We need a Tristan Thompson

[handiman]

You only need to pay close attention to him on defense when he's within 3 feet of the basket. His average FG distance is 2.4 feet. Nearly 70% of his FGA were within 3 feet of the basket

That was my point. He knows his game well and is always near the basket, either looking for the lob or the rebound-dunk. If you don't glue one or two players to him at all times, you'll find him putting up pretty "reliable" numbers.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Thonpson reminds me of the basic cable version of AD

 

[Boob-No-More]

That's hyperbole if I've ever heard it and not at all backed up by actual stats, raw or advanced. He's never finished higher than 16th in the league in TRB%. He's only cracked the top 10 in total rebounds once (9th in 2012-13) and he's never even averaged 10 rpg in his career (his best was 9.4 rpg also in 2012-13 when he finished 13th).

There are plenty of guys who are both lighter and better rebounders, but if a comment made in a tweet is your "proof", oh well, I guess you win... I guess maybe Rick forgot he's seen guys like Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace, or even Ed Davis and Kenneth Faried

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

That was my point. He knows his game well and is always near the basket, either looking for the lob or the rebound-dunk. If you don't glue one or two players to him at all times, you'll find him putting up pretty "reliable" numbers.

You can pretty much say that about any NBA player. You have to guard EVERYBODY within 3 feet of the basket. Being able to dunk the ball when no one is guarding you is not my idea of a reliable 3rd scorer. Ed Davis averages more points and rebounds per 36 minutes, shoots a higher FG% and costs less than half what Thompson does.

Thompson benefits from playing with LeBron, almost never shoots further than 3 ft. for the basket (for good reason) and still only averages 7.8 ppg. That's not my idea of the kind of dynamic 3rd scorer this team needs to take us to the next level.

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

Thompson was 2nd in the league in offense rebounds, in spite of limited PT.

I think it's a mistake to call him a great rebounder. A great offensive rebounder fits.

Ed Davis' per 36 offensive rebounding is even better. He played 8 less minutes per game. I'm an Ed Davis fan, but he's not anywhere as good as Thompson guarding smaller guys on the switch.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Thompson was 2nd in the league in offense rebounds, in spite of limited PT.

I think it's a mistake to call him a great rebounder. A great offensive rebounder fits.

Ed Davis' per 36 offensive rebounding is even better. He played 8 less minutes per game. I'm an Ed Davis fan, but he's not anywhere as good as Thompson guarding smaller guys on the switch.

Yes, great offensive rebounder, but not much better than average for his position overall.

Davis REALLY improved his pick-and-roll defense as the season wore on. It was an area of focus for him and he improved a lot.

BNM

 

[handiman]

You can pretty much say that about any NBA player. You have to guard EVERYBODY within 3 feet of the basket.

No, because very few chase the offensive rebounds as relentlessly as Thompson. I'm not sure I've ever even seen him tip the ball out. He's always looking to go straight up at the rim. It's not pretty basketball, but it puts a lot of pressure on the interior defense.

Thompson was 2nd in the league in offense rebounds, in spite of limited PT.

I think it's a mistake to call him a great rebounder. A great offensive rebounder fits.

That's a key element in the eye test vs advanced stats, for sure. He's probably less effective on the defensive glass because he's such a versatile defender, they're asking him to cover a lot of different guys.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

An exhaustive analysis of Thompson's rebounding.

 

[Denny Crane]

No, because very few chase the offensive rebounds as relentlessly as Thompson. I'm not sure I've ever even seen him tip the ball out. He's always looking to go straight up at the rim. It's not pretty basketball, but it puts a lot of pressure on the interior defense.



That's a key element in the eye test vs advanced stats, for sure. He's probably less effective on the defensive glass because he's such a versatile defender, they're asking him to cover a lot of different guys.

He's less effective because Love is there to grab the defensive boards.

 

[Boob-No-More]

An exhaustive analysis of Thompson's rebounding.

Nope, it's only half exhaustive. It only covers one end of the court. I already aknowknowledged that Thompson is an excellent offensive rebounder, but overall only slightly above average for his position. So, no new news there.

BNM

 

[handiman]

He's less effective because Love is there to grab the defensive boards.

Wasn't the same true last year when Love was out with the shoulder injury?

 

[MightyMouseOps1]

Biyombo is the most like Tristan on the market from the games I have seen of him. Young, very mobile on the perimeter, undersized slightly as a center. Sprints the floor and only scores on dunks. Putback specialist that is a poor ft shooter. Biyombo is a much better rim protector though which makes him better defensively IMO. The only problem with Biyombo is we need another scorer at either the 3 or the 4 (probably more the 4) with him to take us to next level. Also Biyombo isn't really proven other than a nice playoff run. It is a risky move.

Horford would be a good fit, but can we afford both and how likely is it?
Meyers is actually a good fit next to Biyombo IMO if you think he will continue to develop.
Ryan Anderson probably works but it likely makes more sense to resign Meyers IMO (he drives me crazy but can't deny the upside) . Anderson is older with limited upside.

Dwight doesn't fit as neither has any range. Same issue with Whiteside. Same issue with Monroe most likely.

 

[Denny Crane]

Wasn't the same true last year when Love was out with the shoulder injury?

Oddly, his rebounding went up after Love came back.

 

[handiman]

Oddly, his rebounding went up after Love came back.

View attachment 9342

I was talking playoffs, and offensive rebounding specifically, not defensive. My impression of Thompson the last two years has been, he really ramps up the intensity in the playoffs. Maybe he's been that way all along and we never new because the Cavs sucked until LeBron came back?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Oddly, his rebounding went up after Love came back.

View attachment 9342

Not oddly at all. Love brings a big out with him on the perimeter, so it opens up rebounding lanes for Thompson

 

[Denny Crane]

Not oddly at all. Love brings a big out with him on the perimeter, so it opens up rebounding lanes for Thompson

I was looking at his defensive boards, see the red arrows?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I was looking at his defensive boards, see the red arrows?

No, I didn't look. Was Love out all year with a shoulder? Wasn't it just the playoffs?

 

[Denny Crane]

No, I didn't look. Was Love out all year with a shoulder? Wasn't it just the playoffs?

He played 75 games. You'd think Love would take away from Thompson's defensive boards, but they actually went up.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Biyombo is the most like Tristan on the market from the games I have seen of him. Young, very mobile on the perimeter, undersized slightly as a center. Sprints the floor and only scores on dunks. Putback specialist that is a poor ft shooter. Biyombo is a much better rim protector though which makes him better defensively IMO. The only problem with Biyombo is we need another scorer at either the 3 or the 4 (probably more the 4) with him to take us to next level. Also Biyombo isn't really proven other than a nice playoff run. It is a risky move.

Horford would be a good fit, but can we afford both and how likely is it?
Meyers is actually a good fit next to Biyombo IMO if you think he will continue to develop.
Ryan Anderson probably works but it likely makes more sense to resign Meyers IMO (he drives me crazy but can't deny the upside) . Anderson is older with limited upside.

Dwight doesn't fit as neither has any range. Same issue with Whiteside. Same issue with Monroe most likely.

It's funny how much Biyombo has benefited from a year: didn't Charlotte basically give him away? Signing him now would be way overpaying, I think. You want to get LAST year's Biyombo. (Also, I'm not so sure about his BBIQ, because he started late.) I wonder what Toronto will do? They can't really invest huge money in both him and Valanciunas - they're not really compatible.

As I think I said, the Tristan Thompson mold was basically set by Joakim Noah. He's DEFINITELY on the move this offseason. He's supposed to be ending up in Minny because of Thibs, but I wonder how happy he'd be there? I'd still love to see him in Portland, but we face even higher odds against getting him.