postseason run to the Finals, while starting in place of the injured Kevin Love.
And when the game is on the line, it is Thompson to whom Cavs coach David Blatt will turn for defense -- both underneath and on the perimeter when switching on opposing pick-and-pops.
That much you already knew.
But it is Thompson's gradual, and mostly unnoticed, improvement on offense that is making him even more of a contributor.
His penchant for grabbing rebounds after the Cavs miss a shot is downright demoralizing to opponents. The fact he is putting some of those missed shots back in makes it even worse -- and that much sweeter for the Cavs.
Will Thompson ever score like LeBron James, Kyrie Irving or Love?
Nah. That likely won't ever be necessary with this group.
But will Thompson chase down every rebound as if it's worth a brick of gold and continue to work on becoming a better shooter?
Well, the simple eye test tells us yes. And when it comes to the eye test and Tristan Thompson, the Cavs have to like what they're seeing.
Sam Amico is an NBA analyst and insider for FOX Sports Ohio and the co-host of "Cavaliers in the Paint."
