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NBA Player Power Rankings: Top 10 Players In The NBA Finals

By Maxwell Ogden

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 19, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) and forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defend during the second half in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers won 108-89. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo (8) and forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defend during the second half in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers won 108-89. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Center
Age: 25 (3/13/1991)
Postseason Slash Line: .429/.000/.605
Postseason Averages: 28.3 MPG, 4.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.4 ORPG, 0.9 BPG

Tristan Thompson may be ranked No. 10, but he has the potential to influence this series more than any other player on this list. He’s arguably the most dominant offensive rebounder in the NBA, and that much was established a year ago.

If Thompson continues to exploit the Golden State Warriors’ lone significant weakness, he would be the ultimate X-Factor in the Cleveland Cavaliers pursuit of a championship.

Thompson finished the 2015 NBA Finals with averages of 13.0 rebounds and 5.3 offensive boards per game. Cleveland lacked the offensive firepower to put that rebounding dominance to better use, however, and that partially rests on Thompson’s inability to score from the post.

With a healthy roster around him in 2016, Thompson’s tenacity and athleticism could be Cleveland’s ultimate weapon.

Thompson is averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game this postseason, which implies that he’s up to the task. He’s also shooting 42.9 percent from the field, which will not suffice for a Cavaliers team that needs all hands on deck.

Thompson’s tenacity on the boards could define this series, but he needs to be more efficient when faced with the burden of scoring.

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