Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 adjustments for Game 3 vs. Warriors
By Ryan Piers
1. Play Tristan Thompson more minutes
The trend of improved play with Tristan Thompson on the floor continued in Game 2. The Cavs scored 122.4 points per 100 possessions in the 23 minutes that Thompson was in the lineup, the highest rating for any Cavs player that competed more than five minutes. Thompson’s offensive raiting was also 15.6 points per 100 possessions better than the team’s overall offensive rating for Game 2 (106.8).
Cleveland nearly played even with Golden State when Thompson was on the floor and the Cavs big man is a +8 over the past four games.
The Warriors lack a player with the physicality to body Thompson underneath. The broad-shouldered forward thumps would-be rebounders with club-like arms, regularly winning tussles for missed shots. He’s also too strong for the thinly built JaVale McGee and Kevon Looney.
Thompson is in the spotlight for the way he responded to a reporter’s line of questioning.
Tristan Thompson walks off after being asked in he feels “helpless” guarding Klay Thompson: “That’s f—-ed up” pic.twitter.com/dRsCQj5Mch
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 4, 2018
People are still water cooler gossiping about his scuffle with Draymond Green.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1003042058754355202
One thing appears to be for certain though: Cleveland is playing at its best with Thompson out on the floor.
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People should be talking about that.